Your visit to Murphy’s Point will likely be an enjoyable trek through this Provincial Park. Six loops on this 22 km circuit give you route options and none of them are too difficult.
Murphy’s Point is halfway between Kingston and Ottawa on the Rideau Canal Waterway. About an hour and a half drive will get you there from either city.
I recently dropped by to explore and take in the beauty and solitude of this cross-country ski area. It is now on my Favourites list.
This location is a popular spot for local skiers, yet rustic. Two warming cabins, outhouses, posted trail signage is all you get…and well-groomed track by the Tay Valley Ski Club.
From the main parking lot, the trail starts off rather narrow, but this is not an indication of the rest of the loops.
Actually most of the track is through the park campgrounds on wide gravel roads with no nasty hills and ample room to manoeuvre. You cannot tell, except for the picnic tables buried in snow. This does give the forest a more open feel.
At one point I realized I was skiing through my former campsite of 6 months ago. So weird!
My wife roamed the Snowshoe trails (as I skied) and found a few kilometres of sure-footed tramping, and then things petered out with no tree markers for guidance. Snowshoeing is not the main draw here and you will have to make your own way likely along non-groomed hiking trails.
You are allowed to traverse ski trails to get elsewhere, as long as you are not damaging the set tracks. By these means, you could try the 2.5 km Sylvan Trail or the 5 km Point Trail further in. It might be packed down by a snowmobile for you.
At the other parking lot by the Lally Chalet homestead, there is a 3 km Silver Queen Mine loop you can also try.
Speaking of finding your way, the Round Lake loop at 7.5 km is a backcountry ski trail that looks like fun if you wish for a more natural setting.
Skate skiers have 8 km of loops (it’s never enough lol) to glide on. I thought the routes were well laid out for your enjoyment.
This park is situated out in rural cottage country, so bring what you need, as the closest town for provisions or dinner is Perth, 15 minutes north.
And a final remark, as this trail is on the south end of the snow zone, don’t wait too long to put this on your list too.
