Kate’s Lake in Mississippi Mills: Hiking Guide

Kate’s Lake in Mississippi Mills: Hiking Guide

Kate’s Lake is one of those hikes that you definitely should take a look through the hike guide before venturing out. The two trail options to reach the lake are unmarked and cell reception is spotty at best.

Suggested Stops

It was a fantastic day first visiting Almonte (and my fave stops at Cheerfully Made and Equator Coffee) then heading out to find this hike. Kate’s Lake is one of the 23 hikes listed in the Perth Hiking Guide print out created by GirlGoneGood for Perth Tourism!

Important Insights

There is absolutely a decent amount of fauna in the area including deer and black bears. None seen on my hike however! Be sure you brush up on your Bear Wise Protocols and know how to appropriately react if you spot one. Chances are, they’ll leave you alone, but you still need to know how your protocols for black bears specifically. Also note that many trails, including these ones, are on lands that are used for hunting.⁠

Land Acknowledgement

These are the lands of the Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ and Omàmìwininìwag (Algonquin) people.⁠ It is important as avid hikers and stewards of the land, to acknowledge and understand the full story our surroundings along with the people that care for her, both past and present. As sourced from native-land.ca, if there are corrections please send to victoria@girlgonegood.com.

Land Management

Unmanaged trails.

GPS Coordinates

45.17570212088717, -76.49596664397806

Street Address

Concession Rd 6 North Darling, Clayton, ON K0A 1P0

Directions

Take the 417W and exit at March Rd. Head left (southwest) on March Rd through Almonte and continue South as it turns into Wolf Grove Rd. Take a right (west) on Tatlock Rd (County Rd 9). Follow Tatlock Rd through Clayton, and eventually take a sharp right on Concession 6 Rd North Darling. The parking is the pull off across from 1040 Concession 6 Rd North Darling.

Parking

Small parking lot at trailhead.

Cell Reception

No

Washrooms

None. Follow Leave No Trace toileting guidelines

Accessibility

No

Trail Details

Entrance Fee

Hours of Operation

All seasons. Open dawn to dusk daily.

Trail Map

None

Trailhead

See trail details.

Number of Trails

2

Total Distance (km)

6

Elevation Gain (m)

30

Cell Reception

No

Features

Woodlands, Marshlands

Activities

Hiking

Dogs

Permitted on-leash.

Trail Description

Trail Option 1 is a 5.5km out and back hike along an old forest road and ATV track. It starts 20m from the parking area, on “new road” (as listed on google maps) which is your first left. Please note that this road is not drivable. You’ll likely see a few ATVs depending on the season. Hiking up the old forest road you’ll pass a beaver pond on your right, and then a second on your left. There will be faint ATV trail offshoots along the hike. Once you reach an open field on the left, with a fenced gate and building in the distance, take the ATV trail across the road on your right and follow it through the woods (roughly 1km or less) until you reach Kate’s Lake. This is not to optimal approach for views, but you do get to take a look on your left and right and enjoy the lake. You’ll notice a set of boulders on the right side of the lake where most venture to fish or stop and enjoy the views. Trail Option 2 is and out and back hike along an old forest road and ATV track. It starts roughly 150m from the parking area and is your second left. It is unmarked except for an old yellow marker across the road from the start point. Please note that this road is not drivable. You’ll likely see a few ATVs depending on the season. This is the optimal approach for a lake view and fishing. Since I have not yet hiked this approach entirely, I’ll write more when I have the opportunity to go back and check it out for myself.

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