The Pitch Pine Post

Welcome to the 2025 season!

We’ve been enjoying meeting new visitors and catching up with those returning to the islands and the mainland at Landons Bay, Jones Creek and Mallorytown Landing.

While the park is a boater’s oasis, it is also a refuge for a diverse mix of rare and unique species, including many species at risk. Situated along the intersection of the Frontenac Arch and the St. Lawrence River, the park is part of the only ecologically intact connection between the Canadian Shield and the Adirondack Mountains, making it a critically important corridor for the movement of wildlife. Given the fragmented nature of the park, working together with partners is key to ensuring that we balance its long-term environmental health with  opportunities for visitors to connect to the outdoors.

Over the past year we have continued valuable work to protect turtles and other amphibians and reptiles in the region, embarked on a deer movement study with Trent University, and gained momentum on our 2 Billion Trees-Mending Ground project to restore a quarry pit by planting and protecting new saplings from deer browsing.

As part of our operational duties, we are continuously inspecting park infrastructure, such as docks, buildings and trails, and fixing these when needed. Sustainable management is a key consideration as we repair and replace park assets, from flood-resilient dock infrastructure to the replacement of aging gas-powered vehicles with electric and hybrid alternatives.  

We are committed to honouring the special relationship Indigenous peoples have with the lands and waters of the park. We work closely with the Mohawks of Akwesasne on conservation activities, community outreach and interpretation materials. We encourage new opportunities for Canadians to explore the cultures and histories of the Indigenous peoples of the Thousand Islands. Follow the park Facebook page for programs and events this season.

Thank you for visiting Thousand Islands National Park and for caring as deeply for this region as we do. As always, your feedback on park operations is important to us and we welcome you to send us a message at ont-ti@pc.gc.ca to let us know how your summer is going. 

- Leslie MacPherson, Park Superintendent Park

An amazing team!

Our team has been hard at work keeping park operations running smoothly. They have worked through rainstorms and heat waves with very high humidex values and have managed to stay productive and in high spirits.

We have several new students and staff that have joined our team. Don’t forget to say hi or give a wave when you see them!

Getting stuff done

The Assets crew is always busy keeping our infrastructure, vehicles and vessels in top shape and ensuring the park looks its best. In the past few months they have placed and repaired docks on multiple islands and completed many projects “behind the scenes” that are crucial to park operations. They did a great job building a new kiosk at Landons Bay that will help staff welcome visitors. The Assets crew has accomplished this while also embracing green technology, using electric machinery and 
battery-powered tools in much of this work.

New visitor experiences for 2025

Thousand Islands National Park offers a wide menu of fun and educational programs for families and budding outdoor enthusiasts!

Visitors can participate in two unique guided hikes at Landons Bay on Saturdays and Sundays in July and August. Hikes will be offered in French at 12pm and in English at 2pm. Join our “Science Snapshots” photo booth at Mallorytown Landing and picture yourself as a Parks Canada Ecologist!

If self-guided is more your style, check out the Species at Risk Diaries, our family-friendly trail experience available on the Parks Canada App, or discover the fun features of Mallorytown Landing with the Xplorers program.

A Message from the Park Wardens

The Park Wardens welcome everyone back for a safe and enjoyable season touring the Thousand Islands. They would like to remind visitors to be respectful of others in the park and to follow the rules and regulations that govern park use. 

Canada National Parks Act offences we'd like to hear about include: noise complaints, illegal fires, poaching, polluting, fishing violations, littering, feeding or harassing wildlife, removal of cultural or natural artefacts.

Thank you for keeping the park clean!

We appreciate the effort of all our visitors doing their part to keep the park looking its best! Packing in and packing out all garbage helps the natural environment and aids in keeping operational costs down. 

Recently, there has been an increase in garbage and recyclable materials being tossed into the composting toilets, this damages the mechanics of the unit and can make it inoperable. Our island attendants work hard to keep these environmentally friendly facilities working properly. Please help us keep these facilities in working order. Don’t dispose of anything other than what you would put in your own toilet.

News from resource conservation

Our Reptile and Amphibian Recovery and Education (RARE) project is in its 7th season! 

This project encompasses:

• Collection and incubation of eggs from high-risk locations (such as road shoulders) and release of baby turtles back to their natural habitat
• Building nest protectors with volunteers and partners to give out to landowners with turtles nesting on their property
• Outreach and Education programs in local communities, schools and in the park.

• Providing egg incubation training to partners such as the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, the Aquatarium and Leeds and Grenville Turtles
• Blandings Turtle research: Considered an endangered species at risk, Blandings Turtles are being studied by Thousand Islands National Park using radio telemetry.

And much more! 

Visit our RARE page for more information

Our 2 Billion Trees—Mending Ground project has led to the protection of 12 acres of land on Hill Island, with the use of deer exclusion fencing, to protect new saplings from deer browsing. 

The project has been expanded to Landons Bay where old fields are being restored. So far over 2000 additional trees have been planted at that site.

So far, in collaboration with the Mohawks of Akwesasne, volunteer groups, students and local residents, we have planted over 16, 000 trees!