Ken Reid Conservation Area

Whether you enjoy hiking, cycling or cross country skiing, Ken Reid Conservation Area is a great place to spend the day. Groomed trails and child-friendly facilities provide a variety of ways for visitors of all ages to experience this natural setting. Kawartha Conservation acquired the 110 hectare (272 acre) property just north of Lindsay in 1980 from farmer Ken Reid. It is both the Authority’s flagship conservation area and home to its administrative offices.

Facilities

Ken Reid maintains three picnic shelters complete with parking lots and washroom facilities. These can be reserved by members of the community for a nominal fee. The first shelter is located a short drive from the main entrance, the second is situated at the beach and the third is within the group camp, which can be booked by community groups for day or over-night visits.

The family-friendly beach area offers a large playground structure, an unsupervised swimming area and change rooms. Feel free to drop into the Kawartha Conservation Administrative Centre where a variety of resource materials are available free of charge.

On the Trails

Ken Reid offers several loop trails that lead through forests, meadows and wetlands. A favourite route includes the floating boardwalk that winds through the provincially significant MacLaren Creek Wetland bordering Sturgeon Lake. During the summer months you can spot red bellied snakes, snapping turtles and leopard frogs here. Visitors pausing at the observation deck further along the trail may watch the osprey on the nearby nesting platform. These and other birds living in the area make it a popular destination for birders. A quiet hiker may catch a glimpse of a deer, fox, hare, or other wildlife that live in the meadows and forests of the park. Wildflower enthusiasts will enjoy the diversity of plants, but all visitors are asked to stay on the trails as poison ivy grows throughout the conservation area.

Hours of Operation

May-October 7:00 am to 9:00 pm
November-April 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
No access is permitted outside of posted hours.

In the Conservation Area, please:

• Stay on marked trails and keep pets leashed.
• Take litter out or use park cans.
• Do not pick or remove plants.
• Do not hunt or fish.
• Motorized vehicles are not permitted.
• Alcohol is not permitted.

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