The Trails of the Park
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The hiking trails within Charleston Lake Park are varied and include distances for hikers of every experience level. Each trail has a theme, and the shorter and relatively easy east side Shoreline Centennial, Sandstone Island, Hemlock Ridge and Beech Woods Trails have interpretive trail guides available.
The longest trail in the Park, the Tallow Rock Bay loop, is on the west side, and from the trail head, (museum), is approximately 14 kilometers end to end. It is in more remote areas and rates a difficult by park staff.
While hiking in the park, you can expect to enjoy breathtaking views of Charleston Lake, ancient aboriginal cave dwellings, unique rock and forest settings, and well maintained footpaths. Come and enjoy.
Interpretive Trail Guides are available at the Discovery Centre , Gatehouse, and Park Office. All of our trails are also highlighted in the Ontario Trails Council Trail Guide.
The longest trail in the Park, the Tallow Rock Bay loop, is on the west side, and from the trail head, (museum), is approximately 14 kilometers end to end. It is in more remote areas and rates a difficult by park staff.
While hiking in the park, you can expect to enjoy breathtaking views of Charleston Lake, ancient aboriginal cave dwellings, unique rock and forest settings, and well maintained footpaths. Come and enjoy.
Interpretive Trail Guides are available at the Discovery Centre , Gatehouse, and Park Office. All of our trails are also highlighted in the Ontario Trails Council Trail Guide.
Beech Woods
Length: 1.5 km
Trail guide: Interpretive panels along trail
Theme: wildlife of the park
Features: mature forest; diverse habitats
Difficulty: easy
Length: 1.5 km
Trail guide: Interpretive panels along trail
Theme: wildlife of the park
Features: mature forest; diverse habitats
Difficulty: easy
Quiddity
Length: 2.4 km
Map
Theme: Charleston’s diverse habitats
Features: boardwalk over wetland; scenic lookout
Difficulty: easy
Length: 2.4 km
Map
Theme: Charleston’s diverse habitats
Features: boardwalk over wetland; scenic lookout
Difficulty: easy
Sandstone Island
Length: 3.3 km
Map.
Theme: geological and human history of the park
Features: historic rock shelter; scenic lookout; interesting geological features
Difficulty: moderate
Length: 3.3 km
Map.
Theme: geological and human history of the park
Features: historic rock shelter; scenic lookout; interesting geological features
Difficulty: moderate
Shoreline Centennial
Length: 2.0 km
Theme: the story of Charleston Lake
Features: scenic views of the rugged shoreline
Difficulty: moderate
Map
Length: 2.0 km
Theme: the story of Charleston Lake
Features: scenic views of the rugged shoreline
Difficulty: moderate
Map
Hemlock Ridge
Length: 2.0 km
Map.
Theme: plant communities of the park
Features: views of a beaver pond; rock crevasses
Difficulty: moderate
Length: 2.0 km
Map.
Theme: plant communities of the park
Features: views of a beaver pond; rock crevasses
Difficulty: moderate
Tallow Rock Bay (aka The Westside Trail)
Length: 10 km
Trail guide: For an excellent map with pictures and points of interest, check out www.trailpeak.com
Map
Features: scenic lookouts; more remote areas of the park; floating bridge
Difficulty: difficult
Length: 10 km
Trail guide: For an excellent map with pictures and points of interest, check out www.trailpeak.com
Map
Features: scenic lookouts; more remote areas of the park; floating bridge
Difficulty: difficult
Blue Mountain
Accessible by water from the Huckleberry Hollow picnic site
Length: 5.7 km
Map
Features: scenic lookout (the highest point in Leeds County)
Difficulty: difficult
Accessible by water from the Huckleberry Hollow picnic site
Length: 5.7 km
Map
Features: scenic lookout (the highest point in Leeds County)
Difficulty: difficult