Friends of Frontenac

Frontenac Park Challenge Registration

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Frontenac Park Challenge Registration

Frontenac Park Challenge Registration

Price range: $20.00 through $200.00

Info:

Register for the Fall Frontenac Challenge

Take on the Frontenac Challenge This Fall!

 

Looking for the ultimate hiking experience? The Frontenac Challenge awaits! To complete the full Challenge, participants must hike all 11 loops & Trails in Frontenac Provincial Park—covering approximately 160 km. For a shorter option, the Trek requires completing six loops (excluding Doe Lake and Arab Lake Gorge).
All hikes must be completed between September 1 and October 31.

Along the way, look for signs with clues related to this year’s theme. Earn milestone badges at years 1, 5, 10, and every 5 years thereafter.

Registration is FREE for all members of Friends of Frontenac. Members will receive a coupon code via email before registration opens.

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Submit your Challenge answers here :

Rules:

 

1. Registration
Register online between August 1 and October 15 by adding the Challenge to your cart and checking out. Be sure to spell your name correctly, as it will appear that way on your Challenge Certificate.

 

2. Completion Period
All hikes must be completed between September 1 and October 31.  Each participant can only be recognized for one Hiking Challenge per year.

 

3. Answer Submission

Submit your answers using the Google Form above, by 11:59 PM on October 31.

 

4. Challenge Levels

  • Frontenac Challenge: Hike all 11 loops & trails.

  • Frontenac Trek: Hike any 6 loops, excluding Doe Lake and Arab Lake Gorge.

  • Junior Challenge: For kids under 12 – complete any 6 loops & trails.

5. Trail Confirmation
Each loop & trail features one prominent yellow and red sign with a clue. Record each clue in your Challenge Log.

 

6. Alternate Trail Option
You may substitute Moulton Gorge Loop (11 km) for the Little Salmon Lake Loop.

Description (clockwise):  A triangle that encompasses Moulton Gorge and is NOT labelled on the current version of the Park Map.

The East side:  Starts at the intersection next to the Bennet Home & Brich Lake Mines (at the North-East of Arkon Lake Loop) .  It runs North-East, along the shore of Birch Lake (peach on map), passing the view over Camp 8, and carrying on up to Camp 12.

West side:   From Camp 12 it comes South along the West side of Little Clear Lake, to first group of intersections.

South side:  Drops into the Gorge itself and continues along the North side of Little Salmon Lake Loop, back to the intersection at the Bennet Home & Birch Lake Mines.

Borders: This loop borders Tetsmine Lake Loop, Little Clear Loop, and a little bit of Arkon Lake Loop.   All these borders have to be repeated – do them once for Moulton Gorge Loop and do them again to count for their own loops.  You don’t have to repeat the border with Little Salmon Lake Loop, if you’re opting to hike Moulton Gorge Loop instead of Little Salmon Lake Loop.

Direction:  This description is clockwise only for convenience.  You can do the loop in any direction you choose.

7. Slide Lake Loop Rule (approx 21 km)
Slide Lake itself is located at the far east side of the park. Hiking around that lake using the 9 km Small Slide Lake Loop does NOT count as a Challenge hike. The Challenge loops is the full Slide Lake Loop, shown in a teal colour on the map below.

For the Challenge, while doing the Slide Lake Loop, you only have to hike ONE of the two sides of Slide Lake. The west shore is shorter (3.4 km) but more rugged; the east shore is longer (5.6 km) but less rugged.

 

8. No Shortcuts
Shared loop sections must be hiked twice.
Bufflehead and Dedication Trails and Small Slide Lake Loop (9km) are not part of the Challenge.

 

9. Must Hike on Foot
No transportation or carrying allowed—you must complete the Challenge on your own feet.

 

10. Cheating = Disqualification
The Challenge Coordinator has final say. Cheating includes:

  • Sharing loop clues (verbally, online, via messages)

  • Skipping shared loop & trail sections

Challenge Certificates and Badges

  • To receive your certificate and badge by mail, drop off a self-addressed stamped envelope at the park office during the Challenge.

  • Items not picked up at the Challenge Celebration in November will be left at the park office for later pickup.

Before You Start

  • Register on time    – Registration opens Aug 1 and closes on Oct 15.  After Oct 15, the fee to register is $20.

  • Plan ahead – Bring a headlamp and emergency gear—daylight is limited in the fall.

  • Check weather – Begin hikes early and be ready for surprises.

Safety & Navigation

  • Carry extra water, food, and a full first-aid kit.

  • Tell someone your planned route and direction.

  • Use GPS and bring a detailed trail map (available at the park office or order online from our store.); install What3Words for emergency location sharing.

  • Cell service is unreliable—Rogers is better than Bell, Telus, or Koodo.

  • Consider a satellite communicator (Garmin inReach, Zoleo, or Spot).

Hiking Strategy

  • Combine loops efficiently – Figure-eight routes are possible, but shared sections must be repeated.

  • Wear proper footwear – Use hiking boots or trail runners with Vibram soles—no sneakers, Crocs, or flip-flops.

  • Take care of your feet – You’ll be putting in some serious mileage.

Bonus Tips

  • Capture the moment – Share your hikes (without clue photos!) on social media here:  Friends of Frontenac Provincial Park (The Official Group) | Facebook

  • Please note that this group is independent and not affiliated with the Friends of Frontenac Park. If you’d like to join it, feel free.
    However, if you’re looking for our official group, please use this link provided above.

  • Hike with others – Join group hikes hosted by different Associations such as the Rideau Trail Association, the Sisterhood of Hikers – Kingston + Area, Kingston Outdoor
    Adventure Club.

Park Trails (excluding Moulton Gorge)

 

 Trail Name                             Distance                             Colour       

Tetsmine Lake Loop                     10 km                                    Blue         

 Gibson Lake Loop                         9 km                                   Orange       

 Hemlock Lake Loop                       5 km                                  Dark Green   

 Little Clear Lake Loop                   7 km                                   Red         

 Little Salmon Lake Loop              10 km (or 11 km)               Olive       

 Big Salmon Lake Loop                 17 km                                 Lilac       

 Cedar Lake Loop                            14 km                                Light Green 

 Slide Lake Loop (Big)                     21 km                                  Teal         

 Arkon Lake Loop                           11 km                                 Yellow       

 Doe Lake Trail                                3 km                                 Gray 

Arab Lake Trail                               1.5 km                              Burgundy

Note: Trail distances do not include access trails from parking lots.

Additional Notes

  • Bring a detailed trail map—available at the park office or order online from our store.

  • To receive your certificate and badge by mail, drop off a self-addressed stamped envelope at the park office during the Challenge.

  • Items not picked up at the Challenge Celebration in November will be left at the park office for later pickup.

Need Help?

If you’re a Friends of Frontenac member and haven’t received your coupon code, email:
frontenacchallenge@gmail.com