K&P – Rail Trail

Length –  180 km (one way)

95% rail trail path
5% road crossings, detours

Elevation – Flat with very gradual northerly slope

Terrain – Paved in Kingston, fine crushed stone to Clarendon Station, rougher ATV track beyond to Renfrew

Skill – Easy to Clarendon Station, Intermediate to Renfrew

Maps – Good signage, map boards, trail milestones/markers

Traffic – Bicycles, hikers, horses, snowmobiles, X-country skiers; north of Verona ATVs and dirt bikes permitted

Facilities – Parking lots, a few outhouses, benches, enough amenities can be found on the route in villages to bridge the journey

Highlights – Rock cuts, old train stops, small train museum in Sharbot Lake 

Trail Fee – Free

Phone – 613 548 9400

Website –  County of Frontenac, City of Kingston

Similar Trails – Victoria RT, Cataraqui RT, Ottawa Valley RT

Local Clubs – Kingston Cycling Club

Access – Many parking lots are provided on this route; suggested start points:  

– West end of Dalton Ave., Kingston 

– Sydenham Rd. south of Hwy 401, Kingston

– Hwy 38  at Harrowsmith, Verona, Tichborne, Sharbot Lake, or Clarendon Station

– Calabogie

– Renfrew

History – (I no longer include train history in my free reviews. Only to be found in my published books.)

Coming out of Kingston is the K&P Rail Trail, as it did over a century ago, winding its way northward into the Ontario hinterland. At approximately 180 km, it is the longest RT in the province.

This established recreational trail passes through many villages and abandoned train stops on its way through Harrowsmith at the 30 km marker, Sharbot Lake at 75 km, and Calabogie at 159 km, ending after 180 km in Renfrew.

The southern half to Clarendon Station, the 90 km mark, has been nicely resurfaced for gravel bikes. Beyond this, expect a rougher ride where you have to pick your line to avoid a spill and rattling your molars.

I finally had a chance to ride the K&P for a few days this summer with my cycling mate Bernie. It was thoroughly enjoyable, with few bugs, if not a bit too HOT and humid.

Starting in downtown Kingston, we picked up what little was left of this railway at Bay St. & Wellington St. It soon became a convoluted patchwork of RT paths and boring road bypasses.

Basically, leaving Kingston is messy and it would be best for you to pick up the trail at the edge of town, on the west end of Dalton Ave or off Sydenham Rd. From here, the bicycling is pleasant, as it should be—and on the actual old train route.

Once you’ve gone through the tunnel, under the 401, and up and around the railbed switchback, you’re into farm country. Overgrown bushes and trees obscure many of the views.

There are a few interesting rock cuts as this path makes its way to Harrowsmith, which was a good point to end our first day.

We both thought the second day was a better ride. North of Harrowsmith, the scenery changes frequently from…

Read the rest of this review and 59 others in my NEW book, Volume 2 of Best Bicycle Park & Rail Trails in Ontario.