Thousand Islands National Park (Canada) Running Options

Thousand Islands National Park is a major national park in Canada, located along the St. Lawrence River and also encompassing numerous islands on the river. It’s a popular destination for kayaking, fishing, hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. There are some excellent running options in Thousand Islands National Park.

Thousand Islands Parkway Multi-Use Trail. The best place to run in Thousand Islands National Park is the 37 km paved multi-use trail that runs alongside the Thousand Islands Parkway. It’s popular for cycling and walking, and is a great option for an scenic and easy run of any desired length! The parkway runs from Gananoque at the west end to Butternut Bay on the east end.

The path runs opposite the river side of the parkway. There are some lovely sections with river views, and also some interior sections. The most scenic sections (with the best water views) are toward the east end of the parkway. We particularly love the ~8 km between Pooles Resort and Brown’s Bay Beach.

Trail Running Options: There are several designated hiking areas along the Parkway that are also good for trail running. None are especially challenging. Recommended hiking/trail running spots are: Landon Bay, Jones Creek Trails and Mallorytown Landing. The Jones Creek area is the most extensive. The trails are well marked. These three areas all have parking, restrooms, and kiosks with trail maps.