Beaver River Wetlands Trail
Located between Uxbridge and Cannington, the Beaver River Wetland Conservation Area is Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority’s largest landholding, at more than 500 hectares. The area consists of two parts – a historic abandoned CN rail line which provides for a recreational trail through the conservation area, and an extensive provincially significant wetland.
The Beaver River Wetlands Trail is one of the best ways to access and savour the smells, sights and sounds of the pristine and largely undeveloped Beaver River wetland. The all season trails built upon the flat, wide bed of the historic Toronto and Nipissing Railway (T&NR) dating back to the late 1800’s when it supplied the Toronto Distillery District with wood and wheat. The line was abandoned in the early 1990’s and is now nearly 40km in length, connecting Uxbridge, Cannington and Manilla in a Y-like configuration. Blackwater is home to the hub at the centre of the trail enjoyed by hikers and cycling enthusiasts in the summer and snowmobilers in the winter enjoying this unique Conservation Area.
A 21km section of the rail-trail from Uxbridge to Manilla is also designated as a section of The Great Trail, stretching across Canada. What makes this trail great is the abundant wildlife you can see as you travel along the trail – in the summer you might see a great blue heron, red-winged blackbirds, muskrats and beavers in the wetland. In the winter, the quiet calm soothes the spirit and mind as you watch the snow drift through the wetland.
Link to trail map:
https://www.lsrca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/ca_maps/beaver_river.pdf
2oldguyswalking website offers a great review of this trail, with map and images. Go here to read this review.
We would also direct you to read our DISCLAIMER and our TRAIL USERS CODE.
Region(s): Durham Region
Nearby towns and cities: Beaverton | Cannington | Sunderland
Beaver River Wetlands Trail characteristics
Length: 13 kmDifficulty: Moderate (Trail classifications)
Trail surface: Crushed limestone
Trail use: Hiking, Cross-country skiing, Cycling, and Equestrian
Accessibility Notes: Not known
Fees: None
Flora & Fauna:
Not reported yet
Amenities: None
Attractions: none
Contact:
info@LSRCA.on.ca
Phone: 905-895-1281 Toll Free: 1-800-465-0437
Find it: A linear property that stretches from Blackwater to Woodville. The trail runs the length of the property and can be accessed at any point where it crosses roads – at most of these locations, parking is available at the side of the road.
GPS Coordinates (main trailhead):
Latitude: 44.2885175
Longitude: -79.0518634