Frontenac Provincial Park: winter trails near Rideau Lakes
Frontenac Provincial Park manages 102 km of cross-country ski trail and 140.5 km of snowshoe trail in the Ontario Trail Network, across 14 named trails. The trails lie around Rideau Lakes.
Trail conditions and fees: www.ontarioparks.com
Open the full Ontario Crown land map
Cross-country skiing
Snowshoeing
Trails
| Trail | Length | Winter use | Also open to |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slide Lake Trail This loop is the longest and most rugged loop trail in the Park. Be prepared for a very challenging hike! The trail crosses many barren rock ridges and travels through several forests in various stages of succession. You will encounter granite ridges |
21 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling |
|
Big Salmon Lake Loop This trail circles Big Salmon Lake. The north side of the trail runs through a forested landscape along some century old remains of homesteads. It offers scenic views at the east end and south side of Big Salmon Lake. |
19 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling, Portage |
|
Cedar Lake Loop While hiking this trail along Doe Lake and the south shore of Big Salmon Lake you will encounter wetlands in various stages of evolvement. |
15 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling |
|
Little Salmon Lake Loop Start this trail at either the west end of Big Salmon Lake or the Arab Lake parking lot. The trail runs through mature bush and the south end of Moulton Gorge valley. |
15 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling |
|
Arkon Lake Trail This trail will lead you through a mature deciduous forest where you will see many beaver ponds and a ring bog complex along the way. |
13 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling, Portage |
|
Tetsmine Lake Loop Most hikers start this loop at the north end of the Park, accessing at Kingsford Dam. The loop is fairly rugged in a mature deciduous bush setting and crossing the north end of the Moulton Gorge. Abandoned mica mines and a few 19th century homesteads |
12 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling, Portage |
|
Gibson Lake Trail This hike is often started at the north end of the Park (at Kingsford Dam) which adds 3 km each way to the hike. Walk by the Crab Lake mine and along mature forested ridges and hills and along a fen in the northeast corner of the park. |
11 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling, Portage |
|
Little Clear Lake Loop Most hikers start this trail at the west end of Big Salmon Lake, adding 4 km to begin the hike. The trail circumnavigates Little Clear Lake. Hikers will encounter mature bush and the remains of 19th century buildings. |
9 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Portage |
|
Bufflehead Trail This walk is popular for its beaver ponds and scenic ridge. It bisects the Arkon Lake Loop and starts at the Arab Lake parking lot. |
8 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling |
|
Corridor Trail This trail parallels Big Salmon Road starting at the Park Office and ending at the south shore of Big Salmon Lake. |
5 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Hemlock Lake Loop Normally started from the west end of Big Salmon Lake (adding 7 km to get to the start of the Hemlock Loop), the trail goes through mature deciduous trees and old abandoned farm fields. |
5 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling |
|
Birch Lake Trail This unnamed piece of trail of about 3 km links the Tetsmine Lake Loop to the Arkon Lake Loop. It follows the scenic shore of Birch lake Situated on a southern arm of the Canadian Shield north of Kingston, this semi-wilderness park features granite o |
3 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling |
|
Doe Lake Trail Hike along the shores of South Otter Lake and Doe Lake with a lookout over Doe Lake. An interpretive brochure is available. The trail starts at the Park Office. |
3 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling, Portage |
|
Arab Lake Gorge Starting at the Park Office, this trail features valley bottom vegetation, various ferns and a boardwalk with an accompanying interpretive brochure. |
1.5 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Paddling |
"Winter use" is what Frontenac Provincial Park permits on the trail, not a grooming report: check the organization before you go. Lengths are from the Ontario Trail Network.
Surveyed lakes within 25 km
Campgrounds within 40 km
Most private campgrounds close for winter; call ahead. Winter camping on Crown land is covered in our winter camping guide.
- Pine Haven Cottages and Campground — Perth Road Village, 7 km
- Desert Lake Family Resort — Hartington, 7 km
- Canoe Lake Campground — Godfrey, 9 km
- Skycroft Campground Resort — Elgin, 12 km
- Irwin’s Cabins Inc. — Godfrey, 17 km
- Indian Lake Marina and Campground — Elgin, 18 km
Other trail networks within 60 km
Source: Ontario Trail Network trail segments, Land Information Ontario (Open Government Licence – Ontario), updated December 2023. Trail names, uses and descriptions are as supplied by Frontenac Provincial Park to the network.