The Crack Trail

The Crack Trail is an out-and-back day hike in Killarney Provincial Park, Ontario, built around a quartzite “crack” filled with boulders. The route climbs from relatively tame ground into steep, rugged terrain where you’ll often need all four limbs for scrambling through the rockfall chute near the top.

Covering about 7.5 km round trip with roughly 272–355 m of elevation gain, it typically takes 4–5 hours. Expect the hard work to concentrate toward the ascent: the grade steepens after you leave the lakeshore hiking and push into the cliff terrain.

Early on, the trail follows a former logging road that’s wide and easy going before it joins the La Cloche Silhouette Trail. There’s an overlap section where you’ll see both trail systems before The Crack Trail heads you back into the dedicated “crack” section.

As you climb, the route tracks along the western shore of Kakakise Lake, then turns northwest toward the quartzite cliffs. After the lake segment, the tread transitions quickly into boulders, exposed roots, and steep, uneven scrambling.

The signature feature is the massive mountain split known as “The Crack,” packed with boulders. Near Killarney Ridge you break out to the lookout area and panoramic views out over Killarney Lake and the surrounding La Cloche Mountains and lakes.

Route finding is straightforward when you pay attention to blazes: follow the red blazes for The Crack Trail. Part of the route overlaps with the blue-blazed La Cloche Silhouette Trail, so keep your eyes on color changes where the trails intersect.

Footing and traction are a real issue on this hike. The quartzite can get dangerously slippery when wet, so plan for slower, more careful movement in damp conditions, particularly during the bouldery climb and the boulder-filled chute near the top.

More information: Wikipedia, Hiking The Crack in Killarney: Your Winter Survival Guide, The Best Killarney Hikes Offered In The Provincial Park