We own and manage a variety of conservation areas throughout the watershed. These natural spaces are open to the public all year long from sunrise to sunset and provide outdoor recreational opportunities that help connect individuals to nature while promoting healthy living within the Quinte Watershed.
Photo Gallery: Quinte Conservation Areas will appear here on the public site.

What you need to know before visiting a Conservation Area

Conservation lands were established with the purpose of protecting the natural ecology and the overall health of our watersheds. Lands that had potential for recreational activities like hiking, birdwatching, and, picnicking are known as conservation areas. Conservation authorities throughout Ontario privately own these lands and activities, amenities, and use vary depending on the region.

Quinte Conservation owns just over 30,000 acres of land throughout the 6,000 km2 watershed. Some of those properties are conservation areas that are open for public use and collectively make up 72.9 km of nature trails.

These natural spaces are not parks and shouldn't be considered as such. Non-permitted activities can have a serious impact on plants and wildlife and can be detrimental to rare and endangered species.

Non-permitted activities are chargeable offences under Section 29 of the Conservation Authorities Act. Those in violation of the Act may be subject to a fine.

There is a standard parking and boat launch fee at most areas.

Trail Guide

Beginner Trails

  • Relatively even terrain
  • Wide trail

Intermediate Trails

  • Some elevation gain
  • Some steep sections
  • Uneven terrain

Advanced Trails

  • Elevation gain
  • Several long, steep sections
  • Rough terrain with muddy sections
  • Seasonal wet/water crossings
  • Narrow trail
Things to keep in mind during your visit

When visiting one of Quinte Conservation's Areas, please make sure to:

  • Keep your pets leashed and clean up after them at all times
  • Stay on marked trails
  • Take everything with you, including your pet's waste – there are no garbage bins
  • Never remove natural items

Please note:

  • Overnight parking and camping is not allowed
  • Alcohol is not allowed
  • Campfires are not allowed
Cross country trails and motorized vehicles

The cross-country skiing trails are not groomed and motorized vehicles are not permitted outside of designated parking areas.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • All-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes
  • Motorized or electric bikes
  • Snowmobiles
  • Cars and SUVs
  • Motorized aerial devices such as drones

Use our Interactive Conservation Area Map to plan your visit.

Download our Conservation Areas Map

See an issue?

Help us keep our outdoor spaces clean and our wildlife safe! Please report a non-emergency issue or a concern.