Background - GPSing the Greenbelt Trails

First Published in MTBKanata Newsletter Winter 2007-01


How It All Began

It all started a long time ago in a faraway land in a cave. Well actually it was back in the 1950s in Sudbury in an eight room stone schoolhouse. That is where I first got introduced to colouring, drawing, and making maps.

Growing up in Sudbury is also where I got interested in playing in the rocks and exploring the bush. When I got older there was not a trail or back road I did not want to explore.

When I moved to Ottawa I discovered Renouf’s bookstore on the Sparks Street Mall (long since gone) which was a huge repository of topographical maps. I soon had topo maps for all of the Ottawa and Sudbury areas. I followed that up with map books and guides to old mines in Ontario. And just recently when I discovered the “backroad mapbooks” at Chapters I had to buy copies of all the books for any area I though we might travel to on our holidays.

Soon after I took up mountain biking, GPSs became all the rage but were still quite expensive to buy as a toy. Luckily I was given one as a gift by my wife Christine and that is where this story really begins.

I started using it to track our hikes and rigged up a way to attach it to my mountain bike using the rubber from an old tube (when I got my new Devinci I bought a proper bracket for the GPS). Then I started looking for a way to create maps from it. I discovered a freeware software program that allowed me to create “maps” that I could add symbols to, and with latitude and longitude indicated. But that was not really what I wanted.

What I really wanted was to overlay my GPS data onto topographical maps. But it was difficult to find easy to use, free, or inexpensive maps to use and the commercial software and maps were quite expensive. Then came Google Earth. Not topo maps, but perhaps even better, satellite images. With Google Earth Plus, for $20 a year I could overlay my GPS tracks onto the Google satellite images. I could become a “Map Maker”.

The Mapping Begins

So now all I had to do was ride around on the trails and plug the GPS into the computer and instant maps. If only it was that easy. The first thing that I discovered was that the GPS is not completely accurate (at least my Garmin Gecko 201 is not). You turn it on and you start tracking with an accuracy of within about 30 metres. As you pick up more satellites the accuracy increases to a maximum of about 8 metres. That is close enough to get you out of the bush when your lost but can result in double map tracks if you make multiple loops of the same trails. It can also result in a trail behind a group of houses going right through them on the map. The more you zoom in on Google Earth the more apparent those discrepancies become. So I developed some techniques to deal with that problem

I decided to start with my backyard, the Bridlewood area Old Quarry trails, and I learned just how extensive that network was when I set out to methodically ride all the trails. I started by mapping out the main access points, the old rail line and the trails and paths along both hydro lines that provided access to the real trails from the neighbourhoods. Then I hit the main and most common trails, 23, 24 and 25. But it was when I started riding and mapping all the side trails that I have been meaning to ride, as well as looking for hidden side trails, that I discovered how extensive and interconnecting the trail system is. This is when I discovered the hidden inner trail right next to trail 23.

It actually took me seven riding and mapping sessions to complete the Old Quarry Trail network plus another session for the Lime Kiln and Wild Bird Care Centre area trails. After that I decided to map some smaller trail areas so I did trails 20 to 22, followed by Jack Pine.

I am now in the process of doing Trails 26 and 27 across from Jack Pine on the other side of Hunt Club. While mapping these trails in early November, 2006 I discovered that the section I needed to map was muddy, muddier than I would normally ride. The cold weather is really hampering the drying out process. But I was on a mission so I persevered.

This is going to be one of the most complex systems to map. Besides a number of official loops there is almost an unlimited number of unofficial connecting and crossing trails which kept me going, mapping trails and marking waypoints at all the intersections in hopes of eventually linking them all up.

This was one of the muddiest rides I have been on. I usually try to avoid the mud, but as I say I was on a mission. So when I came to a wet area with about a foot of water and ice starting to cover it, and I could see the connecting trail a short way ahead on the GPS I had no choice but to break through the ice and ride through the water. there is always a first time for everything. Some time early next spring summer I hope to publish this map.

The GPSing Process

There are probably better ways of doing this but this is the process I have developed and it works for me.

Obviously I start by riding the trails with the GPS on. I would recommend using the most accurate GPS you can afford and preferably one that you can set to start a new track without having to turn it off and on again, necessitating a significant wait while it retracks the satellites. A smaller GPS is really convenient to use attached to a bike, although you have a smaller display, most of the work with the tracks is done on the computer afterwards. To avoid overlapping trails I never ride the same portion twice, unless I reset the track to a new track that can be deleted or turned off in Google Earth.

