Kains Woods Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) is located in west London near Kains Road, north of the Oxford Street West Extension bridge, along the Thames River.

The 5.8 km-long managed hiking trail is marked with yellow and white blazes on trees. The white blazes mark the Thames Valley Trail. The trails are somewhat challenging with several steep and muddy sections.

Please stay on the marked trails and keep pets on leash, to protect the sensitive environment.

Link to trail map:  http://thamesriver.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022-KainsESA-brochure.pdf

We would also direct you to read our DISCLAIMER and our TRAIL USERS CODE.

Region(s): Middlesex County
Nearby towns and cities: London
Trail feature tags: Boardwalk

KAINS WOODS characteristics

Length: 5.8 km
Difficulty: Moderate (Trail classifications)
Trail surface: Boardwalks and Natural
Trail use: Hiking
Accessibility Notes: Accessibility not known.
Fees: None reported

Flora & Fauna:

Plant Communities:

Along the river in the floodplain woods the trees include Black Willow, Cottonwood, Blue Ash and Sycamore. In the spring, Mayapples grow in abundance under the trees.
Hemlock groves are found on cool, north-facing slopes, where water seeps out. These coniferous trees are relatively uncommon in the London area. On flatter seepage slopes there are cedar swamps with Yellow Birch and Balsam Fir over an understory of ferns, Skunk Cabbage and
Jewelweed.

Wildlife:

Kains Woods is an important corridor for birds and animals that follow the river. Bald Eagles have nested in the area, and are often seen hunting for fish in the river. Killdeer and Great Blue Heron are frequently seen along the riverbanks.
Wild Turkey like the edge habitat between the woods and nearby fields. A wide variety of songbirds use the wooded habitat, including American Goldfinch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Great Crested Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager and Downy Woodpecker.
The animal life is typical of the London area with White-tailed Deer, Eastern Cottontail and Grey Squirrel. Gnawed trees are a sign of Beaver.
There are also some interesting and unusual amphibians in this ESA, including Grey Tree Frog and Yellow-spotted Salamander.

Amenities: None reported

Contact:
infoline@thamesriver.on.ca
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority 519-284-2931

Find it: Two access points are located at the western end of the site off of Westdel Bourne and Tigerlily Road.



GPS Coordinates (main trailhead):
Latitude: 42.9705800
Longitude: -81.3677480




Photo credits:

Feature Image courtesy of Naved Altaf