The passionate hiker

The passionate hiker
Early days in the outdoors

Saturday, May 19, 2018

The Rideau Trail 2018 End-to-End Hikes: 6B. Upper Rock Lake Blue Side Trail Junction (05F) to Skycroft Access Trail (06A)


Fri. 18 May: 
The Rideau Trail 2018 End-to-End Hikes: 
6B. Upper Rock Lake Blue Side Trail Junction (05F) to Skycroft Access Trail (06A)



Note: click on pictures for full size view.

I almost got lost a couple of times. 

Either I wasn’t paying attention or the signage wasn’t great.  Either way, it’s a lesson for anyone travelling this (or any) section of the Rideau Trail.  Keep your eye out for unexpected turns and open areas where no signs are visible.

This lovely trail climbs to some of the more open high points along the route, as well as dropping into the small valleys, where the ground was still damp under foot.  Bright green woodland throughout, and swamps and lakes beside the trail.  Once into the Skycroft area, there are some interesting old signs, pointing to trails that may, or may not, still exist.

By the time I emerged at the Skycroft Access point, I had once more caught up with the End-to-End, roughly ten-person, juggernaut that is rolling northwards from Kingston to Ottawa.

Next episode of this tale is scheduled for May 27th.

Access trailhead for start of hike:
Upper Rock Lake blue trail at Opinicon Road

Trees budding out

Trail follows the edge of this unnamed small lake

Gentle woodland valleys

A few obstructions along the way

Some sort of fictional animal beside Lindsay Lake?

There's a wilderness campsite near this spot

I wondered whether the Burtch Trail still exists and where it goes

A little gem along the way

Can the reader tell us what's happening here?

More old signs on Skycroft land

Here I exited the main Rideau Trail on the Skycroft Access blue trail

Exit point on Opinicon Road

Opinicon Resort's famous ice cream parlour is open for the season!



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