The Kensington Conservancy's Protected Properties

The Kensington Conservancy has protected almost 1,200 acres across 13 properties in the form of nature preserves and conservation easements. 

Nature Preserves - Public Access with Hiking Trails

The following nature preserves having hiking trails that are always open to the public under the following conditions:

  • Dogs must be leashed at all times and picked up after
  • No fires, camping, or swimming
  • Take only photos, leave only footprints
  • ​Stay on the marked trails
  • No bikes or motorized vehicles 
Boyer Preserve

This 93 acre property was purchased from the Boyer Family in 2016 so that it could be protected in perpetuity. The shoreline features a portion of the Kensington Complex, a Provincially Significant Wetland. A majority of the property is forested, making it an ideal home for many different species of wildlife and plants.  The north end of the property has an open meadow, where many birds, insects and traveling mammals can easily be found. Since this property is adjacent to the Foster Parkland and Walking Trails, the trails were extended and are now on the Boyer Preserve as well. The Kensington Conservancy built The Kensington Conservation Centre off Boyer Drive at the north end of the property.
Foster Parkland and Walking Trails

Donated by Maurice and Janet Foster in 2009, the Foster Parkland and Walking Trails is the only conservancy property with walking trails complimented by interpretive signs. This property was the original home of the hiking trails before they expanded onto the adjacent Boyer Preserve, which is where the trailhead is now. The portion of the trails on this property has a series of interpretive signs to teach you about the local flora. This property has perhaps the most diverse forest ecosystem of any of the conservancy's property despite its small size.  It has more recorded tree and shrub species than any other property.  This rich forest habitat supports a great deal of wildlife; many species of songbirds, woodpeckers and birds of prey, nine species of amphibians (despite a lack of permanent water sources) and a large population of snowshoe hare and other rodents.
Access Details

These are two adjacent nature preserves that share a hiking trail system, which is also named the Foster Parkland and Walking Trails. The trailhead is located at 69 Boyer Drive in Desbarats, which is the home of The Kensington Conservation Centre. The trails are open to the public to use at all times for no charge, but donations are accepted. Please stay on the designated trails. They can be snowshoed during the winter months. For more information about the trails, please click here.
Gravel Point Preserve

The Gravel Point Preserve consists of four adjacent lots for a total of 278 acres. It features mixed forests and wetlands, which is great habitat for thousands of wildlife and plant species. This is The Kensington Conservancy’s first nature preserve on St. Joseph Island and our largest protection project to-date. The creation of the Gravel Point Preserve was made possible by Betsy and Bill Kingery, who donated one of the lots that makes up the preserve and the funds to purchase the other three. The wetlands on the preserve are designated as coastal wetlands, which among the region’s most ecologically valuable ecosystems. A number of species at risk have been recorded here, including monarch, eastern wood-pewee, and black ash.
Access Details

This nature preserve features a 1.5km loop hiking trail that is open to the public. The trailhead is located along Highway 548 in Hilton Township on St. Joseph Island, Ontario. It is approximately 3km south of Forbes Community Park in Hilton Beach. There is a parking lot that fits several vehicles.​ For more information about the trails, please click here.

Nature Preserves - Controlled Access

The following nature preserves do not have established hiking trail, therefore we  However, we still wish that the public ​
Archibald Homestead

This property established in the 1900’s as a working farm, gained the reputation of being a well run, very successful farm. The property was in the Archibald family for almost 100 years. The Kensington Conservancy, concerned about the deteriorated ecological health of the property, the threat of inappropriate land development, and the affect on the neighbouring natural landscape and watersheds, decided to purchase and re-establish the property to its historical condition. After an extensive environmental cleanup, the property has been returned to its 179 acres of natural beauty. With 2700 feet of beautiful undeveloped shoreline, marshes, wetlands, as well as beautiful farmlands, this property is a perfect place to walk and enjoy nature. It is again a safe and beautiful natural landscape for birds and wildlife.
Access Details

Due to restrictions on the private road that goes through the preserve (the road isn't owned by the conservancy), it cannot be open to the public. Those who have purchased their annual parking pass (for accessing boat access only cottages) may use the road and parking lot as per terms of the pass. Please contact us at 705-782-2200 or info@kensingtonconservancy.org if you wish to inquire further about access.
 Black Hole Preserve

The name of this magnificent place seems to bring it a dark spooky image; however, nothing could be further from the truth. This area opens to Lake Huron though Anderson’s Bay.  The Anderson Bay watershed supports magnificently diverse ecosystems.  The dramatic head of this marsh, with a narrow cut through the bedrock plugged by a beaver dam, makes the site all that more impressive in beauty and diversity.  While direct development is not currently an issue for this property, the impacts of neighbouring development and land use, and non-native species have threatened the health of this amazing place.  The owners made the commitment to partner with The Kensington Conservancy to protect into perpetuity this 206 acre natural wonder.
Access Details

Due to the sensitive nature of the ecosystems and absence of established hiking trails, please contact us at 705-782-2200 or info@kensingtonconservancy.org if you wish to access this preserve.

