Frontenac Provincial Park: Big Salmon Lake - Tetsmine Lake - Gibson Lake Loop (3 days / 32 km)

I had a great time on this solo two-night backpacking trip. It was my first time visiting Frontenac Provincial Park and I’ll definitely be back. I travelled around the north end of the park and would love to visit the south end as well, which I hear is more rugged.

The park is beautiful and the campsites are well-maintained. The north section is beginner-friendly, with not a lot of elevation gain and generally great tread. There are some sections of trail with rocks and roots, but a lot of the time I was able to cruise along easily.

There is no car camping in this park, it’s for backpacking and canoeing only, which gives it a more calm vibe than parks like Algonquin, even on a long weekend.

Trip Completed: August 2021

Trip Summary

Starting Point: Salmon Lake Parking Lot

Ending Point: Salmon Lake Parking Lot

Total Distance: 31.6 km

Elevation Gain: 564 metres (according to my watch)

Duration: 3 days / 2 nights

Difficulty: Beginner

Location

This route is located in Frontenac Provincial Park. The nearest big city is Kingston and the nearest town / county is Sydenham.

This is the route I took.

Traditional Territory: This route takes place on the traditional territory of the Anishinabewaki, the Mississauga, and the Wendake-Nionwensïo (source).

Maps & Resources

Guidebook: N/A

Map: I used the official Frontenac Provincial Park hiking/canoe route map, waterproof edition. This is a great map! Not all provincial park maps are created equal, but I was really pleased with this one. It’s about $23 from the park website for the waterproof version, and it’s definitely worth it. There are so many intersections in the park that having a good map is essential.

Campsite Reservations: Reservations are required and can be booked through the Ontario Parks online system.