Three provincial parks serve the Rideau and Frontenac lake country, with mailing addresses in Sydenham, Lansdowne and Perth. Frontenac Provincial Park is a backcountry park, Charleston Lake Provincial Park is a drive-in park with 75 km of lake shoreline, and Murphys Point Provincial Park opens onto Big Rideau Lake. This guide covers seasons, campsites, trails and rules.
Facts box
| Park | Address | 2026 dates | Size, year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontenac | 6700 Salmon Lake Road, Sydenham | Jan 1 to Dec 31 (day use and backcountry camping) | 5,355 ha, 1974 |
| Charleston Lake | 148 Woodvale Road, Lansdowne | Day use and camping May 8 to Oct 18; backcountry May 8 to Oct 13 | 2,596 ha, 1976 |
| Murphys Point | 2243 Elmgrove Road, Perth | May 8 to Oct 13; winter day use Dec 11, 2026 to Mar 14, 2027 | 1,238.78 ha, 1967 |
Phones: Frontenac 613-376-3489; Charleston Lake 613-659-2065; Murphys Point 613-267-5060.
Frontenac Provincial Park
Frontenac is open all year for day use and backcountry camping. It has 54 backcountry campsites (the page also shows 51, so the figures conflict), one backcountry access point, one boat launch and two docks, and a visitor centre. Ontario Parks describes canoe routes through Frontenac’s 22 lakes and portages. Boating is only permitted on boundary lakes, and motors are not permitted on any lake in the park except Big Salmon Lake, where only electric motors are allowed.
Trails (loops unless noted): Arab Lake Gorge 1.5 km, Doe Lake 3 km, Bufflehead 8 km, Little Clear Lake 7 km, Hemlock Lake 5 km, Gibson Lake 9 km, Little Salmon Lake 10 km, Tetsmine Lake 10 km, Arkon Lake 11 km, Cedar Lake 14 km, Big Salmon Lake 17 km, Slide Lake 21 km, and the Corridor Trail, 5 km one way.
Winter: 4 km (one way) of marked cross-country ski trails, track-set when there is enough snow; the Corridor Trail dedicated to snowshoeing (Ontario Parks gives it as 8 km in winter and 5 km one way in the trail list); and ice fishing on three stocked lakes. Snowshoes are rented at the Park Office.
Fish: lake trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, black crappie, perch and brook (speckled) trout.
Charleston Lake Provincial Park
Charleston Lake has 248 campsites: 235 car camping, 122 electrical, 3 group and 10 backcountry. It has one boat launch, six docks, a visitor centre, a dog beach, and canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals. Its lake has 75 km of shoreline, and portions of Running’s Bay and Slim Bay are motorboat-free.
Trails: Sandstone Island 2.6 km, Shoreline Centennial 2 km, Beech Woods 1.8 km, Hemlock Ridge 1.7 km, Quiddity 2.4 km, Tallow Rock Bay 10 km (difficult) and Blue Mountain 5.7 km (difficult). The Sandstone Island Trail passes a rock shelter that Indigenous people used thousands of years ago.
Swimming: two buoyed beaches with a gently sloping shoreline and lake bed, one in the day-use area and one at Shady Ridge campground. No lifeguards are on duty, and animals are not permitted on the beaches. Powerboats are permitted on Charleston Lake outside the designated motorboat-free areas.
Murphys Point Provincial Park
Murphys Point has 174 campsites: 157 car camping, 47 electrical, 30 RV pull-through and 3 group. It has one launch, 13 docks, canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals, and no visitor centre. The Silver Queen Mine Trail leads from the Lally Homestead to a restored early 1900s, partially open-pit mica mine with heritage displays and a rebuilt miner’s bunkhouse. Park staff offer guided mine tours, with hardhats supplied, during the summer and on some fall weekends.
Trails: Point 5.5 km, Sylvan 2.5 km, Lally Homestead 800 m, Silver Queen Mine 2 km, Beaver Pond 1 km, McParlan House 1.8 km, Loon Lake Loop 1 km, and 6 km of the Rideau Trail, part of a 300 km trail from Kingston to Ottawa.
