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The Solitaire Trail circles around the largest lake on the reserve with a well-groomed path suitable for jogging and backwoods skiing. Other than the climb up to the Echo Rock Lookout, the grades are relatively gradual.

Beaver dam south of Windy Cave (#9)

The trail passes by numerous uniquenatural features, including a large quartz outcrop, historical homestead sites, a massive rock overhang and a lookout with stunning views.

Little Echo Rock boardwalk (#1)

Kalonga Wetland turnoff (#5)

Access to Trail Start at either the sandy beach in front of the Solitaire Lodge, or alternatively from the parking area near the Clear Lake Creek north of the main entrance gate.

Trail Links The trail links up with the Kalonga Wetland Trail as well as Bauer Provincial Park, providing opportunities to extend your hike.

Distance 13 km

Number of Steps 16,400

Diffi culty Easy to moderate

Trail Description Although this was the fi rst trail to be restored, it remains one of the most popular and interesting on the reserve.

SO L I TA I R E TR A I L

1. Little Echo Rock Boardwalk2. Colmac’s Way3. Fisher’s Cave4. Waters Edge Parking Area5. Kalonga Wetland Turnoff6. Kalonga Creek Bridge7. Teda’s Hemlock Grove

8. Langmead Settlement9. High Beaver Dam10. Windy Cave11. Hidden Cliffs Boardwalk12. Interesting Rock Formations13. Fungi Specimens14. Cross Point Landing

15. Heron Nesting Ground16. Giant White Pine Point17. Boyenne River Wetland Turnoff18. Large Quartz Outcrop19. Echo Rock Lookout20. Old growth Hemlock Forest21. Clear Lake Creek Parking Area

POINTS OF INTEREST

LAKE SOLITAIRE

Solitaire Lodge

19

20

1

2

3

4

5

6

12

13

Active Beaver Dams

Windy Caves

18

89

15

Barn

Private Cottages

Water’s Edge Parking Area

Kalonga Creek

Main Gates to Limberlost

Clear Lake Creek

South Limberlost Road Manager’s

Office

Bauer Park

7

17

Hidden Cliffs Board Walk

Cross Point Landing

10

21

16

14

11

Deer Wintering Yard

Echo Rock Lookout

Solitaire Trail Country Roads

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Echo Rock, at the northwest corner of the lake, is one of four prominent lookouts on the reserve. It provides a safe vantage point to enjoy breath-taking views of Solitaire Lake and the change in the colours of the deciduous tree leaves in the fall.

On the plateau to the south of Echo Rock you will encounter a large quartz outcrop. The size of the outcrop is unusual for this region of the country, making it well worth spending the time to examine its crystalline form.

Halfway down the west side of the lake you will fi nd a giant white pine tree which has a girth of ten feet and is more than 150 years old.

Shortly after crossing a wooden boardwalk lying at the foot of the Hidden Cliffs, you will walk below a massive rock overhang which creates a cave-like structure where birds and a variety of animals seek shelter in inclement weather.

On the east side of the lake you will pass by Teda’s Rest, a pre-pared picnic area nestled on a point among large hemlock and white pine trees.

Large quartz outcrop (#18)

Rock overhang leading to the Hidden Cliffs (#11)

S O L I TA I R E T R A I L – con t inued

After crossing a bridge which spans Kalonga Creek, you will encounter the turn-off to the Kalonga Wetland Trail, which passes by a series of active beaver dams.

Half way up the east side of the lake is another more extensive boardwalk which allows you to pass below a secondary set of cliffs. This boardwalk provides an excellent platform to fi sh for smallmouth bass which frequent the rocky ledges lying offshore.

At either end of the boardwalk you will fi nd two access points to the cliff path which enables you to extend your hike along a contour path to the Ski Hill and related trails.

Colmac’s Way (#2)

The Echo Rock Cliffs viewed from the east side of Lake Solitaire (#19)

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Safety is the Highest Priority

S O L I TA I R E T R A I L – con t inued

Points of Interest GPS Co-ordinates

Trail StartSolitaire Beach N45° 23.848 W79° 00.066Clear Lake Creek N45° 24.038 W79° 00.066

Hemlock Forest N45° 23.815 W79° 00.771Echo Rock Lookout N45° 23.665 W79° 00.854Quartz Deposit N45° 23.597 W79° 00.007Giant White Pine N45° 23.279 W79° 00.820Windy Cave N45° 23.097 W79° 00.595Teda’s Rest (camp site) N45° 23.109 W79° 00.212Kalonga Creek Bridge N45° 23.159 W79° 00.142Kalonga Wetland Trail (turn-off) N45° 23.170 W79° 00.139Cliff Paths N45° 23.503 W79° 00.297Eastern Boardwalk N45° 23.518 W79° 00.294Reazin’s Pointe N45° 23.611 W79° 00.228Link trail to Solitaire Lodge N45° 23.750 W79° 00.120

Trail Sections KM Rating

Solitaire Beach to Clear Lake Creek 1.0 8

Clear Lake Creek to Hemlock Forest 1.5 8

Echo Rock Lookout 1.5 10

Echo Rock to Quartz Deposit 1.0 10

Quartz Deposit to Giant White Pine 1.5 6

White Pine to Windy Cave 1.0 9

Windy Cave to Teda’s Rest 1.5 9

Teda’s Rest to Kalonga Creek Bridge 0.5 10

Kalonga Creek Bridge to Boardwalk 1.5 10

Boardwalk to Reazin’s Pointe 0.5 10

Reazin’s Pointe to Solitaire Beach 1.5 8

13.0

Ratings: 1 = very rough, 10 = high quality

Grades: 80% = slight grade, 10% = 20® grade, 10% = 20®+ grade