Frontenac Park: Slide Lake Loop
This dreamy backcountry trail in the heart of the Frontenac region provides one of the most difficult day hikes in Ontario.
The Slide Lake Loop trail is found in Frontenac Park, a short drive north of Kingston, Ontario. It has a combination of rocky, forested, and wildlife-rich terrain. Although the trail doesn’t have too much elevation, it feels like more because the views are fantastic.
The loop follows a ridge along the length of Slide Lake, but continues much further through Frontenac’s incredible network of hiking trails. The middle section provides respite through an easy, gentle forest. Finally, the last leg climbs to another series of rocky lookouts.
To get there, you can either park inside Frontenac Park at the Big Salmon Lake parking lot (you’ll have to pay), or at an access point on Perth Road. Either way, you’ll have to hike into the loop from the parking area. Perth Road was further but free, so I accepted the challenge.
Frontenac Park: Slide Lake Loop
Length: 26.6 km
Elevation: 332 m
Type: Loop
Time: 7.5 hours
Difficulty: Hard
View the map on AllTrails to find the location of the Perth Road access point.
Why I Loved Hiking the Slide Lake Loop
Varied and unique landscapes to photograph and enjoy.
The Frontenac region is teeming with wildlife.
Rugged trail conditions provide incredible exercise.
Easy access to more trails from this loop.
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Key Hiking Gear
You need a good moisture-wicking base layer for this trail due to drastic changes in temperature.
Adidas Terrex Agravic trail running shoes are quite well-suited for rugged, technical day hikes.
A Challenge for Experienced Ontario Hikers
At 26.6 kilometers, this was a challenge I couldn’t pass up. The GPS on my phone reported that I had actually walked closer to 30 kilometers during the loop, an oddity reported by many other hikers who accessed the loop from Perth Road.
I woke up extra early on a cold October morning to be at the trailhead by dawn, so it was misty and magical for the first hour of my hike. The trailhead had a spooky, gothic feel, and mist and dew poured from the grass and trees as the sun rose and heated the frost. A few deer leaped away into the forest as I crept along.
About a third of my way through the trail, I was a bit nervous when I realized how slow my pace was over the rugged first section. However, the middle leg is quite moderate, allowing you to make good time and rest your limbs a bit before scrambling over more elevation at the end of the loop.
This was almost a year ago now, but it’s still fresh in my memory because of how utterly beautiful and challenging it was, which has become the standard for what I look for in a hike. I recommend this to anyone looking for a challenge in eastern Ontario during any season.