Take a hike in the Bay of Quinte
There’s no shortage of provincial parks, rustic rural routes and unbelievable urban offerings in the BoQ—so when we tell you to take a hike, we mean it!
(REMINDER: TAKE ONLY PHOTOS AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTSTEPS)
Bleasdell Boulder Conservation Area
760 Trenton Frankford Road, Quinte West
A short hike will take you to the Bleasdell Boulder, estimated to be 2.3 billion years old and one of North America’s largest glacial “erratics” (rocks moved by glaciers from their original location). We hear there may be a geocache hidden here, too!
HR Frink Conservation Area & Outdoor Recreation Centre
384 & 381 Thrasher Road, Belleville
A 500-metre wetland ecology boardwalk crosses this serene, provincially significant wetland. This conservation area is an excellent destination for local photographers and hikers alike.
Sager Conservation Area
30 Golf Course Road, Quinte West
The drumlin in this conservation area is one of the highest points of land in the area and provides an excellent view to the surrounding countryside. The steep hike up Sager Tower is totally worth it for the view in every season.
Kiwanis Bayshore Recreational Trail
Belleville
This paved urban trail is a roughly 4-km slice of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail (which starts in Sault St. Marie and travels all the way past Cornwall!). Keep an eye out for swans, ducklings and the occasional heron as you walk along the shores of the Bay of Quinte.
Trenton Greenbelt Conservation Area
The Jack Lange Memorial Walkway (connected to the conservation area) offers options for walking, hiking, cycling or viewing wildlife. The boat launch gives access to both the Trent River—the beginning of the Trent-Severn Waterway—and south to the Bay of Quinte. Fun fact: this area is also part of a provincial fish sanctuary!
Potter’s Creek Conservation Area
Quinte Conservation’s home base, this area offers lots of recreational opportunities. Trails wind through this former farm and past fragrant orchards, open meadows and woodlands. Trails on the south side of Highway 2 offer up some great views of the Bay of Quinte!
Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area
There’s no shortage of space here, with 17 km of trails winding through 179 hectares (that’s 441 acres!). There are a few different loops to choose from, making it a great choice for beginners and families to more advanced hikers. There’s a lot of ecological variety to enjoy here, including an oak savannah and provincially significant wetlands!
Menzel Centennial Provincial Park
This relatively short trail (3.5 km) has wide paths and boardwalks that wind and weave through marshland and past beautiful Mud Lake. The park is known for having one of the largest examples of fen (translation: peat-forming wetlands) in southeastern Ontario.
