Frontenac K&P Trail Information Hub

Frontenac County has introduced a new requirement for all motorized off-road recreational users of the K&P Trail. Beginning April 1, 2025, all ATV and side-by-side users must hold a valid membership with the Frontenac ATV Club (OFATV), the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA), or another authorized partner organization to access designated sections of the trail.

This change aligns with best practices for trail sustainability and maintenance, ensuring that all motorized users contribute financially to trail upkeep, safety, and infrastructure improvements. The new requirement applies to the motorized section of the K&P Trail managed by Frontenac County between Bellrock Road (KM 39) and Mississippi River (KM 98).

Why This Change?

The updated agreements with the Frontenac ATV Club (an affiliate of the OFATV) and the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA) formalize the role of ATV riders in helping maintain and enhance the K&P Trail. Contributions from club memberships will support:

• Annual trail maintenance and dust suppression efforts

• Expanded Trail Warden patrols from the Frontenac ATV Club for safety monitoring and compliance

• Public amenities, including comfort stations and garbage management

“Requiring memberships ensures that ATV users directly support the sustainability of the K&P Trail,” said Richard Allen, Manager for Economic Development with Frontenac County. “This model is widely used across Eastern Ontario and will help preserve the trail for all users, motorized and non-motorized alike.”

How It Works

• ATV and side-by-side users must hold a membership with the Frontenac ATV Club, the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA), or another authorized partner organization.

• Motorized vehicles are not permitted in areas where signage prohibits access, as per By-law 2022-0033.

• Spot checks by the Frontenac ATV Club and the OPP SAVE Team will take place to educate trail users about the new policy, and to help direct users to where permits and passes may be purchased.

• An OFATV Memberships can be purchased through the Frontenac ATV Club website or an EOTA Permit can be purchased through the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance website.

Stay Informed & Get Your Membership

Riders can obtain their membership through the Frontenac ATV Club or the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance websites. The County encourages ATV users to stay informed by visiting the official Frontenac County website and social media pages.

Frontenac County is pleased to announce the completion of rehabilitation work on 8 kilometres of trail between Clarendon Station and the Mississippi River. This extension north into the Township of North Frontenac marks an important milestone in this strategic economic development initiative. The work, carried out in October and November 2024, included key realignments and safety improvements to enhance the trail experience. We encourage trail users to explore this newly rehabilitated section and take the opportunity to connect with local businesses nearby.

The Frontenac K&P Trail is part of the Eastern Ontario Rail Trail Loop, a 360 kilometre network of rail trails that provide a uniquely Canadian rural cycling experience. To learn more, visit the project webpage hosted by Ontario's Highland's Tourism Organization.

This rehabilitation project was made possible with support from the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program provided by the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs. A funding announcement and ribbon-cutting event took place on December 16, 2024. This improved section of trail will be open for all users in 2025.

Frontenac County Warden Lichty with Parliamentary Assistant Steve Pinsonneault and MPP John Jordan at the Funding Announcement Event

The existing bridge has been removed at Elbow Creek and preparations for the new prefabricated bridge are almost completed, well ahead of the bridge's arrival. The new bridge will be delivered and installed in mid November. Below are photos of the works under way.

Bridge partially removed.

Foundation concrete pour

Excavator removing existing piles

Foundation for bridge footings

The County of Frontenac is replacing the K&P Trail bridge located at Elbow Creek. To facilitate this work, the K&P Trail will be closed between Ball Road to Fish Creek Road beginning on October 2, 2023. The K&P Trail will be closed between KM 56 near Ball Road and Fish Creek Road (approximately KM 59.5) to all users. This 3.5 kilometre closure is to facilitate the access of construction equipment to the project sites and to ensure that the public is not at risk during the process of replacing the bridges. Please plan your trail trips accordingly and enjoy the other sections of the K&P trail during the closure this fall.

For K&P Trail maps https://www.frontenaccounty.ca/en/things-to-do/kp-trail.aspx#

Background

The Elbow Creek Bridge was constructed in 2015 along with the Fish Creek Bridge using a proprietary system of prefabricated bridge construction, consisting of fibreglass and wood. In 2017 it was discovered that the Fish Creek Bridge was failing as the material sealing the bridge deck was permitting water inside the structure, causing the wood to expand and push against the construction. The deck of this bridge was replaced in August of 2018.

