At Dunsford, which is bypassed, the highway intersects Kawartha Lakes Roads 7 and 24 — the former travels south to Omemee and the latter provides an alternative route to Bobcaygeon.

Former Highway 36 continues, alternating directions between east and north twice before entering the village of Bobcaygeon.

[4] Within Bobcaygeon, Highway 36 crosses the Trent–Severn Waterway and intersects the eastern end of Kawartha Lakes Road 8.

At the intersection with Main Street in the northern end of the village, the route turns northeast while former Highway 649 continues north.

[4] After passing Nogies Creek, the highway descends a hill and encounters the Canadian Shield for the first time.

The road runs along the border of the Precambrian shield and the Ordovician limestone plateau en route to Burleigh Falls.