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Stoney Lake waterfront
One of the Kawarthas' clearest lakes: private beach, canoes, kayaks, floating trampoline, and a granite-island horizon that earns the designation 'Ontario's best-kept secret.'
Wellness getawayMindReach
Viamede Resort
Kawarthas cottage country since 1885: Stoney Lake waterfront, farm-to-table dining, sauna, and the deliberate calm of an analogue resort two hours from Toronto
Woodview, ON
2 nights
Guest voices
Stories from guests
Real moments shared by participants at Viamede Resort.
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Experience highlights
What a stay here actually feels like.
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Founded 1885 — heritage and character
Over 140 years of independent operation, a deliberately analogue philosophy (no cable, yes to DVDs and board games), and squeaky floors that are a feature, not a bug.
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Indoor-outdoor pool, sauna, and steam room
A recently built wellness facility that guests largely have to themselves — pool deck overlooking the small beach, sauna and steam room for quiet restoration.
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Farm-to-table 1885 Restaurant
Breakfast is included in every stay; the 1885 Restaurant serves locally sourced seasonal dinners that reflect the agricultural heritage of the Kawarthas.
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Lakeside and hilltop cottages
Log-style cottages with private decks, full kitchens, and fireplaces; hilltop suites with air-jet tubs — accommodation with genuine character across multiple cottage styles.
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The setting
Spaces, views, and surroundings at Viamede Resort.
Your journey
Arrival on Stoney Lake
The drive north from Toronto through the Kawarthas brings you to a heritage resort where the main lodge's Cape Cod-style white-and-green exterior appears at the edge of Stoney Lake — a genuinely photogenic arrival.
Settle into your cottage
Unlock a lakeside or grounds-view cottage with its own kitchen, deck, BBQ, and fireplace. Put the DVD in the player, open a window, and begin the process of decelerating from city tempo.
Morning on the water
Take a canoe or kayak out onto Stoney Lake, swim from the private beach, or bounce on the floating trampoline — activity equipment is included in the stay. The granite islands and clear water make even a simple paddle a restorative experience.
Sauna and steam room
The indoor-outdoor pool complex and adjacent sauna and steam room offer a quieter, adult-oriented counterpoint to the beach energy — particularly rewarding in the morning or on cool evenings with the pool deck looking out over the lake.
Dinner in the 1885 Restaurant
Farm-to-table dining in the resort's heritage dining room, with local suppliers and fresh-kitchen preparation. Breakfast is included in every stay; dinner in the 1885 Restaurant rounds out the day.
About
About this getaway
Viamede Resort is one of Ontario's best-kept lakeside secrets: a historic, independently owned resort on the shores of Stoney Lake in the Kawarthas, founded in 1885 and still operating with an unhurried, unapologetically analogue charm that its guests fiercely protect. Two hours northeast of Toronto, the property sits at the edge of one of the most beautiful lakes in the Kawartha system — clear blue water, granite islands, and a horizon that feels genuinely remote.
The resort combines a gracious heritage main lodge with a mix of log-cabin-style lakeside cottages and hilltop suites — all designed for the slower rhythms of cottage-country living. Wellness amenities include a recently built indoor-outdoor pool, steam room, and sauna facility, which guests largely have to themselves given the property's orientation toward waterfront activities. The 1885 Restaurant delivers farm-to-table dining, with ingredients sourced from local suppliers and an on-site naturalist who leads wildlife programs for curious guests.
Viamede runs without cable television — deliberately — and furnishes its rooms and cottages with DVD libraries, board games, and the kind of deliberate quiet that encourages guests to decompress properly. Canoes, kayaks, a floating trampoline, and a private beach provide all the activity that is needed. It is pet-friendly, family-friendly, and designed to feel like your own personal cottage — only better-resourced.
Viamede Resort has been welcoming guests to the shores of Stoney Lake since 1885 — making it one of the oldest continuously operating resorts in the Kawarthas, and one of the few that has stayed independently owned through more than a century of Canadian tourism change. The floors creak and the cable is absent by design; the property wears its age as a feature rather than a liability.
Packages & pricing
Rates and availability from the property's official booking page.
