Massassauga Point Conservation Area

Boasting over 1,200 meters of shoreline (with both sandy and cobble beach areas) fronting on the Bay of Quinte, this 24 hectare area offers a scenic stopover for boaters and an attractive spot for picnicking and hiking. In the winter, there is excellent cross country skiing on the marked trails. A project is underway to rehabilitate the globally rare Bur Oak Savannah that is found here. This rehabilitation will also return some of the unique and very important Alvar and prairie species, such as Prairie Smoke and Early Buttercup. In the early 1990s, the Friends of Massassauga volunteer organization was formed, and with their help, the Massassauga Point Conservation Area has continued to be a showcase for both natural and human history.

In 1971, the Prince Edward Region Conservation Authority purchased 24 hectares of land on Massassauga Point, designating it as the Massassauga Point Conservation Area. The area was once home to a bustling hotel. It was dismantled in the 1940s, but the foundation and walkway to the water’s edge remain. Hiking the trails you can see the remains of a wharf and an abandoned limestone quarry.

From Highway 62 south of Belleville, take County Road 28 from either Rossmore or Fenwood Gardens to Massassauga Road. Follow Massassauga Road for nine kilometers to the Conservation Area.

Download this information as well as a conservation area map here.