Hiking trails- archive individual posts – Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists

Hiking Trails – Kate’s Lake Trail

Kate’s Lake Trail

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The Kate’s Lake Trail takes you onto an old pioneer roadway which is unopened and unmaintained and too treacherous to drive on unless you have a four wheeler or an ATV. It meanders through Crown Land forest and assaults the senses with a continuing aroma of pine woods and a beautiful swishing sound of wind through the bows of a good scattering of large, tall, old white pine trees. Overgrown side trails leading off the main road tell of recent logging activities.

This trail can be gained by driving north on County Road 9, through Clayton and Tatlock and onto Darling Conc.6. Be sure to make the sharp left hand turn at Tatlock towards highway 511 and the big marble mine. Conc.6 is the next road after Tatlock. You can also reach conc.6 from highway 511 on County Road 9.

Travel about 4 km. to the end of the maintained section of Conc. 6 (it only goes north from Cty. Rd. 9). About 150m further on, you will come to the old road which forms a T junction with Conc. 6. On many maps, this road is called New Road.

Park you car at the T junction and begin your walk. You will eventually come to an open field with some buildings on it, to your left. There is a metal gate at this point. About 15m past the gate is an old roadway to your right used for logging purposes. Turn onto this trail and travel about 1/2 km. until you come to the end at Kate’s Lake.

There isn’t much access to Kate’s Lake but you can get out to the edge and view the water. It’s in two sections, separated by an old beaver dam . This is a good spot to have your picnic lunch.

The entire trail from car and back takes about three hours depending upon how much you dawdle. Watch out for poison ivy along the roadways. An option to going in to the lake (and longer) is to continue on New Road until you reach highway 511. Have a good hike.

Hiking Trails – Trans-Canada Trail

Trans-Canada Trail

In this section, the TCT follows the abandoned rail line. It’s straight as a die but has many natural attributes along the verges. We never fail to find at least twenty-five species of birds, and the same number of wildflowers, depending upon the season. An observation platform is constructed at Lavalee Creek where you can view on one side, one of the finest soft maple swamps in the area and the other side, a marshland in the throes of reclaiming itself from man’s incursion.

You can connect with the Trans-Canada Trail at Carleton Place, just off highway seven on McNeeley Avenue, just past the Canadian Tire Store at Coleman Street. Ample parking is available.

Also at Ashton Station Road, seven km. east of Carleton Place and a few yards north of the highway by the feed mill,

and at Mississippi Wonderland Road, halfway between Ashton Station Road and Carleton Place on highway 7 and north about 300 m.

Hiking Trails – Purdon Bog New Trail

Purdon Bog New Trail

Purdon Bog, in Dalhousie Ward in Lanark Highlands, is famous during three or four weeks in June/July for its great display of showy ladies slippers (orchids). The boardwalk trail (there are two interconnected loops) is wheelchair accessible and gives one a close-up of not only the pink orchids but yellow lady slipper , pitcher plant and many other woodland flora.

However, the conservation area, under the control of Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, sports not only a lookout over the small beaver-build lake but a new trail, over a km. long. Built last year, with still some construction underway, this trail is a perfect birdwatching exercise for it meanders through several different types of habitat. Observation platforms are in the process of being put together and one, overlooking the lake at the west end, will sport a picnic table.

The new trail begins immediately at the foot of the long sets of stairs coming down from the observation platform and the top parking lot. You can also reach the start of the new trail from the lower parking lot by entering along the boardwalk up to the stairs. The trail, shaped like a giant letter “P” ends back at the start.

To find Purdon Bog, travel north on highway 511 from Perth, through the village of Lanark and north to County Road 8 going west through Watson’s Corners. From highway 417, take the Almonte exit, travel through Almonte and west on County Road 16 to Hopetown. Turn south towards Perth to County Road 8 turning west through Watson’s Corners. From 511, the area is well marked.

Hiking Trails – O-Kee-Lee Park Trail Natural Environment Area

O-Kee-Lee Park Trail Natural Environment Area

A much shorter trail (less than one km), this trail meanders through a filled in wetland area containing very old willow trees and small, woodland ponds, which dry up in late summer. The trail is found at the foot of Joseph Street, across from the Carleton Place Canoe Club. To find it, take Town Line Road from Highway #7 (the western entrance to Carleton Place) to Joseph Street, which is the first street in from the highway. Turn right and go to the river.

This small nature area contains circular trails, with access points to the river shore. The place abounds in honey suckle, wild grapes and mountain ash berries, attracting many species of birds. The lush canopy provides a sanctuary effect, a perfect place for solitude and reflection. Across from the entrance to the park is Centennial Park, with picnic tables, playing area and a beach.

Hiking Trails – Mill of Kintail Conservation Area

Mill of Kintail Conservation Area, Ramsay Ward, Mississippi Mills.

The Mill of Kintail not only includes a museum of note but picnic area, toilets, playground and several great walking trails. The trails and grounds are open from dawn to dusk and a fee of $5 per car is charged. A ticket machine is available at the gate. Simple purchase your ticket and leave it on your dash.

To find the Mill of Kintail, drive north from Almonte on highway 29 three km. towards Pakenham, turn onto Clayton Road and drive one concession to Ramsay Conc. 8. Turn north (right) on Conc. 8 and drive one km to the Mill. Follow the Conservation Area signs; the route is well marked.

Once inside the gate, park your car. The trails start on the north side of the parking lot or the east side. Or you can walk the roadway right to the mill and start there. The first trails take you to the Mill of Kintail and the second set of trails go over the bridge. They are well marked. Total distance of trails equals approx. two km.

The museum is open from May to October. Their telephone number is 256-3610.

Enjoy!