During the spring of 2021, it was discovered that a similar structural failure was taking place on the Elbow Creek Bridge. Subsequent investigations revealed that the bridge can support significant static loads but that it is in a deteriorating condition. In response, the County has had the bridge monitored by professional engineers and limited the size of vehicles using the bridge. After evaluating several recommendations for replacement, it was determined that the purchase and placement of a prefabricated structure with a load limit of 12 tonnes would be the most cost-effective solution without impacting the operation of the trail.

The work of replacing the bridge is expected to take 6-8 weeks, and will require a complete closure of the trail at Elbow Creek. As such, the work and trail closure has been scheduled during late fall, a very slow time for trail traffic. This schedule also permits space for additional weeks of work, if necessary, in late November prior to freeze-up or snowmobile season.

Oclean Lane

The Township of Central Frontenac is also replacing the bridge at Oclean Lane on a similar schedule. The Oclean Lane bridge is located near the Elbow Creek Bridge, and in order to realize any possible efficiencies the contract for site works was jointly tendered and awarded to the same contractor. Work at both locations will take place during the closure period.

Funding Support & Partnership

The replacement of the Elbow Creek bridge has been made possible with financial assistance from the Trans Canada Trail, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and the Verona District ATV Club.

Frontenac County Council has received a request to extend ATV access on the Frontenac K&P Trail south from Bellrock Road in the village of Verona to the village of Harrowsmith and is reaching out to neighbours of the trail in this area to allow input on allow ATV use on this section of the trail.

You can provide your perspective by completing a brief survey before June 21,2023. The survey, public meeting details and additional background information can be found at: https://engagefrontenac.ca/extended-access-for-atvs-on-k-p-trail

On September 21, 2022 County Council passed Bylaw No. 2022-0033 - A By-Law to Regulate and Govern the Use of the Frontenac K&P Trail.

The By-law mandates certain criteria on the trail to ensure the safety and well being of all trail users, as well as respects and protects the natural environment of trail, and Frontenac in general. Key provisions of the By-law include:

• Limitations on the use of motorized vehicles on the trail;
• Formally establishing prohibited activities on the trail such as littering, not picking up after pets, camping, hunting, discharging a weapon or firearm, starting or feeding a fire, and, disturbing the natural habitat of the trail.
• Ensuring the safety of pedestrians by creating offences regarding interfering with and / or failing to yield to pedestrians
• Establishing speed limits on the trail, including Community Safety Zones through the hamlets and villages, where speed limits are reduced to 20 km/hour

Violations of this Bylaw will be addressed through the County's Administrative Penalty process. The following penalty amounts for offences as these penalties are meant to enforce compliance and deter future contraventions.

Over the course of the last 12 years, Frontenac County has undertaken the redevelopment of the former K&P rail corridor into a multi-use recreational trail, known as the Frontenac K&P Trail. This trail establishes a north-south trail spine connecting many communities through our region. To date, 70 kilometers of the former railway have been redeveloped between the City of Kingston boundary and Clarendon Station.

The County is now pursuing the development of the multi-use trail between Clarendon Station and Lanark County, passing through the former K&P Railway stations of Robertsville, Mississippi, and Snow Road. This rehabilitation project will involve approximately 20 km of trail and 6 bridge structure.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the Spring of 2022.

With the most of the upgrades to the Verona Trailhead now complete, the site can open for use over the May long-weekend. Line-painting, topsoil and grass-planting will take place shortly, along with some new signage to support wayfinding on the trail and within the village of Verona.

The County of Frontenac asks all residents and visitors to please avoid parking at the Verona Trailhead during the week of April 4-8, 2022 in order to facilitate the pouring of new curbs. This access point to the K&P Trail, located at 6503 Road 38, will undergo several upgrades over the course of April and May to improve access to the K&P Trail including:

• Installation of curbs
• Seeding of grass and planting
• Safety improvements
• Paved parking lot surface
• New wayfinding signage

Work began in November of 2021 and included levelling and grading the site in preparation for the work this spring. If you have any questions regarding the works taking place at the Verona Trailhead, please direct them to Richard Allen, Manager of Economic Development by email or by calling (613) 548-9400 ext 330.