I’m very fortunate to live where I live. Here in Lennox & Addington the air is clean, nature is abundant, and it’s all within a stone’s throw from my home. There really is something to be said about not having to venture outside your home community to do what you love to do.
It’s no wonder that so many people visit our communities from urban areas when they want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s beautiful here.
Recently my daughter and I spent a wonderful day and night hiking, paddling, fishing and stargazing… never venturing more than an hour from my front steps. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor reading this, I hope this story will give you incentive to experience the natural beauty of Lennox & Addington.
Hiking The Great Trail:
After enjoying a nice lunch at Santorini Mediterranean Grill in Napanee, we headed north along County Road 41 to our first destination of the day. As we approached Erinsville, we both agreed that a brief stop at Beaver Lake Convenience for some ice cream would be a good idea. Ice cream is always a good idea.
About 15 minutes later we arrived at The Great Trail in Kaladar, otherwise known as the TransCanada Trail. It’s a converted rail bed that is actively used by mountain bikers, hikers and ATVers, as well as by snowmobilers in the winter. The trail is in great shape, and the views of the Canadian Shield on either side are excellent. My daughter was excited to find a few old spikes and bolts left behind when the railway ties were removed.
We traveled west towards Jack Pine Barrens Conservation Reserve, which is just under 4km one way. Currently under construction, we’re excited to explore this property when it opens to the public in 2023. A by-appointment only facility, Jack Pines is a 188-acre property that will house a variety of events, workshops and seminars that is dedicated to research, conservancy, and education of the reserve. All proceeds raised are reinvested back into a variety of programs that benefit the Reserve’s inhabitants.
Paddling and Fishing at Deerock Lake
When we arrived back at the truck after a satisfying hike, we continued our journey north to Deerock Lake Conservation Area, which is about 10 minutes north of Flinton. For those of you that have never been to this area, you’re really missing out. Previously I’d only visited this during the peak of the fall colours, but it’s nearly as impressive during the summertime too.
We unloaded our kayaks with the intent of paddling around some of the many islands, making a few casts in search of largemouth along the way. Well, after my daughter caught a nice bass on only her third cast of the afternoon, we spent the majority of our time fishing, which is completely fine by me.
Time to Stargaze at the Dark Sky Viewing Area
After a couple hours enjoying the water, it was time to pack up the kayaks and head to the Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area for some stargazing. But first, we had to make a stop at Gala’s Pit Stop in Kaladar for a delicious poutine and a pop.
Bellies full, we had some time to kill before nightfall so we made a stop at Sheffield Conservation Area for a quick swim. There wasn’t time to paddle or hike here, but both activities can be enjoyed here as well. We still had our fishing poles so, why not make a few casts here too? Sheffield CA is an amazing place to explore.
The clear skies we experienced during the day continued into the evening. It was a full house at Dark Sky, as they were hosting one of their popular laser-guided tours of the night sky, where volunteers point out constellations, asterisms, planets and prominent objects, followed by looking through a high-powered telescope If you’ve never been, we highly recommend it.
After a couple hours under a sky full of stars, we headed home. Not surprisingly, my daughter fell asleep on the way. It was a full day outside with a lot of fresh air. It was a great way to finish a fantastic day here in Lennox & Addington.
If you’re reading this and are also a resident of L&A like us, I hope you take advantage of our surroundings and have similar experiences to ours on the regular. If you live in the city, I hope you will consider making the drive to Lennox & Addington to follow in our footsteps. We think you’ll love your time here.