Winter: 4 km of skate-ski trails, 14 km of classic trails and 8 km of backcountry trails. The park works with the Tay Valley Cross-Country Ski Club to groom and track-set the classic and skate trails.
Day use, camping or a nearby cottage
Frontenac suits you if you want backcountry camping and long loops. Charleston and Murphys Point offer drive-in camping, beaches and rentals. A cottage gives you a kitchen and dock, and the parks make good day trips.
Park rules
The rules pages for all three parks say each vehicle needs a valid provincial park permit, digital or physical. Pets stay on a leash no longer than 2 metres and out of designated swimming areas and beaches. Fireplaces are designated by park staff. Ask the park about drones.
FAQ
Which park is open all year?
Frontenac, January 1 to December 31, 2026. Checked November 3 2026.
Can I tour a mine at Murphys Point?
Yes. Park staff offer guided Silver Queen Mine tours in summer and on some fall weekends, with hardhats supplied. Checked November 3 2026.
Are motors allowed at Frontenac?
Not on park lakes, except electric motors on Big Salmon Lake. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages near the parks
Browse cottages in South Frontenac or the Rideau and Thousand Islands region.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check for the Frontenac and Rideau area. Our dataset has no confirmed short-term rental rule for this municipality yet, so confirm with its clerk before you list.
Claims table
| # | Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frontenac: 6700 Salmon Lake Rd Sydenham; 613-376-3489; 5,355 ha; 1974; Jan 1-Dec 31 2026; 54 backcountry sites (51 also shown); 1 access point; 1 launch; 2 docks; visitor centre; snowshoe rentals | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/frontenac | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | Frontenac trails (13 listed); 22 lakes; boating only on boundary lakes; motors banned except electric on Big Salmon; Corridor 5 km one way in list, 8 km for snowshoeing; fish species; winter skiing 4 km one-way, 8 km Corridor Trail snowshoe, ice fishing on three stocked lakes | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/frontenac/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Charleston Lake: 148 Woodvale Rd Lansdowne; 613-659-2065; 2,596 ha; 1976; day use/camping May 8-Oct 18; backcountry May 8-Oct 13; 248 sites (235 car, 122 electrical, 3 group, 10 backcountry); 1 launch; 6 docks; visitor centre; dog beach; rentals | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/charlestonlake | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Charleston trails; two buoyed beaches, gently sloping, no lifeguards, no animals; powerboats permitted except Running’s and Slim Bay areas; 75 km shoreline; Running’s Bay and Slim Bay motorboat-free; rock shelter on Sandstone Island Trail | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/charlestonlake/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | Murphys Point: 2243 Elmgrove Rd Perth; 613-267-5060; 1,238.78 ha; 1967; May 8-Oct 13; winter day use Dec 11 2026-Mar 14 2027; 174 sites (157 car, 47 electrical, 30 pull-through, 3 group); 1 launch; 13 docks; no visitor centre; rentals; Silver Queen Mine early 1900s mica mine | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/murphyspoint | 2026-11-03 |
| 6 | Murphys Point trails; Rideau Trail 6 km in park, 300 km trail Kingston to Ottawa; Silver Queen Mine restored early 1900s partially open-pit mica mine, bunkhouse; guided tours summer and some fall weekends, hardhats supplied (‘end of June to Labour Day’ not on page: corrected); ski trails 4/14/8 km; Tay Valley Cross-Country Ski Club grooms and track-sets | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/murphyspoint/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 7 | Rules (re-cited from Bon Echo’s page to each park’s own page): permit per vehicle; leash 2 m; no pets in swimming areas/beaches; fireplaces designated | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/frontenac/rules ; https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/charlestonlake/rules ; https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/murphyspoint/rules | 2026-11-03 |
Photo: Kyle Estabrooks, on Unsplash (Unsplash License).