Our Goals


Route to date


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...promoting the development of the Kingston & Pembroke Railway (K&P) right-of-way as a multi-use trail.

News Flash - Summer 2012 - Trail now continuous from City of Kingston to Harrowsmith

Official Opening of Frontenac K&P Trail: Phase 1 - August 31, 2012
more info

Trails are hallmarks of livable communities and of cities that are built on a human scale. Despite its scenic location, Kingston has had very few dedicated off-road trails until now, and those it had were short and did not connect with other trail systems. However, there are 14 kilometers of unused railbed in the rural areas of Kingston and another 7 km within the old city limits of Kingston, parts of which have now been transformed into a viable multi-use pathway capable of supporting cycling, hiking, cross-country skiing and equestrian activities.

Nick-named by locals as the "Kick and Push", the K&P Railroad has been abandoned for years, but offers the opportunity to provide a trail extending from Kingston to Harrowsmith and then to Tichborne, potentially reaching as far north as Sharbot Lake. At Harrowsmith, the trail now connects with the existing Cataraqui Trail, a part of the Trans-Canada Trail network. The K&P right-of-way (ROW), previously owned by Bell Canada, has now been partly acquired by the city of Kingston (rural area) and Frontenac County has acquired much of the rest of the ROW south of Tichborne.

OUR GOALS

 To promote the public acquisition of the K&P right-of-way (ROW) from Kingston to Harrowsmith and to promote a future acquisition of the ROW to Sharbot Lake

 To promote the development of the K&P right-of-way into a non-motorized, multi-use (cycling, hiking, cross-country skiing, equestrian) pathway in the Kingston area and northward.

 To promote the use and maintenance of trails as a recreational and transportation alternative.

  NOTE: The K&P Trail Group neither owns nor maintains the K&P Trail. Our role is to advocate for the preservation of this public heritage such that all residents of the City of Kingston and County of Frontenac and visitors to the area may benefit from its presence.

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Route to date
CLICK for downloadable map
portion of K&P Trail with City of Kingston limits


remaining segments of K&P Right-of-Way within old Kingston borders

Distances:
Cataraqui Creek to Sydenham Rd:
Sydenham Rd to Hwy 401:
401 to McIvor Rd.:
McIvor to BurBrook Rd./Jackson Mills:
Jackson Mills to BurBrook/Cordukes Rd:
Cordukes to Unity Rd.
Unity Rd. to Orser Rd.

(Frontenac K&P)
Orser Rd to Murton Rd
Murton Rd to Scanlon Rd
Scanlon Rd to Cataraqui Trail
Cataraqui Trail to Road 38
Road 38 to N. continuation of K&P
1.2 km
1.9 km
0.5 km
1.4 km
1.8 km
2.5 km
5.3 km


1.2 km
2.4 km
3.1 km
1.2 km
0.8 km

NOTE: Motorized vehicles (except for local farm vehicles) are not allowed on the city portion of the trail

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News / Events

Official Opening of Frontenac K&P Trail (Phase 1)
August 31, 2012 - starting at 10:30am
Road 38 & K&P Trail, Harrowsmith

A relay of user groups will carry a railway spike along the length of Phase 1, from Orser Road to Road 38. If you wish to take part in this historic event, please arrive at the junction of the Frontenac K&P Trail and Road 38 (in Harrowsmith) at 10:30 a.m. and join our group of walkers in completing the last leg of the relay.
Following the relay, Janet Gutowski, Warden of the County of Frontenac will announce the official opening of the trail.
Local refreshments will be provided. For more details, email avandervelde@frontenaccounty.ca

It is now possible to walk or cycle all the way from Kingston to Harrowsmith on the K&P. The surface for the full distance is stone dust, a fine ground stone that is easy to walk or cycle on. The County improvements add an additional 8 km to the trail (starting from Orser Rd, the terminus of the City portion of the trail), for a total of about 23km. Use of the trail is strictly at the user's own risk.

rock cut on new County portion of trail   new bridge over Milhaven Creek
(L) Rock cut on new County portion of trail   (R) New bridge over Millhaven Creek

connection to Scanlon Rd is down a short but steep incline   culvert under trail with date
(L) connection to Scanlon Rd is down a short but steep incline   (R) culvert under trail with date

More News

Doug Knapp raises questions about city trail completionOff the rails? K&P Trail extension into the city delayed

Click here to read the Whig-Standard article (dated June 16, 2012) featuring our own Doug Knapp, whose efforts have been instrumental in establishing the K&P Trail.

Sept. 2011
City of Kingston completes bridge across Little Cataraqui Creek and extends trail to trailhead on Binnington Court (at Dalton)
bridge across Little Cataraqui Creek   access to Little Cat Creek bridge

Dec. 6, 2007
City of Kingston opens rural portion of K&P Trail (Sydenham Rd. to Orser Rd) as part of its "Group of 7" building program. Pictures below are from the opening ceremonies at Cordukes and Bur Brook Roads. In attendance was Mr. Kimmerer's Grade 3 class from Bayridge Public School who teamed up with officials from the KFL&A Health Unit to promote their healthy lifestyle program.

 More details by George Dillon   Read it...


Mr. Kimmerer's grade 3 class joins the celebrations


Mayor Rosen officiating the opening. (What's a ceremony without a speech?)


Multi-use trails are good for skiing too!

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Progress to Date

  • 1986 - line abandoned, ROW purchased by Bell Canada
  • 1990 - Southeast Ontario Rails-to-Trails Association (SEORTA) formed to promote trail development on abandoned rail beds
  • 1998 - SEORTA disbands, K&P Trail Group formed
  • January 2000 - Kingston city council votes to support in principle the purchase of the K&P ROW by the Cataraqui Regional Conservation Authority (CRCA)
  • June 2001 - CRCA turns down request to purchase the K&P ROW, citing lack of funds for development and lack of staff for maintenance
  • April 2002 - Kingston city council votes not to sell or encumber those portions of the ROW that it already owns within the old city limits and to consider these portions for possible trail development
  • May 2002 - In response to provincial plans to upgrade portions of Highway 401 through Kingston, Kingston city council votes to retain the K&P underpass under Highway 401 east of Hwy 38, with consideration for possible future trail use
  • August 2002 - City council directs its staff to begin negotiations with Bell Canada to acquire the K&P ROW within the Kingston city limits.
  • August 2003 - Cycling and Pathways study, commissioned by the city, rates the acquisition and development of the K&P ROW as a top cycling pathway priority.
  • 2005 - Kingston city council sets the development of the K&P trail as one of its priorities over the next two budget years
    Check out the details at this City of Kingston site
  • 2007 - The City of Kingston votes to acquire the portions of the K&P right-of-way that lie within the city limits for trail purposes. Township of South Frontetac also votes to acquire a portion of the right-of-way.
  • Dec 6, 2007 - rural portion of the trail within the city limits of the City of Kingston officially opens.
  • 2007 - Frontenac County acquires the segments of the K&P right-of-way in South and Central Frontenac Townships. For a report on plans for the trail, see this Frontenac County site .
  • 2011 - City of Kingston opens bridge across Little Cataraqui Creek to continue trail to new trailhead at Binnington Court
  • 2012 - County of Frontenac completes redevelopment of section between Orser Rd and Harrowsmith

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Trail and Cycling Links

Ontario Rail Trails

Cataraqui Trail

Trans-Canada Trail

Kingston Bicycle Advisory Committee

Rideau Trail Association

Ontario Trails Council

Cycle Kingston

City of Kingston (trails page)

Trails-at-a-glance (KFL&A Public Health)

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