The Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area is SO close to the 401 in Kingston that there was no way we WEREN’T going to stop on a recent road trip. I actually hadn’t heard of this spot, so I was really excited to see how many different trails there were in the area.
We chose to combine two of the shortest trails, the Pine Loop and the Hemlock Loop. There are five trails in the area in total, so we’ll definitely be back to check those out too.
Usually, if we’re on a road trip along the 401, our little dog is with us. This time was no exception, because we were on our way back from visiting family on Thanksgiving. The fact that dogs are allowed was awesome, because otherwise we would have had to skip it!
Crossing the boardwalk on our way to the Pine Loop Trail.
The Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area seemed pretty awesome. During the summer, you can rent a canoe or kayak, and in the winter they’re still open for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Plus, in the spring, they operate a sugar bush. Pancakes and maple syrup? Yes please.
The two trails that we were out on weren’t too exciting, but they were just fine for a walk in the woods. And with how close to the highway this area is, it’s a perfect spot to stop and really stretch your legs. Or, if you live in Kingston, it’s so close that its proximity alone makes it worth visiting! Not to mention that conservation areas are really important, and supporting the work being done there is a good idea.
Getting There
The Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation area is really easy to get to. You can use these coordinates to get there: 44.284261, -76.502758.
There was a big orange sign on Perth Road that let us know we had arrived and made it easy to know where to turn. We drove a few hundred metres before reaching a little gatehouse, where we paid to enter.
It cost $5.50 each for us to enter. Children cost less, at $3.00 for kids 12 and under. But, the maximum cost for a car is $14.00, so loading up your car with friends or family gets you the best deal!
There was a sign at the gatehouse that let us know if there was no one there, we could leave cash in an envelope to pay the fee. So it’s a good idea to always come with cash (and exact change) just in case.
Turn here!
The Trailhead
We missed the parking lot for the trailhead on our first go. We should have made the very first right after the gatehouse. Instead, we drove straight and ended up parking near the administration office. The trailhead for the Pine Loop Trail starts behind the Outdoor Centre, although it COULD be accessed from the service road near where we parked.
Facing the Outdoor Centre, we went to our right to get behind the building. There were a few picnic tables behind the Outdoor Centre, making it a great spot for lunch.
The Outdoor Centre really isn’t hard to find!
In no time at all, we found ourselves on a short boardwalk that took us over the creek. We watched a shy family of ducks for a little while before heading into the forest.
We had walked only three hundred metres when we came to our first split in the trail. Because of the signs there, we automatically knew to head to our right to stay with the Pine Loop Trail (which is also called Trail 1). A few hundred metres later, we came to another split, which formed the loop of the Pine Loop Trail.
The Pine Loop Trail made for really easy hiking. It traveled through fields and forest, and was pretty wide and flat the whole time. There were also some spots that were VERY wet, so we were happy to have our waterproof hiking boots.
Leave No Trace says stay on the trail no matter what, so we stay on the trail no matter what!
The Hemlock Loop
We had hiked about half of the Pine Loop Trail when we reached the spot where it joined the Hemlock Loop (Trail 2). The signs were super easy to spot, and really clear, so we turned to our right to hop on the Hemlock Trail. We found ourselves crossing a cool bridge over a tiny river, and then we were back in the forest again.
Not long after the bridge, we saw a sign tempting us to wander down the Sugar Bush Loop (Trail 3). As much as we wanted to, we stuck with our original plan of taking a shorter hike, and promised ourselves we’d be back to check it out! Since there’s a sugar shack on the Sugar Bush Loop, we were thinking early spring might make a great time to come back.
A skinny bridge leading to the Hemlock Loop Trail.
The Hemlock Loop, like the Pine Loop before it, was really flat, easy hiking.
When we had hiked 2.1 kilometres, we reached a split in the trail where the Sugar Bush Trail rejoined the Hemlock Loop. At this point, there was also the option to set out on the Reservoir Trail- but that would have added almost 7 kilometres onto our short hike!
We followed the signs again, turning to our left to stay on the Hemlock Loop.
Getting Back
We were back to the Pine Loop Trail having hiked just under 3 kilometres. The western portions of both loops were just as low key as the eastern had been, and we quickly found ourselves back on the first boardwalk we had crossed over to start the hike.
All in all, we had hiked 3.9 kilometres on these easy trails. It took us an hour and ten minutes, even with our old, slow dog who likes to stop and sniff everything. We were probably able to hike it so quickly because there wasn’t TOO much to look at. But don’t let me spoil it for you! Both these loops are perfect for a low key walk in the woods. Plus, they’d be perfect for families with young kids, because they’re so flat and easy to navigate. And since conservation areas like this one are open year round, they make great spots for snowshoeing too.
The Pine and Hemlock Loop Trails are perfect for a “coffee” hike- they’re easy enough that you can walk them with a cup of coffee in hand!
I hope this trip report has enough info to get you there too. Let me know in the comments, or share and tag a friend to start planning your next adventure!
Map and Elevation Gain
Our GPS tracked route along the Pine and Hemlock Loop Trails.
Whenever I’m hiking somewhere new, I tend to wonder about who was on, and who took care of that land before me. I’ve enjoyed using this website as a place to start learning more about the indigenous people whose land I’m on: Native-land.ca.
Don’t let this graph fool you, the trails we were on were really flat.
Gear We Brought
- Hiking Clothes
- Wool Socks
- Hiking Boots
- Fleece Sweaters
- Fall Jackets
- Cell Phones
- Dog Leash and Harness
- Dog Waste Bags
