Stormont County and a tiny bit beyond

Stormont County is one of the initial ten counties of Upper Canada surveyed in the late 18th century in preparation for the arrival of European settlers via the newly formed United States of America. The first waves to arrive were United Empire Loyalists escaping persecution in the USA following the War of Independence. The area is rich in history and is the traditional homeland of the Haudenosaunee first nation (Mohawk), the gatekeepers of the eastern approach to the 6 Nations. The maps included in this guidebook outline river paddling routes as well as hiking potential in many of the county forests; 46% of Stormont is forested. Forest Compartment 97 contains remnants of the White Pine mineral swamps (extremely threatened) that blanketed much of the region at the time of settlement; these forest hikes are not for the faint of heart. Many other trails, for example the Migratory Bird Sanctuary, have many miles of old growth hardwood forest to explore along well maintained trails. The Waterfront trail is a lengthy paved trail suitable for cycling along the shore of the St Lawrence River and through meadows and forest. For water sport enthusiasts, we provide kayaks, free of charge, and safety equipment as well as paddle route maps. Livery service to and from the river is available for a modest fee.