The Bear Loop at Thousand Islands National Park near Mallorytown, Ontario is an easy 1.2 km loop hike that features a scenic rock ledge deep in the forest, dark hemlock groves, and connects to the scenic Heron Loop.
After exploring the rock ledge, the Bear Loop runs northward until reaching a left-hand to to the Heron Loop. Here, the trail continues onward to follow the orange blazes of the Turtle Loop, turns right and follows the yellow blazes of the Eel Loop, and finally ends at the trailhead for a 1.2 km hike.Parking & Fees
Hikers will find a small parking
lot at the coordinates provided, located on the north side of 1000
Islands Parkway in Mallorytown, ON. The lot is large enough to fit less
than 12 vehicles as of October 2024. There's a parking fee of about $10
(in 2024), which can be paid by QR code found in front of parking
spaces.
Hiking the Bear Loop
The Bear Loop begins at the very end of the Jones Creek Trail, which connects the parking lot to the main trail system within the Jones Creek section of the park. At the trailhead, the Bear Loop follows blue blazes heading west and follows short hills that undulate through the forest.Scenic Rock Ledge - 0.27 km
Just 0.27 km from the trailhead, hikers will find a long rock ledge that runs through the forest. The trail runs alongside the ledge and provides access to fun scrambling opportunities or pictures of the mossy ledge sitting under the canopy of the Jones Creek forest. This rock ledge, while seemingly uninteresting, is likely the main attraction on the trail, so you might want to explore the Heron Loop along with this trail while you're at it.After exploring the rock ledge, the Bear Loop runs northward until reaching a left-hand to to the Heron Loop. Here, the trail continues onward to follow the orange blazes of the Turtle Loop, turns right and follows the yellow blazes of the Eel Loop, and finally ends at the trailhead for a 1.2 km hike.