As I pass intersecting trails I mark waypoints to indicate intersecting trails for later mapping. I may come back to them during the same ride, either by memory or by starting a new track and following the GPS track back to the waypoint and again starting a new track to map the intersecting trail.

When I finish a GPSing session I input the GPS data into Google Earth via a serial cable attached to my computer’s serial port. Newer GPSs may use a USB cable. I then view the session’s tracks, deleting or hiding overlapping tracks. If in the middle of mapping an area I will print out a map with the waypoints for intersecting trails on the map and use this as a guide to mapping the intersecting trails during the next ride/mapping session. When I have completed GPSing all the trails for an are I want to create a map of I move to the next stage which takes place on the computer.

The Editing and Map Making Process

The first step is to select the area of the map from within Google Earth. Normally I do all my editing within Photoshop Elements. However in the case of the trail on the Old Quarry map that went through the houses I deleted the track that went through the Houses and recreated it in the correct spot using Google Earth’s line drawing capability, as it is more difficult to clone houses than to clone terrain.

But the usual process is to save the selected area as a jpg file and open it in Photoshop Elements. Sometimes there will be gaps in the track where the signal was lost in dense bush and sometimes the GPS will just do weird things and draw a line in the opposite of the correct direction or draw extraneous lines.

This happened while mapping Jack Pine. In Photoshop Elements I clone out incorrect lines and draw in correct ones. I also add in the parking lot numbers and the occasional point of interest such as the Lime Kiln. Until the final version is done the file is always saved as a Photoshop Elements file to retain image quality. When completed I add the title and save the file as a jpg for publication and then I release it to the world.

Easier Trail Mapping With My New GPS

First Published in The Fifth Column, September 29, 2008


Last year I started mapping the Greenbelt trails using my GPS unit. With my older GPS unit it was a long complicated process requiring that I avoid overlapping my tracks and involving extensive editing in Photoshop Elements. (See article in the MTBKanata Newsletter above)

With my new Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx,which is much more accurate, the process is much simpler.

When I recently mapped Greenbelt Trails 11 & 12 I did not have to worry about overlapping tracks nor did I have to do extensive editing. All that was required was to input the data into Google Earth and MapSource Topo Canada and save an image of the track, and then add whatever text or labels I wanted on the maps.

Posted 2009-05-30

Western Greenbelt Trails

Most of the trails that I have mapped have been in the Western Greenbelt between Nepean and Kanata in the zone designated as Core Natural Area, and in particular the Stony Swamp area, as I can ride from home to all of these trails. These trails include the Old Quarry and Jack Pine trail networks, the Lime Kiln Trail and parts of the Rideau Trail. The NCC does publish an official map of these trails but it does not include the large number of unofficial undocumented trails that interconnect with the official trails. My projects sets out to map all of the trails in the Western Greenbelt.

Background on the National Capital Greenbelt (from the NCC)

The Greenbelt is a 20,350 hectare band of open lands and forests surrounding the nation's Capital on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. It was first proposed in 1950 by French planner Jacques Gréber as part of an overall plan to create a beautiful and distinctive setting for the national Capital. The Greenbelt was intended to protect the rural land bordering the Capital from the haphazard urban sprawl typical of so many other cities.

Acting on Gréber's plan, the federal government began acquiring land in 1956. Today, the Greenbelt encircles the Capital from Shirleys Bay on the west to Green's Creek on the east. Most of the total area, or 14,950 hectares, is owned and managed by the National Capital Commission. The rest is held by other federal departments and private interests.

In the Greenbelt, the nation's Capital has on its doorstep a rural environment rich in natural and historic resources. It offers a mix of sights and sounds from rolling farmlands to peaceful forests and wetlands that shelter a wide variety of plant and animal life. We hope you'll be inspired to head out and explore the Greenbelt for yourself!


For the official NCC Greenbelt Trail Maps see here.

For more information on the National Capital Greenbelt see the National Capital Commission (NCC) Greenbelt website.

Mountain Biking on the Trails

The Greenbelt trails vary from some very easy trails in parts of Old Quarry and Jack Pine to moderately technical sections of the Rideau Trail to the more advanced Lime Kiln Trail.

While mountain biking is officially prohibited on the Greenbelt Trails, it is tolerated. In the words of an from an email from an NCC representative, dated May 12, 2006

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.

To read why I believe mountain biking should be officially allowed on the Greenbelt Trails read my submissions to the NCC Why Mountain Biking Should Be Allowed on the Greenbelt Trails and Winter Trail Conflicts on the Greenbelt Trails on my blog The Fifth Column

Posted 2009-05-30
Updated 2015-08-25

Stony Swamp Conservation Area Trails

More detailed maps of the trail systems within the Stony Swamp Conservation Area can be found following this posting.

