A weekend away in the Kawarthas with the GMC Sierra Denali

by W. Andrew Powell
GMC Sierra Denali Weekend

Weekend getaways are so refreshing. There’s nothing like a change of pace, the chance to stretch your legs, and do something different. I had a break recently at a wonderful Kawarthas cottage on a trip with the impressive GMC Sierra Denali, and it was just what my family and I needed.

The Kawarthas is such a gorgeous area to explore. Every season offers something special to see and do, and it’s a great area to unwind for a few days, look out over a lake, and enjoy a campfire and a hike.

My family and I drove up in the Sierra Denali on a Friday, and left on the Sunday feeling totally refreshed, and it was one of the best drives I’ve had in years. The truck was so comfortable, and it has so many features. It’s one of the best trucks I’ve ever driven.

Exploring the Kawarthas

From Toronto, it’s a 2.5 hour drive to the heart of the Kawarthas. Heading east on the 401 or 407, there are multiple routes heading north that are a wonderful drive. Highway 115 to 7, going through Peterborough, is a great drive, and then for our stop we took highway 28 to Chandos Lake.

The region is huge, especially when you look at North Kawartha, Trent Lakes, and the Peterborough area, and there are some incredible scenic drives across the entire area. No matter what time of year you’re headed to the area, there’s a lot to see and do for families, couples, groups, or solo travellers.

In the summer, there are beautiful views through the lakes and all of the forests; in the fall it’s a great destination to see the colours; and in winter it’s perfect for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or snowmobiling.

While Toronto and some southern areas may not have snow, the Kawarthas almost always have snow in the winter too.

For activities, we hiked through the huge and scenic Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, which is right alongside highway 36 and 28, and Petroglyphs Provincial Park is also in the area. It’s a beautifully rugged area for a hike, and there are trails for any type of hiker, whether you want a challenge, or an easy stroll.

You can also discover culture, history, and more at the Canadian Canoe Museum, a perfect destination for anyone who loves canoeing.

There are lots of excellent hotels, inns, B&Bs, and resorts in the region, not to mention cottages for rent. We loved our cottage rental because it was so relaxing, and we had the space to ourselves. We made our own meals, enjoyed the views, and just took the day at our own pace.

It was warm and winterized, they had a fire pit for campfires, and we loved having hot chocolate inside by the fireplace. I could have probably spent a week there, and we barely scratched the surface of all there was to do nearby.

I could imagine this area being a lot of fun in the summer, especially since our cottage had boats and everything you’d want to enjoy the lake with your family or a couple of friends.

See the full gallery from the trip at the bottom of the story.

Driving the GMC Sierra Denali

GMC Canada sent me off on the trip to check out the features of the GMC Sierra 1500 4WD Crew Cab Denali, and I loved every minute in the powerful, fun truck.

For starters, it’s packed with features. The 2021 model I drove included the Multipro tailgate that includes a built-in Bluetooth speaker, it has a carbon-fiber composite bed, 15″ heads-up display, and the camera system offers 15 views around the vehicle for easy towing, parking, and even checking on your cargo.

The 10-way power-adjustable front seats were so comfortable, and for sheer power it’s also hard to beat this luxury truck that can tow up to 9,200 lbs with up to 460 lb-ft of torque.

And for long drives, my family really appreciated the built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. We had five devices connected at once, and my daughter watched movies in the back seat for most of the drive.

The incredible crew cab was also incredibly spacious from the front seat to the back. We easily fit all of our luggage in the back seat beside my daughter, and still had tons of room in the flatbed for the firewood we picked up near the cottage.

Thanks to GMC for the fantastic weekend away with this powerful, comfortable, luxury truck. Leave a comment below if you want to know more about the truck, the Kawarthas, or planning a great drive in Ontario.

Watch my video below from the weekend away at the Kawarthas lakefront cottage, and watch to the end for a tour of the GMC Sierra Denali.

All photos by W. Andrew Powell.

Join our list

Subscribe to our mailing list and get weekly updates on our latest contests, interviews, and reviews.

Thank you for subscribing.

Something went wrong.

You may also like

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Accept Read More