With an abundance of beautiful lakes and some of the most beautiful scenery in Ontario, Frontenac County is a great place to enjoy an authentic Canadian experience. Read on to discover the 5 best ways to explore Frontenac County this Fall!
1. Get Lost on Wolfe Island
Getting lost can be half the fun! Take the ferry from Kingston to revel in a family-friendly adventure on Wolfe Island (part of County of Frontenac) as a legendary maze is carved out of an entire field of corn. The Corn Maze on Wolfe Island features two mazes this year, as well as mid-point refreshments. Want to make the experience even more intriguing? Ask about reserving a spot in a flashlight night event!
This gem is what local is all about: growing specialty hops for Ontario’s craft breweries. Wolfe Island Hopyard is a 61-acre artisanal hopyard operation designed to supply local breweries with excellent local hops. See Wolfe Island Hopyard as part of Frontenac County’s Open Farms event in September! Tours with this event include farm experiences that allow participants to learn and enjoy culinary tastes.
Caffeinating never tasted so good! Haymakers Coffee is a family-run coffee roastery on Wolfe Island focused on small-batches and big connections. It’s coffee that makes you want to slow down and drink in life in addition to your cuppa. Haymakers uses quality single origin, micro-lot coffee beans that are sourced responsibly, packaged sustainably, and shared passionately. Look here for press and pour gift sets, too!
Have fun discovering this farm-to-table, artistic experience offering quality food, art and products weekly into fall! The Market at Wolfe Island Commons is known as a place for community and gathering. Located on the waterfront at the docks, not only tasty but picturesque time awaits. Meet growers and makers on the island at this celebration of community.
A hidden paradise is tucked away on Wolfe Island – Big Sandy Bay is known as an extraordinary beauty and an ecological jewel. This soft sand dune beach stretches for as far as the eye can see and allows visitors access to wonderfully shallow sand bar swimming on Lake Ontario. Note that there is a significant walk through field and woods until you get to the beach, but it’s worth it when you set eyes on crystal blue water to the horizon. Get that tropical feel close to home and soak up the last of the summer rays on the beach!
Usher in fall listening to live music with stunning views of Lake Ontario! At Hotel Wolfe Island, sustainable culture and agriculture combine to make this hotel transformation a must-stay. Rejuvenated from the historic General Wolfe Inn, the Hotel Wolfe Island is creating a destination on the waterfront, complete with farm-to-table menu options at the restaurant, inviting rooms and waterfront cottage accommodations. Revel in sold live music, satisfy your appetite for local-friendly fare and stay the night for the whole experience on the island!
Experience nature up close and personal, by walking trails among rock, trees and wildlife. Frontenac Provincial Park provides extensive hiking and paddling routes, through more than 100 km of looped backpacking and hiking trails, and 22 lakes! This is where backcountry recreation comes alive as avid hikers can explore the Canadian Shield and lush green wilderness. Frontenac Provincial Park’s 5,355 hectares even offers 48 interior campsites, so excursions don’t have to end at dusk.
3. Discover Fall By Pedal Power
Watch the colours change before you as you pedal through the field, forest and alongside the water while exploring Frontenac County. The K&P Trail is a 180-km former railway line turned multi-use recreational trail that connects Kingston to Renfrew. However, Frontenac County owns and operates a 90 km stretch along the way. The Frontenac K&P Trail is a fully developed, stone dust rail-trail with stops in Sharbot Lake, Godfrey, Verona and Harrowsmith and is perfect for cycling, walking, and even horseback riding.
Get rewarded for exploring in Frontenac County! The Frontenac App highlights businesses along the K&P Trail – with a twist. It allows users to collect points and redeem rewards at participating locations. The app even offers itineraries, interactive maps and descriptions of local sites. Download the app and start collecting.
Gould Lake Conservation Area located just outside of Sydenham in Frontenac County is a natural summer haven. This area begs to be discovered with more than 20 km of trails across rolling and rugged terrain. The wetland, woods and shoreline are perfect for wildlife viewing along the way. Another neat feature is the throwback to another time when mica mines operated near Gould Lake.
5. Embrace the Waters
Try your hand at kayak fishing. The calm, clear lakes of Frontenac Provincial Park provide the perfect environment for kayak fishing. Rental shops like the Frontenac Outfitters can set you up with a kayak and all the fishing gear you need. Glide through the water while angling for smallmouth bass, lake trout, perch and pike.
Fall in love with paddling. Created by paddlers, for paddlers, Frontenac Outfitters is well known for its 30-plus years as one of Canada’s largest on-water paddle sports centres. Specializing in new and used kayak, canoe and SUP sales and rentals, Frontenac Outfitters is also a teaching facility with a full complement of courses and workshops running this month and into fall. Its location at the entrance of wilderness park, Frontenac Provincial Park, makes it even sweeter. Slow down and enjoy nature with wooded and waterfront campsites available at Frontenac Outfitters, too. They’re known as the experts for a reason!
Edited & Updated By Lindsay Medeiros
