Follow COVID-19 guidelines of no carpooling with others to get to trailhead and keep your distance when passing other hikers
Distance: 9.4 Km loop. Difficulty: Level 2. Contact: Ron, ronaldcherry002@gmail.com
Google Trailhead Map
PDF Trail Map download
Link to rare trail map
Notes
- if approaching trailhead from the north on Blair Rd. the parking lot and slit barn will be on your left, but hidden by a turn in the road until you are very close.
- careful leaving the parking lot as there could be traffic hidden behind curves in both directions.
- trail is muddy and wet in places, but not icy.
- exquisite trail with fantastic scenic lookouts over the Grand River.
Description
Following the blue trail on the map below, from the rare parking lot follow the trail at the east end past the big eagle. Very soon you will reach the wide Grand Trunk Trail. Turn left. In about 10 metres turn right onto the Osprey Tower Trail (signed).
Continue to follow this trail across an open field until you reach the river. You may want to walk slowly and quietly to avoid scaring the water birds - Goldeneye, Merganser, Bufflehead.
At the river the trail turns right, east, to follow the river. At the fork (note: fork 1), stay left to continue to follow the river. This is the River Trail, the blazes are blue.
At about the 1.3km mark turn right, south onto the Woodland Trail, marked with yellow blazes. Watch for Pileated and Downy Woodpeckers, as well as Cedar Waxwing.
When you reach the Grand Trunk Trail turn left, southeast. Follow this trail past the Walter Bean Trailhead. When you are close to River Bluffs Park, you will notice some unmarked trails off to your left, toward the river. These trails are in the part of the park called Pollinators Preserve - look for the sign. Continue to follow these trails into the park to the Ancient Mariners Canoe Club.
From here in River Bluffs Park, start your return on the Grand Trunk Trail, shown in pink and then blue on the map.
Just after walking past the Walter Bean Trailhead, look for the sign for the River Trail and Lookout - turn right toward the river there, shown in pink on the map. In a very short distance you'll reach a scenic lookout, high above the Grand River. Careful, there are no guard rails and it's a long way down!
After a good look out over the river, follow the blue blazes to the left, following the river. Note that the trail on the map here is coloured pink, but blazed blue.
You'll reach one unmarked trail on your right, which when I hiked it was blocked with a tree limb. Continue past it to the next turn on your right. The turn here isn't marked, but if you look to your right down the trail you'll see a blue blaze.
Follow the blue blazes back to fork 1, (see above) and take the fork to the left. Follow this trail, shown in pink on the map back to the Grand Trunk Trail. Cross the Grand Trunk Trail and follow the short trail back to the rare parking lot.
