Charleston Lake Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Charleston Lake Provincial Park is located on Charleston Lake
near Athens
, Ontario
, Canada
in the township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands
.
The park occupies 23.53 km² in the Frontenac Axis
region, a southern extension of the Canadian Shield
. The park's forests and animal life, therefore, include species normally found further north, yet the southern climate allows species more typical for the southern latitude to co-exist with the northern species. The park includes hiking
trails, swimming areas and campgrounds.
The lake includes a number of islands and has an irregular shoreline which makes it an interesting location for canoe
ing and kayak
ing. The trail to Blue Mountain is only accessible by water.
Blue Mountain is also accessible off Hwy #2 on Blue Mountain Rd. It is necessary to cross private land and hard-to-follow trails to reach the summit of the breathtaking 360° view. The trek requires approx. 2 to 2.5 hours on foot or 1.5 hrs. on bike, although cyclists must carry their bikes in many places where hard granite jets out of the earth below which forms the mountain. A compass may be useful for inexperienced hikers.
This area was the site of a re-introduction program for the peregrine falcon
. The park also provides habitat for the rare and harmless black rat snake
, which is also the largest snake found in eastern Ontario.
Charleston Lake
Charleston Lake is located in South Eastern Ontario, just north east of Gananoque. The lake is carved out of the Frontenac Axis, a relatively narrow extension of the Canadian Shield bedrock which dominates the landscape of Northern Ontario. The lake is the principal watershed for the Gananoque...
near Athens
Athens, Ontario
Athens is a township in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is located approximately 25 km north of the St. Lawrence River, near Brockville, west of Addison, and about 90 km south west of Ottawa....
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands
Leeds and the Thousand Islands, Ontario
Leeds and the Thousand Islands is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within Leeds and Grenville United Counties.-Communities:...
.
The park occupies 23.53 km² in the Frontenac Axis
Frontenac Axis
The Frontenac Axis is an exposed strip of Precambrian rock in Canada and the United States which links the Canadian Shield with the Adirondack mountain range in New York, an extension of the Laurentian mountains of Québec. The axis separates the St. Lawrence Lowlands and the Great Lakes Lowlands....
region, a southern extension of the Canadian Shield
Canadian Shield
The Canadian Shield, also called the Laurentian Plateau, or Bouclier Canadien , is a vast geological shield covered by a thin layer of soil that forms the nucleus of the North American or Laurentia craton. It is an area mostly composed of igneous rock which relates to its long volcanic history...
. The park's forests and animal life, therefore, include species normally found further north, yet the southern climate allows species more typical for the southern latitude to co-exist with the northern species. The park includes hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trails, swimming areas and campgrounds.
The lake includes a number of islands and has an irregular shoreline which makes it an interesting location for canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
ing and kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
ing. The trail to Blue Mountain is only accessible by water.
Blue Mountain is also accessible off Hwy #2 on Blue Mountain Rd. It is necessary to cross private land and hard-to-follow trails to reach the summit of the breathtaking 360° view. The trek requires approx. 2 to 2.5 hours on foot or 1.5 hrs. on bike, although cyclists must carry their bikes in many places where hard granite jets out of the earth below which forms the mountain. A compass may be useful for inexperienced hikers.
This area was the site of a re-introduction program for the peregrine falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
. The park also provides habitat for the rare and harmless black rat snake
Black Rat Snake
The Western ratsnake — also called black rat snake, pilot black snake, or simply black snake — is a nonvenomous colubrid species found in North America. No subspecies are currently recognized....
, which is also the largest snake found in eastern Ontario.