(note: maps are listed in a rough geographic order that sort of makes sense to me)
Latest Post: Bridlewood, Bruce Pit & Britannia Loop Hybrid & E-Bikeable Route
Background - GPSing the Greenbelt Trails
Backroad Mapbooks GPS Map Review (Ontario)
Downloading and Using GPX files
Western Greenbelt Trails
Stony Swamp Conservation Area Trails
NCC Trail Closures Map
Old Quarry Trail System Remapped 2015 Updated 2020 & 2023
Lime Kiln Trail System Remapped 2015
Jack Pine & Trail 26 Trail System
Lytle Park Trail System
Monaghan Forest Trails
Trail 27 Trail System
Bruce Pit Trails
Hazeldean Woods Trails
Trails 20, 21 & Untrails Trail System
Trails 11 & 12 Trail System
Trail 10 Trail System
Carling Place (Former Nortel Networks Campus) Hybrid Rideable Paths and Trails
Stittsville Trail System
Stittsville “Jackson Trails” Trail System
South March Highlands Trails
South March Highlands Conservation Forest Intermediate Mountain Biking Trails
South March Highlands Kanata Lakes Trails
South March Highlands Beaver Pond, Trillium Woods & Shadow's Ridge Trails
Marlborough Forest Roads
Richard's Hybrid & E-Bikeable Routes - Introduction (& National Capital Region Cycling Routes and Resources)
Bridlewood to Stittsville Paths, Ponds and Creeks Hybrid & E-Bikeable Route
Bridlewood to Britannia and Return Hybrid & E-Bikeable Route
Bridlewood, Bruce Pit & Britannia Loop Hybrid & E-Bikeable Route
Beyond Richard's GPS Trail Maps – Open Street Map and GPS Visualizer
This is a work in progress. More maps will be added in the future.
Posted 2009-05-30
Updated 2024-07-27
8 comments:
Hi Richard, I've been enjoying your blog. I'm new to Ottawa, so no doubt I'll be enjoying your trail maps, come spring. Have you heard of google mapmaker? You can add your maps to become part of Google's publically-available maps. Also, a question... many people have told me mountain bikes aren't allowed on dirt trails on NCC lands. They walk their dogs there, so maybe they know something I don't. Or maybe it's a misconception, possibly based on headlines about e-bikes. I can't figure it out whether I'm allowed to bike on trails on NCC land, or not. A topic for your blog, maybe? Keep up the great work! Jennifer
The following quote is taken from my blog post:
Why Mountain Biking Should Be Allowed on the Greenbelt Trails
Submission to the National Capital Commission Greenbelt Master Plan Review
http://the5thc.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-mountain-biking-should-be-allowed.html
from my blog, The Fifth Column - http://the5thc.blogspot.com/
The following statement, contained in an email from an NCC representative, dated May 12, 2006, makes it clear that the current NCC policy banning mountain biking on the Greenbelt trails is unenforceable.
"We know that there is a lot of interest in off-road riding on Greenbelt hiking trails. On the other hand, section (16) of the NCC Traffic & Property Regulations states..."No person shall ride a bicycle on property of the Commission other than a driveway or on a bicycle path set aside by the Commission for the purpose...". While we have not actively tried to enforce this particular regulation, we do not condone the practice. There are long-term impacts on the trails and surrounding area, particularly rutting, trail erosion, trail widening as users veer off the designated route to avoid ruts and muddy surface, and destruction of adjacent vegetation. In the winter, we want to discourage bike riders who may travel across groomed ski tracks."
How I interpret that and how it seems to work in practice is that mountain biking is not officailly allowed on the Greenbelt trails but is unofficially tolerated.
More at the link above.
Thanks, I'd read both of those posts, but I was really hoping that was an old policy! I enjoyed your argument for why bikes should be allowed. I guess I'll just take my chances, but how disappointing that the NCC would actually have such a policy.
That quote brings up an interesting point... is a driveway different from a bicycle path? 'Bicyle path' isn't defined in the regulations or in the NCC act. If so, their regulations on speeding don't cover bicycle paths, only driveways. Not that I'm planning on being reckless, but that 20 km/h limit isn't going to be happening most of the time, and it would be nice to know if they can ticket me, or if it's more of a suggestion.
Actually they define a "driveway" as anyplace a vehicle is allowed and since bicycles are vehicles that would include bike paths, although normally driveway refers to the NCC parkways.
As to the 20 km/hr limit - in some ways it's irrelevant. if there is no pedestrian traffic on the pathway you can safely go a lot faster and if there is a lot of pedestrian traffic on the pathway you should be going a lot slower than 20 km/hr.
I would not worry about mountain biking on the trails, just respect the trails and other users.
You might want to check out http://ottawamba.org
If you have more questions you can email me directly at richardw.woodley@gmail.com
Great work Richard. I've been riding in the Stony Swamp area for a couple of years and I also enjoy geocaching out on these trails.
I've got a pretty good idea in my head of a few sections you have mapped out but it's always nice to see them laid out on an arial map. I'll be sure to download your work to my GPS for future use.
Do you still get out to ride these trails often? Things are looking pretty good so far this spring.
Cheers and thanks again.
Everything seems to be about a month ahead of things this season. I've been on the trails a few times but mostly I'm riding my hybrid right now to get ready for the CN Cycle for CHEO.
Right on brother! Good luck on your ride for CHEO.
Happy riding! Maybe I'll run into you (not literally though) some day out in the swamp!
Keep on peddling!
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