Mallorytown Landing
Every park has a story, and Thousand Islands National Park’s starts here at Mallorytown Landing. In 1904, the Mallory Family decided that their waterfront property was too valuable for one family alone to hold. They donated this property to the federal government for the creation of parkland for all Canadians to enjoy. Adding a handful of islands to the mix, the federal government named the new parkland St. Lawrence Islands National Park. It became the first National Park established east of the Rocky Mountains and was created long before the Parks Canada Agency existed. Now known as Thousand Islands National Park, the protected area has expanded to include two other mainland locations (Landons Bay, Jones Creek), 18 island properties open to the public, and various other parcels of land for conservation purposes. It protects a biodiverse landscape that is home to thousands of species and welcomes thousands of visitors each year. It’s amazing how one act of generosity has benefited Canadians in a way which is still visible today, more than 100 years later!
Landons Bay
Landons Bay was once the site of several early farm settlements, but for many years now has seen a return to its natural state. Many of the European settlers in this region were United Empire Loyalists. Some of their names still exist on the landscape today, such as the Landon family (of Landons Bay) and Cross family (of Cross Cemetery). In 1965, several properties to the west of the bay were amalgamated into the Landons Bay Nature Centre, which operated under the Barbara Heck Foundation for many years. The current hiking trail network was created by the Barbara Heck Foundation, and various trails and key features were named after its founding members. This includes names such as Charlie Donevan (Donevan Trail) and John MacLeod (MacLeod Meadows). In 2007, the land was transferred to Thousand Islands National Park. Since then, it has been protected as a home for local species and a popular recreational centre for hiking and outdoor education. When you climb to the lookout view, take a moment to catch your breath and to appreciate the dedicated local residents who have helped preserve this environment.
Jones Creek
From Parks Canada:Who is a part of your family? For the Mohawk people, family lineage is traced through clans. Each of the trails at Jones Creek are named after a clan, out of respect for the Haudenosaunee culture which has been present living on the lands and waters of this region since time immemorial. The Jones Creek trails offer a mix of shorter and longer loops which are perfect for the young, and young at heart. You may even be able to spot some of nature’s families, too. Thousand Islands National Park is one of the most biodiverse national parks in Canada and is home to thousands of species. Spring and early summer are the best times to witness mother birds caring for their young, frogs calling for mates, and turtles laying their eggs.
Charleston Lake Provincial Park
Established in 1972, Charleston lake is a family favourite destination for camping and also offers diverse outdoor activities including birding, boating, canoeing, and hiking. Birders can spot species such as Bald Eagles and Cerulean Warblers, while boating is allowed except in certain areas, offering fishing, water skiing, and sightseeing opportunities. Canoeing enthusiasts can explore the lake's extensive shoreline and motorboat-free bays, with two portages leading to other lakes for added adventure. There are multiple hiking trails of varying difficulties, including scenic loops and challenging routes with unique landscapes, the Blue Mountain trail leads to the highest peak in the county, where on a clear day, hikers can see as far away as the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. Swimming is available at two designated beaches with gentle slopes, although there are no lifeguards on duty.Popular trails include: the Tallow Rock Trail (10km), Blue Mountain Trail (10km), and the Sandstone Island Trail (3km).
Frontenac Park
Frontenac Provincial Park, established in 1974, encompasses over 13,000 acres of nature preserves, wilderness, campgrounds and trails. The region prior to its conservation status was patterned with farmsteads, mines, and logging. The largest mine opened in 1899, named the J.P. Tett & Bros Mica Mine, and for a brief period was the largest producer of mica in the province. Other mines near Crab Lake, Birch Lake, and Little Salmon Lake saw limited production. The earliest census records in 1871 for the area point to several families engaged in the clearing the land and farming, such as the Kemp and MacComish farmsteads. In 1962, the Kingston Nature Club put forward a proposal to purchase the private lots for $200,000, the final cost to finish the park was $1,000,000.Popular trails include the Small Slide Lake trail (13km), Doe Lake Trail (4km), and the Tetsmine Loop (10km).
