Guindon Park in Cornwall: Beautiful and Quiet Forest Trails

Guindon Park is a wonderful place to go for a walk in northwestern Cornwall. It’s a hidden gem frequented only by locals, and you can spend the whole day exploring the park and participating in outdoor activities here. The park itself is 500 acres of greenspace nestled on the St. Lawrence River. So, there are opportunities to experience Guindon Park by land and by water.

I’ll be writing mostly about the hiking trails here, but I also went kayaking when I visited Guindon Park. If you love getting out on the water to shake things up a little, I encourage you to experience the glass-bottomed kayaks that you can rent at the park.

Guindon Park Trail Map

Here is a trail map of Guindon Park. As you can see, there are many interconnecting paths and trails to explore. It will certainly take a while to wander around all of them. You can visit Guindon Park again and again for new experiences each time on these “choose your own adventure” paths.

The multi-purpose trails that are perfect for walking are marked in white, black, blue, yellow, red, orange, green and brown. There are also mountain biking/snowshoeing trails marked in pink (these ones are really narrow paths through the trees), a BMX track in blue, and the Cornwall Recreational Path runs along the northern edge of the park (orange).

Exploring the Trails at Guindon Park

There are three entrances to Guindon Park. I suggest starting your journey at the Eastern Entrance where you’ll find a spacious parking lot and the main trailhead. During my hike, I walked primarily on the red and yellow trails, forming one giant loop. There are other points where you can divert onto other trails to extend your hike or take different routes.

This is a really enjoyable, casual walk through the woods. The paths are pretty flat and easy. These trails are great for beginner hikers, they’re kid-friendly, and they are dog-friendly (keep on a leash, please!). In the winter, you can also go cross-country skiing on these trails, too. Along the way, you might spot some small bodies of water and wildlife.

When I went hiking here on a weekday morning in the summer, I practically had the whole place to myself. I only passed by one other person on the trails during my hike. If you love quiet forest walks, I am certain you’ll adore Guindon Park. As I walked around, I could only hear the sounds of my own footsteps and the sounds of birds chirping.

Love geocaching? You will find a few geocaches hidden throughout Guindon Park. Geocaching is a great way to incorporate a treasure hunt type of game into your hikes.

Kayaking at Guindon Park

There are lots of other activities you can do at Guindon Park. Cycling is one of those activities, whether it’s cycling on a flat path on the recreational trail, mountain biking through the forest, or getting adventurous on the BMX track. Another great activity at Guindon Park is kayaking.

If you’re looking to go kayaking, make your way over to the Trillium Drive entrance where you’ll find another huge parking lot. It’s possible to rent glass-bottom kayaks from Boatingery Adventure Trends. It costs $50 for 2 hours, and you’ll have a blast floating on the water in a fully transparent kayak.

The water is so calm at Guindon Park. It’s a protected cove where you won’t experience any big waves or large boats passing by. It’s very quiet and peaceful, and you will see a ton of birds, too. If you love being out on the water where you’re surrounded by wildlife, check out the kayaking at Guindon Park. Reserve your kayak ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

Plan Your Visit

It’s easy to plan your visit to Guindon Park. Hiking at the trails is free, parking is free, and there are no reservations required. There are three entrances to the park (Eastern Entrance, Floral Drive and Trillium Drive). Start your roundtrip hike from the Eastern Entrance.

There is a building with restrooms at the Trillium Drive entrance. There’s also a playground for kids at the Trillium Drive parking lot, and this is also where you’ll find a boat launch and kayak rentals. The Floral Drive entrance leads to a grassy area with picnic tables and another restroom.

More Things to Do in Cornwall, Ontario

Another fantastic place to go hiking in Cornwall is Gray’s Creek Conservation Area. You’ll find more peaceful, quiet strolls through the forest. Cornwall is also an amazing destination for cycling. You can ride your bike on the Waterfront Trail for some scenic, carefree rides. Please take a look at my travel guide for Cornwall that will show you 25 amazing things to do there.

Where to Stay in Cornwall

More Hikes in South Eastern Ontario

Looking for more parks and hiking trails in South Eastern Ontario? Here’s a great list to get you started!

• Bleasdell Boulder Conservation Area
• Sager Conservation Area
• Gray’s Creek Conservation Area
• HR Frink Conservation Area
• 5+ Best Hiking Trails in the Bay of Quinte Region
• Best Hikes in the Thousand Islands Region
• Marble Rock Conservation Area
• Jones Creek Trails (1000 Islands National Park)
• Landon Bay Trails (1000 Islands National Park)
• Sheffield Conservation Area
• Topsy Farms Trails, Amherst Island
• Potter’s Creek Conservation Area
• Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve
• Lemoine Point Conservation Area
• Menzel Centennial Provincial Nature Reserve
• Rock Dunder Nature Reserve

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