What better way to spend time than to go on an adventure. Make the most of the beautiful weather by spending it outdoors exploring amazing hiking trails and conservation areas in and around Kingston. Lace-up those hiking boots and check out the featured trails below!
Remember to responsibly enjoy parks and trails: respect your surroundings and keep dogs on a leash at all times.
GOULD LAKE
1540 Gould Lake Road, Sydenham
As a day–use area, Gould Lake offers picnicking, fishing, swimming, and hiking. Gould Lake features approximately 20 km of trails across rolling and rugged terrain. The well-known Rideau Trail, as well as several side loops, can be found within the conservation area. Its wetlands, woods, and shoreline areas provide many opportunities for wildlife viewing and nature appreciation. Let us know what wildlife you see!
Difficulty level: intermediate to advanced
Price: Adults: $5.00, children (12 & under): $3.50, max. fee per car: $15, annual pass: $85
Hours of Operation: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm daily
LEMOINE POINT
1440 Coverdale Drive, Kingston
As a popular and heavily-used conservation area, Lemoine Point offers picnicking, cycling, swimming, and hiking. Lemoine Point is home to approximately 11 km of hiking trails that cross flat to gently rolling woodland, field, and marsh area. As you hike the trails, you can find hidden gems such as scenic lookouts and beaches. This conservation area is bordered by Lake Ontario and Collins Bay, so you are sure to get a scenic view!
Difficulty level: beginner; family-friendly
Price: Free, donations are accepted
Hours of Operation: 7:30 am to 8:00 pm daily
LITTLE CATARAQUI CREEK
1641 Perth Road, Glenburnie
At Little Cataraqui Creek you can connect with nature during all four seasons. Here, there are marsh, field, and forest habitats for nature appreciation. Additionally, there are opportunities for education and outdoor recreation. Little Cataraqui Creek offers picnicking, fishing, bird watching, and hiking trails for their visitors to enjoy. This conservation area is home to approximately 14 km of hiking trails through mostly flat terrain. These trails are a great escape for the family to enjoy together!
Difficulty level: Beginner; family-friendly
Price: Adults: $5.00, children (12 & under): $3.50, max. fee per car: $15, annual pass: $85.
Hours of Operation: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm daily
LYN VALLEY
90 Lyn Valley Road, Lyn
Lyn Valley may be small, but it is one of the busiest conservation areas in the region. Lyn Valley offers a swimming area, picnicking, and hiking trails. With just 1 km of hiking trails, it is perfect for the little ones to get out and explore nature! The hiking trails are on flat terrain and offer opportunities to appreciate what nature has to offer.
Difficulty level: beginner; family-friendly
Price: Free, donations are accepted
Hours of Operation: N/A
PARROT’S BAY
4976 Bath Road, Kingston
As Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority’s newest conservation area, Parrot’s Bay offers woods and wetlands with beautiful waterfront views. It also offers picnicking, fishing, and hiking. Hiking trails are approximately 6 km in length and cross both woodland and wetland habitats. Parrot’s Bay trails feature a viewing deck and osprey nesting platform. Keep an eye out for ospreys on your hike!
Difficulty level: beginner; family-friendly
Price: Free, donations are accepted
Hours of Operation: 7:30 am to 8:00 pm daily
K&P TRAIL
The trail can be accessed from many locations. The trail continues into South Frontenac Township.
The K&P Trail is a multi-part trail, offering a mix of urban and rural trails. The trail is open year-round and gives the opportunity for visitors to walk through natural open landscapes, rock cuts, wetlands, and historic Kingston. The 22 km trail is divided into two distinct sections: the 7 km paved, urban trail and the 15 km gravel, rural trail. For more information on access points, please visit the City of Kingston’s website.
Recently, Frontenac Trail Tours has begun single and multi-day guided cycling tours. Each tour takes cyclists down the K&P trail, visiting local artisan shops and stopping for snacks along the way featuring locally sourced food. Their multi-day tours will also include stays at local B&Bs and a ride on the historic Wolfe Island Ferry. For more information on these tours, please visit https://www.frontenactrailtours.ca/.
Difficulty level: beginner; family-friendly
Price: Free
Hours of Operation: Between 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from April 1 to November 30 and between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. from December 1 to March 30
THOUSAND ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
1121 Thousand Islands Parkway, Mallorytown
As Canada’s oldest National Park east of the Rockies, Thousand Islands National Park offers three mainland hiking locations. This park boasts of its sanctuary of scenic lookouts, rugged rock faces, and tall stands of pine.
Mallorytown Landing (1121 – 1000 Islands Parkway, Mallorytown): As the main location of Thousand Islands National Park, there are opportunities to picnic, fish, swim, and hike. Here, there are approximately 3 km of hiking trails. These trails are mostly on flat terrain and are beginner-friendly. Be sure to get a picture posing in the set of Parks Canada red chairs!
Jones Creek (1270 – 1000 Islands Parkway, Mallorytown): At this location, visitors have access to over 20 km of hiking trails. Trails cross a variety of differing landscapes and are rated medium to difficult. These trails feature a set of Parks Canada red chairs and a scenic lookout.
Landon Bay (302 – 1000 Islands Parkway, Lansdowne): Landon Bay offers six different trail networks that range in difficulty from low to medium. These trails are approximately 6 km in length. Be sure to check out the Lookout trail to get your next social media worthy picture!
Difficulty level: Beginner to advanced; some trails are family-friendly
Price: $6.80 per car, some additional fees may apply
Hours of Operation: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm daily
FRONTENAC PROVINCIAL PARK
6700 Salmon Lake Road, Sydenham
Frontenac Provincial Park is well-known in the Kingston region for its hiking and trail systems. This park offers fishing, swimming, paddling, and hiking. Frontenac Provincial Parks boasts well-planned trails and rugged terrain. With many trails, this provincial park has approximately 100 km of trails for you to explore! For a full list of trails and how to access them, please visit their website.
Difficulty level: intermediate to advanced
Price: $12.25 per car, some additional fees may apply
Hours of Operation: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm daily
ADDITIONAL HIKING AND TRAIL LOCATIONS
Mac Johnson Wildlife Area
Debruge Road, north of Brockville. (South access on Centennial Road)
Marshlands Conservation Area
1214 Trailhead Place just off King Street in Kingston
Marble Rock Conservation Area
Marble Rock Road, Gananoque, Ontario
Charleston Lake Provincial Park
148 Woodvale Road, Lansdowne, Ontario
Foley Mountain Conservation Area
105 Foley Mountain Lane, Westport
Waterfront Pathway
An 8 km public waterfront pathway connecting to the downtown core extends from the King Street, near 1098 King St. W to Emma Martin Park.
A big thank you to Queen’s University student, Riley Stewart-Patterson, for sending over resources regarding trails that are currently open around Kingston!