For those who are interested in visiting the old bridge on this property, which is located on the south side of Highway 17 over Anderson Creek, just east of the intersection with Smith Road, please contact us beforehand. For anyone who is visiting to conduct professional photography, we will ask that a donation be made to The Kensington Conservancy in exchange for permission to access. 
Coatsworth Island Preserve

Coatsworth Island stands as the majestic protector of the Portlock Harbour. It is one of the largest remaining undeveloped islands in the St. Joseph Channel. Thanks to support from the extended Welles Family, The Kensington Conservancy was able to purchase the west half of the island in 2019. In 2021, The Kensington Conservancy was able to purchase the east half of the island, with support from the Phelps Family, which now ensures the whole island is protected. The island has scenic rocky areas with tall pines along the shore. The interior is a mixed forest. Ospreys have been known to nest on the island.
Access Details

Due to the absence of established hiking trails, please contact us at 705-782-2200 or info@kensingtonconservancy.org if you wish to access this preserve.
Dawson Island Preserve

Throughout the Great Lakes, undeveloped shoreline is becoming an increasingly rare resource.  The Kensington Conservancy was gifted two, side-by-side, two acre lots on Dawson Island.  Dawson Island is a 350 acre island in the St. Joseph Channel.  Crown land makes up 60% of the land on this island.  The location of these two building lots with crown land to either side secures an uninterrupted shoreline of 2,500 feet, making it a better habitat for local deer, birds and other wildlife. Of special interest on this property are the low, wet areas with a well developed community of shrubs, sphagnum moss and ferns that support many species of warblers and other songbirds.
Access Details

Due to the absence of established hiking trails, please contact us at 705-782-2200 or info@kensingtonconservancy.org if you wish to access this preserve.
Lang Family Preserve

A uniquely shaped, just under 9 acre property was donated to the Kensington Conservancy by the Lang Family. The property is located on Kensington Road, just west of Desbarats. It is important to protect this property as it contains a small portions of the Kensington Complex, one of the area's Provincially Significant Wetlands. Most of the property is a mature forest consisting of both deciduous and coniferous trees. 
Access Details

Due to the absence of established hiking trails, please contact us at 705-782-2200 or info@kensingtonconservancy.org if you wish to access this preserve.
Phelps Preserve

Campement d'Ours Island was purchased in the early 1900’s has since been 100% privately owned.  An historical agreement between multiple family owners has preserved much of the island from development.  However, there remained a three and a half acre building lot with no structures. This lot had the potential to breakup a continuous, undeveloped shoreline. The owners, wishing to ensure continuous protection into perpetuity of the wonderful biodiversity along its shores, donated this lot to The Kensington Conservancy. It presents a significant stretch of what could have been part of the quickly disappearing scenic beauty along the shores of Lake Huron.
Access Details

Due to unsafe terrain and the absence of established hiking trails, please contact us at 705-782-2200  or info@kensingtonconservancy.org if you wish to access this preserve.
Ripple Rock Preserve

This property is perhaps the roughest and hardest to traverse of any that the conservancy manages.  Were it not for Highway 17 bisecting it, it would only rarely been seen by human eyes.  It is surrounded in the north and south by thick forest; copious amounts of balsam fir ensure that people think twice about trying to push their way through.  Close to a third of this property is wetland, a mix of open water, swamp and dense cattails and reeds.  In the southern half is large beaver pond untouched by human influence and it's glassy surface stands in contrast to the noisy highway less than a kilometer away.  Because it is so difficult for humans to travel on most of this property, it is a haven for wildlife; large mammals in particular.  Few places like this remain so close to Lake Huron, making Ripple Rock an important corridor for the animals of the region.
Access Details

Due to the sensitive nature of the ecosystems, unsafe terrain, and the absence of established hiking trails, please contact us at 705-782-2200 or info@kensingtonconservancy.org if you wish to access this preserve.
Stobie Creek Preserve

Located to the immediate west of Stobie Creek, a very generous donation of 83 acres was made to The Kensington Conservancy. This property, held by the same family for more than 60 years, was donated to protect its rich natural biologically diverse ecosystems. The Stobie Creek Preserve has old growth forest containing large maple, oak and pine. Its designated Provincially Significant Wetland forms the mouth of the Stobie Creek. The Kensington Conservancy has introduced control measures and monitoring of purple loosestrife for this wetland complex within its management plan for the property. 
Access Details

Due to the sensitive nature of the ecosystems, unsafe terrain, and the absence of established hiking trails, please contact us at 705-782-2200 or info@kensingtonconservancy.org if you wish to access this preserve.

Conservation Easements

A conservation easement is a legally binding agreement with a landowner to protect the property for conservation purposes. The Kensington Conservancy cannot grant permission to access these properties as we are not the owners of them.
Fishnet Island Easement

This small, 2 acre island is located immediately east of Plummer Island, which is just south is Portlock Island in the St. Joseph Channel.  The conservancy owns a conservation easement on Fishnet Island, which will protect it in perpetuity. Fishnet Island is home to many different bird species.  Gulls, terns, cormorants and sandpipers are often seen using the shoreline. Songbirds and sparrows can be seen among the trees on the island. Despite its small size, there still is a diverse amount of plant species on the island. Pine trees are the predominant tree species on the property.
Access Details

The Kensington Conservancy holds a conservation easement on this property and does not own it, therefore no access can be permitted without consent from the landowner. Please contact us at ​705-782-2200 or info@kensingtonconservancy.org if you require more information, but please understand that we may not be able to disclose landowner contact information directly to you.
 Hole in the Wall Easement

Just to the south of the Ripple Rock Preserve is the Hole in the Wall. This property was placed under a conservation easement in 2014 and is named for the large pond it contains that connects to Lake Huron. This pond is surrounded on three sides by rock faces and cliffs, giving it the appearance of a hole dug into the landscape.  Just above the pond is a wetland complex called Sunset Lake. This wetland is a beautiful mixture of marsh, bog and swamp and due to this unique mixture, it has the most diverse plant community of any of our wetlands.  The Hole in the Wall is an important property as it connects to another large parcel of protected land in the Ripple Rock Preserve. This contributes to our goal of providing protected corridors for the area's wildlife. 
Access Details

The Kensington Conservancy holds a conservation easement on this property and does not own it, therefore no access can be permitted without consent from the landowner. Please contact us at ​705-782-2200 or info@kensingtonconservancy.org if you require more information, but please understand that we may not be able to disclose landowner contact information directly to you.