Northumberland Forest – Carstairs Universal Trail
Thinking of going for an outdoor walk? There are over 45 km of hiking trails in the Northumberland Forest (located approx. 15 km north of Cobourg/exit 474 from hwy 401) including the eastern connection of the Oak Ridges Hiking Trail!
Carstairs Universal Trail:
The Carstairs Universal Trail is 3.2 km overall, with 4 possible loops – the smallest being 750m and the longest being 2.2 km. The grades are gentle and the tread is over 2 m wide. There are over 40 interpretive signs that describe rare trees in Ontario.
This trail differs from others in the County Forest in that it is wheel chair accessible. It has a gravel base and a surface built with limestone screening, making it a sturdy, level surface on which to travel. Normally the trails in the County Forest are natural,with no materials brought in. To further the mandate of making the trail as accessible as possible, there are benches at rest areas throughout, so no one has to go more than 364m before finding a place to rest.
Link to trail map & brochure:
2oldguyswalking website has a great article (posted 2014, updated 2016) with images and map. Go here to read this article.
Northumberland Forest – Carstairs Universal Trail is just one of the many nature trails and hiking trails you can find throughout Ontario by using the search features of OntarioNaturetrails.com
Region(s): Northumberland CountyNearby towns and cities: Cobourg
Trail feature tags: Interpretive signage | nature trail | Wheel chair accessible
Northumberland Forest – Carstairs Universal Trail characteristics
Length: 4 trails totalling 6 km.Difficulty: Easy (Trail classifications)
Trail surface: Crushed limestone
Trail use: Hiking, Cross-country skiing, Snowshoeing, Mountain biking, Snowmobiling, Equestrian, and Winter (Fat) Biking
Wheelchair accessible
Fees: None reported
Flora & Fauna:
Not reported yet.
Amenities: Washrooms, picnic tables
Attractions: Interpretive signage
Contact:
Northumberland County Forest Tel: 905-372-3329
Find it: 1270-1296 Bowmanton Rd, Roseneath, ON
GPS Coordinates (main trailhead):
Latitude: 44.1224070
Longitude: -78.1097030