Conservation Area
Ken Reid Conservation Area is a 110-hectare (272-acre) property that provides protection to forests, meadows and the provincially significant McLaren’s Creek Wetland. There are 12 interconnected trails that total almost 12 km. A favourite route includes the floating boardwalk.
Amenities include a playground, picnic shelters, a group camping area, an off-leash dog park, a wetland-viewing platform, and The Talking Forest. As well, the Victoria Rail Trail intersects the conservation area, providing a direct link for rail trail users.
Ken Reid Conservation Area is open year-round. and is also home to our Off-Leash Dog Park and to our Administrative Centre.
Ken Reid Conservation Area is located 3 km north of Lindsay and can be accessed at 277 Kenrei (Park) Rd., at the north end of Angeline St. or from Highway 35.
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Ken Reid Conservation Area Trail Map
Parking
Parking is available at multiple locations at Ken Reid Conservation Area from April to November. Annual parking passes and daily parking can be purchased in a number of ways for your convenience. Those looking to purchase Senior Annual parking passes may do so by contacting the Administrative Centre.
Parking is $4 including HST per vehicle per day, or $84.75 including HST for an annual parking pass, which includes all Kawartha Conservation conservation areas. Seniors 65 + can get an annual Parking Pass, good for any of our conservation areas for $67.80.
| Pay on-site using our Pay and Display |
|
Pay for your daily parking pass using our pay and display machine. As you enter the park, stop at the pay and display machine to purchase your daily parking pass using coins, Visa, Mastercard or American Express. Place your ticket on your dash, face up, so information is visible through windshield. Annual parking passes can be purchased by contacting our Administrative Centre. |
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Pay on-line or with mobile app |
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Visitors can pay for parking using the Passport Parking Mobile App or Passport Parking website. Once you had logged in, input Zone 3181 for Ken Reid Conservation Area. The Passport Parking Mobile App is available for Android and Apple. |
| Contact our Administrative Centre |
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Contact us at our Administrative Centre during regular business hours to purchase your Annual or Senior Annual parking pass. |
| Parking type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Daily rate | $4 |
|
Annual pass |
$84.75 |
|
Seniors annual pass (65+) |
$67.80 |
Facilities
Ken Reid offers:
- Year-round paid parking
- Washrooms
- Accessible washrooms (located at the (former) beach parking area)
- Picnic shelters
- Garbage cans
- Hiking trails
- Accessible trail
- Lookout
- Boardwalk
- Playground
- Outdoor Classroom
- Group Camp
- Field Centre
- Administrative Building
Facility rentals
Rent one of our facilities for your next celebration, corporate event or field trip. Ken Reid Conservation Area offers a number of different facility rentals to meet your needs. Not sure if Ken Reid Conservation Area can host your event; contact our Conservation Areas Technician to see if we can help.
| Outdoor Classroom |
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Available for half or full day rentals. |
| Field Centre |
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Consider booking the Field Centre for your next event at Ken Reid. Located directly across from the
Available for hourly (minimum three hours required) and daily rentals. |
| Group Camp |
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Group camp provides a unique outdoor setting with ample privacy and lots of space for all of your event Tucked away in the back of Ken Reid, Group Camp offers guests with access to a variety of amenities including:
Stay for the day or bring your tent and spend the night; group camp is available for daily and overnight rentals. |
| Private event |
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Looking for a large outdoor space to host your next event? Consider booking Ken Reid Conservation area. Ken Reid has been host to large scale events such as Christmas at Ken Reid, Trillium Lakeland District Schoolboard's Eco Summit and annual cross-country runs. With access to open greenspace and facilities such as garbage cans, vaulted privies and picnic shelters, there's something for every occasion. |
The Outdoor Classroom is located behind the Field Centre at Ken Reid Conservation Area. With access to a chalkboard, seven tables and seating for approximately 30 people, the Outdoor Classroom makes a great addition to any field trip. 
needs, from family reunions and birthday parties to corporate events.| Facility | Half day | Full day | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Classroom | $55 + HST | $110 + HST | - |
| Field Centre | $30/hour (minimum 2 hours) + HST | $175 + HST | - |
| Group Camp | - | $75 + HST | $150 + HST |
| Private event | - | $250 + HST | - |
Activities
Ken Reid has lots to offer. You can:
- Hike or bike on 10 km of trails
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing (trails ungroomed)
- Try birding with our free Bird Checklist
- Walk your dog on leash along our trails or at the Off-Leash Dog Park
- Launch a canoe or kayak on Sturgeon Lake - access points accessible from the Dragonfly parking lot, or the old beach area. A brief portage from the parking lot is required to reach both access points.
- The Talking Forest
** Please note that fishing within Ken Reid Conservation Area is not permitted.
Events at Ken Reid
We host a variety of events at Ken Reid, Including:
- Christmas at Ken Reid
- Camps for kids
- Forest therapy
- Seniors walks
- Guided hikes
For a full list of events, please visit our Events Calendar.
Getting here
We are located north of Lindsay at 277 Kenrei Road, east of Highway 35. We are also on the Victoria Recreation Corridor for cycling and hiking access.
About
In 1857, Isaac W. Reid bought the land at the mouth of McLarens Creek which we know today as Ken Reid Conservation Area. The Reid family never lived on the land, they farmed it and owned a gravel pit on the western portion of the property. In 1871, George Laidlaw built the Victoria Railway across the property and Canadian National Railway used it until 1981. In 1981, Kawartha Conservation bought the Reid property with a grant from the Nature Conservancy of Canada. In 1982, Kawartha Conservation received a grant from Ministry of Natural Resources to develop the land into the Conservation Area you know and love today.
Management Plan
Ken Reid Conservation Area (Ken Reid CA) is a 110-hectare (272 acre) property located on Sturgeon Lake at the outlet of McLaren Creek, 6 km north of Lindsay, Ontario. It was purchased by Kawartha Conservation in 1981, with the goal of providing the community a place to interact with and to appreciate the natural environment.