Marble Rock Conservation Area
Marble Rock Conservation Area is a wildlife and nature preserve on 710 acres located north of Gananoque. The trails were planned and developed by the Rideau Trail Association in partnership with the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, who acquired and maintains the property. The nearby Marble Rock Quartz mine, cheese factory, the Emery school, and a dam with former saw and grist mills all reflect the areas industrial past and pioneering history of the area. Today, a wide variety of flora and fauna can be seen in this habitat, from herons, beavers, and bitterns, to lichen, ferns, and mushrooms.Two medium difficulty trails form a seven kilometer hike through mixed forest, marshes and lookouts along Canadian Shield bedrock.
Rock Dunder
The Rock Dunder Nature Preserve is part of the Rideau Waterway Land Trust, and located within the UNESCO Thousand Islands Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve. In 1960 the area was owned by Stanley Lash, and in 1965 the property was purchased by Scouts Canada to be used as a wilderness camp. In 1983 the Ministry of Natural Resources designated the site as an "Area of Scientific Interest", signalling the need for its conservation. Scouts Canada continued to use this area for forty years, until the the Rideau Waterway Land Trust acquired it in 2006, pursuing its mandate of conservation along the Rideau.Today, Rock Dunder Nature Preserve hosts two trails: the Morton Bay Loop - a moderately difficult hike of 2km through mixed forest with views of Morton Bay, and the Summit Loop a 4km hike through mixed forest with views of the Rideau Waterway.
Murray/Bickerton Gananoque Trails
The Murray/Bickerton Gananoque Trails, named after Peter Murray and Doug Bickerton for their conservation efforts and the Trees and Trails Advisory Committee, runs the perimeter of Gananoque. The Lions Trail section begins in the downtown of Gananoque, and follows the former industrial pathways along the upper resevoir, past the former Steel Co. of Canada foundry and continues by the Gananoque River. The Rogers trail follows to the north of town, and is a moderate hike through varied tree types. The River trail is the final segment that continues south towards the St Lawrence River! Some sections of the trail pass near private property, so please stay on the pathway, and follow the trail markers.Popular trails include the Lions Trail, the Rogers Trail, and the River Trail, it covers 14km over 4 hours with views of the Gananoque River, surrounding hills, pine forests, and the Saint Lawrence River.
Kingston & Pembroke Trail
With the Railway Aid Act getting things started, the Kingston and Pembroke Railway was incorporated in 1871, with the first section to Godfrey (Iron Junction) being completed in 1875. Work continued, with the full 180 kilometers of rail to Renfrew being completed in 1885: in that year, the nine locomotives (with names such as Providence, and Iron Duke) transported over 31,000 passengers and 85,000 tonnes of freight. On June 11, 1891 the K&P Rail transported the remains of Sir John A. MacDonald from Sharbot Lake to Kingston.Canadian Pacific Railway expressed interest in purchasing this connecting length of railway, and did so in 1913. Passanger, freight, and mixed use continued until 1961, when lower demand reduced transport to passanger only. The final run from Smiths Falls to Kingston station was October 10, 1986.With the modern trend of converting railways to trails, municipalities have found ways to revitalize decommissioned railways into year-round pathways for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and cross country skiing. In 2017, the City of Kingston and Frontenac County worked together to complete the K&P Trail for multipurpose recereational use, and continue its maintenance.
Mac Johnson Wildlife Area
The Mac Johnson Creek Conservation Area is part of the Cataraqui Region Area Conservation Authority. Located just north of Brockville, it encompasses 532 hectares of wetland, field, forest, and a resevoir designated a provincially significant wetland. This protection is to preserve the creeks, watersheds, and marshes required for various species at risk, and the Buells Creek system.Buells Creek was named after William Buell, who settled there in 1785, and the area was later the site of a sawmill, apple orchards and peat moss harvesting. In 1967, the Broome-Runciman Dam was constructed to regulate and stabilize the waterways the fed into the area.In 1987 the park was renamed by the CRCA to the Mac Johnson Conservation Area to reflect the efforts of that early member.
