(Caption for title image: As windmills create renewable energy in the background on Wolfe Island, a sailboat prepares to enter the St. Lawrence River from Lake Ontario, near the shores of Kingston.)
Story & Photographs by Ben Martin
When the British defended what would become the territory known as Canada in subsequent years, one of the key locations in terms of military, economic and civilian importance was Kingston and surrounding area. To this day, Kingston is known for its re-enactments of pre-Confederation life at Fort Henry and the town bustles with the nostalgic lore of years past; visible in its architecture and laid-back, stylish bistro restaurants and patios with locals and tourists mixing together along its main streets. There is an unmistakeable authenticity to Kingston.
What is perhaps less known are the multitude of outdoor activities that can be found throughout the surrounding Rideau Lakes area. On a recent excursion, Outdoor Action Ontario (OAO) was able to capture a taste of this experience to share with our readers. With a small cottage at the Opinicon Pines Resort on Opinicon Lake, OAO had an excellent base of operations for several days of activities lined up, including hiking, kayaking, angling and touring local sites. Historical sites, food, music and other aspects of the local culture would all be soaked up.
Opincon LAKE
A mother loon is followed by her young on Opinicon Lake, in the Rideau Lakes region.
Opinicon Lake is a small body of water in comparison to other waterways in the Rideau Lakes region, but it is home to a thriving ecosystem that is well worth the time to experience and explore. Thankfully the author had ample time to travel routes out of the way of others, getting into the farthest reaches of the lake, all to document the opportunities that await those who relish getting off the beaten path in search of adventure.
Although OAO’s main objective of capturing a family of Otters on camera was unsuccessful (although they were spotted and the author was able to locate their den for a future opportunity) there is such an abundance of wildlife that it hardly spoiled the expedition. There are so many animals amongst the forest and lake that even the most avid outdoor nature photographers will find themselves quite occupied if they visit the region.
The Gateway to Opinicon
A particularly memorable experience was travelling by kayak to the “Gateway to Opinicon” and getting over a beaver dam to paddle a small creek that connects Hart Lake to Opinicon Lake. The stone walls on either side seemed like something out of a movie set, as the author envisioned courier de bois and First Nations possibly meeting and trading pelts and other items here, centuries before.
Loons are a frequent site in the Bays of Opinicon Lake. It is not uncommon to see groups of 3-5 of them paddling together and hunting schools of bait fish. On this particular visit the author was able to get footage of a mother loon leading her two young chicks across the windy waters.
Opinicon Lake is a beautiful area to explore and if you are in the Rideau Lakes region a visit would be a great experience for you and your family.
Kingston
The Tragically Hip Way, along the main waterfront in Kingston.
No trip to Kingston/Frontenac would be complete without visiting the historic city of Kingston, which almost ended up as Canada’s future capital before that honour was bestowed upon Bytown, now known as Ottawa.
During the summer season, there is an endless supply of action in this bustling urban hub. The water plays a prominent role, with the Rideau Lakes system somewhat less renowned than the mighty St. Lawrence River or Lake Ontario. The sport-fishing and other water sports in the region are plentiful with these beautiful waterways just waiting for you to discover them.
This particular weekend happened to coincide with the 2016 Kingston Canadian Open bass tournament Championship, with Canadian fishing celebrities like “Big Jim” McLaughlin and JP DeRose in town for the big event (for more information on the 2017 Kingston Open, visit here: http://csfl.ca/kingston-open/) Teacher Steve Voros, from Aylmer, Ontario, took home top honours and $12,000 in prize money over the 3-day tourney. You don’t need to be a tournament angler to enjoy fishing in these parts – the waterways are famous for big fish and people visit from all over the world for a chance at walleye, bass and musky all in the “Fish of a Lifetime” category.
“Big Jim” McLaughlin and JP DeRose work the crowd at the weigh-in on the last day of the Kingston Canadian Open Bass Tournament Championship.
“Big Jim” McLaughlin’s Shimano truck out front of the Rogers K-Rock Centre during the weigh-in.
The rest of the waterfront was extremely busy, as were the lined-up patios and amazing restaurants. Out on Lake Ontario, rows of sailboats could be seen far out on the waters, as pleasure-seekers sought out adventure as far as the eye could see.
Kingston’s bay offers a stunning view of the City, as overseen from the entrance to Fort Henry.
Kingston is an interesting city to visit because you get the history and culture of Canada’s time before confederation. A visit to Fort Henry is unique as you get to see what like was actually like in pre-confederation times. Local actors are employed along with volunteers and historians all to tell tales of life in Kingston circa 1867.
This is a great place to take the kids as they can learn some historical facts about early Canada as well as experience some lively entertainment. Not to be missed – the Sunset Ceremony is a beautiful experience that your children won’t soon forget. There are also special events taking place during the day, as Children can “enlist” as recruits for some mock training experiences in the centre of the Fort Henry square.
New Recruits for the Crown line up for inspection at mid-day.
All in all, a visit to Kingston and the surrounding region will give your family a chance to experience everything that makes Ontario great – some unique history, culture and world-ranked Outdoors activity. Get out this summer and explore the Rideau Lakes and Kingston/Frontenac region – you will be glad you did!
For more information please visit:
http://www.twprideaulakes.on.ca/tourism.html