Cottage Stay (1–3 Bedrooms)
Private lakeside or grounds-view cottage with kitchen, deck, BBQ, and fireplace. Full resort breakfast and all activities included. Sleep 3–7 guests.
Check dates & bookHilltop Suite
King bed, corner air-jet tub, gas or wood-burning fireplace, wet bar, and private balcony. Full resort breakfast and activity access included.
Check dates & bookFeatured program
Main Lodge Guest Room
Comfortable rooms in the historic main lodge or hilltop building with lake or garden views, most with fireplace. Full resort breakfast included.
Check dates & bookPlan your trip
Availability notes
- • Summer cottage weeks (July–August) book well in advance — often months ahead for peak weeks.
- • Weddings at Viamede involve exclusive use of the resort; enquire early for summer and fall dates.
- • Mid-week stays in shoulder seasons offer the best availability and quieter property conditions.
Accommodation
- Lakeside log-style cottages (1–3 bedrooms)
- Hilltop suites with air-jet tubs and fireplaces
- Main lodge guest rooms (lake or garden views)
- White-with-green-trim heritage cottage row
Location & travel
- Getting there
- Viamede Resort is at 595 Mount Julian, Viamede Road, Woodview, ON K0L 3E0. From Toronto: take Highway 401 East to Highway 115 North toward Peterborough, then follow Highway 28 north toward Lakefield and Woodview, approximately 2 hours. On-site parking included. Viamede periodically runs a shuttle from Toronto's Union Station — check viamede.com for current schedules.
Policies
- Minimum stay
- Summer cottage stays may require weekly or minimum 2-night bookings — confirm at viamede.com.
- Cancellation
- See viamede.com for current cancellation and deposit terms.
- Children
- Viamede is family-friendly and welcomes guests of all ages. Pet-friendly cottages and some rooms also available.
Contact & book
Reach the retreat directly or reserve online
FAQ
Good to know
Where is Viamede Resort located?
Viamede Resort is at 595 Mount Julian, Viamede Road, Woodview, Ontario K0L 3E0 — on the shores of Stoney Lake in the Kawarthas, approximately 2 hours northeast of Toronto via Highway 115 and 28.
How old is Viamede Resort and who owns it?
Viamede was founded in 1885, making it one of the oldest continuously operating resorts in the Kawarthas. It remains independently owned and operated — which accounts for its distinct, non-chain character and its no-hidden-fees policy.
What wellness facilities does Viamede offer?
Viamede's wellness facilities include an indoor-outdoor pool, sauna, and steam room — a recently added complement to the resort's traditional waterfront and nature programming. The pool deck overlooks the small beach, and the sauna and steam room tend to draw those seeking quiet restoration between outdoor activities.
What is included in the cost of a stay?
Every stay at Viamede includes a full resort breakfast in the 1885 Restaurant, access to all resort activities and recreational programs, pool access, all-day coffee and tea station, air conditioning, Wi-Fi (in most rooms and cottages), and on-site parking. There are no resort fees or hidden charges.
What lake activities are available at Viamede?
Viamede sits on Stoney Lake, one of the Kawarthas' clearest and most beautiful lakes. Guests can swim from the private beach, canoe, kayak, use the floating trampoline, and explore the lake and its granite islands. Activity equipment is included in the stay.
Is Viamede Resort pet-friendly?
Yes. Viamede is one of the more genuinely pet-friendly resorts in the Kawarthas — pets stay free in pet-friendly cottages and some hotel rooms. Confirm pet-specific room availability when booking at viamede.com.
Why does Viamede not have cable television?
Viamede deliberately operates without cable television as a reflection of its commitment to unplugging and reconnecting with nature, each other, and the lake. Rooms and cottages have DVD players and the resort maintains an on-site DVD library. Board games and nature programs are part of the rhythm. As their website puts it: 'the floors are squeaky and we have no cable but that is the way we like it.'
How do I book at Viamede Resort?
Book directly at viamede.com or call 705-654-3344. Summer cottages and peak Kawartha weekends book well in advance. Viamede periodically offers shuttle service from Toronto's Union Station for specific dates — check viamede.com for current offerings.
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