The gpx file for this overview map (and other trail systems) can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

GPX files - Google Docs

Background Information From the National Capital Commission (NCC)

Stony Swamp Conservation Area comprises almost 2000 hectares of woodland, wetland and regenerating old field, and has the largest forested area in the Greenbelt. The upland and wetland habitats found in the area include examples of most of the types of natural habitats that can be found in Ontario south of the Ottawa River.

Over 700 species of plants are known from Stony Swamp. Many interesting plant communities can be found here including a sugar maple forest, small alvar clearings, marsh wetlands and beaver ponds, and regenerating pastures. Stony Swamp Conservation Area also supports a large variety of wildlife such as Canada geese and other waterfowl, beaver, woodland birds and northern flying squirrel.

The Stony Swamp Conservation Area offers the greatest diversity of trails and activities, including: interpretive exhibits on geology and natural history; wetland boardwalks; a winter bird-feeding station; historic sites such as the Lime Kiln; and portions of the Rideau and Trans Canada trails.

The area itself is bordered to the north by Robertson Road; to the east by Highway 416; to the south by Fallowfield Road and to the west by Eagleson Road.

Trails in this area include:

-Jack Pine Trail (includes boardwalk, accessible via parking lot P9, trail length: 3,1 km)
-Old Quarry Trail (includes boardwalk, accessible via parking lot P5, trail length: 3,1 km)
-Beaver Trail and Chipmunk Trail (includes boardwalk, accessible via parking lot P8, trail lengths: 1,2 km and 0,7 km)
-Sarsaparilla Trail (Parking lot P7, trail length: 0,9 km)
-Lime Kiln Trail (Parking lot P10, trail length: 2,1 km)
-Trail #23 (Parking lot P5, trail length: 2,6 km)
-Trail #24 (Parking lot P5 or P6, trail length: 3,4 km)
-Trail #25 (Parking lot P6, trail length: 3,5 km)
-Trail #26 (Parking lot P8, P9 or P11, trail length: 3,8 km)
-Trail #27 (Parking lot P11 or P13, trail length: 3 km)
-Trail #28 (Parking lot P13, trail length: 2,3 km)

To view these and other trails within the Greenbelt, please consult the our official NCC maps available here.

More information on Stony Swamp Conservation Area can be found on our Web site.

Posted 2011-10-11
Updated 2016-07-02

Lime Kiln Trail System Remapped 2015

During the summer of 2012 there was a fire near the Lime Kiln in the Stony Swamp Conservation Area that resulted in a large network of fire roads and made significant changes to the trails, especially the Lime Kiln Technical Trail.

After the fire the Lime Kiln Technical Trail was fenced off and Trail Closed signs were put up. Since then the trail has been re-opened and the trail closed signs removed, though remnants of the fence remain. As well most of the fire roads have been closed and re-naturalized and one section of trail not near the fire site has been abandoned, overgrown and no longer exists.

This remapping reflects the trail system as it is today.

The Lime Kiln Trail System includes trails of varying degrees of difficulty. However, this is the trail system that includes the trail I put off riding for over a season due to it's reputation as the most technical trail in the Greenbelt, The Lime Kiln Technical Trail. Indeed the first four or five times I rode it I endoed or crashed at least once. Finally, before the fire, I was able ride the whole trail, though not without dabbing or stopping and restarting a few times. The fire has exposed more rock along the trail and made the technical trail even more difficult.

The Lime Kiln Trail System can be accessed from the other side of P6 on Richmond Road or from P8 and P10 on Moodie Drive or from a gravel trail on Richmond Road south of the McDonald's. Please do not park in the Wild Bird Care Centre parking lot on Moodie Drive.

The Maps

Official NCC Map with Trail Numbers

Official NCC Map with Intersection Numbers

Official Rideau Trail Map

Topographical Map

Google Earth View Annotated Map

Left click twice to enlarge full size

The Trails

This trail system includes a section of the main Rideau Trail and a secondary section of the Rideau Trail, as well as the famous unofficial Lime Kiln Technical Trail, as mentioned above.

We will start our description of the trails at the closest point to home, in Bridlewood, at the entrance across from NCC Parking Lot P6 on Old Richmond Road and try to keep as logical a geographic progression as possible after that.

The Rideau Trail continues on the other side of P6, starting out rocky then turning parallel to Old Richmond Road where there is a chronic muddy section during spring and into summer. There is a walk-around. Please walk it as riding it tends to turn it as muddy as the trail. After that the trail is flowy until it turns left at 25F (on NCC signpost). The trail becomes rocky again as it gets closer to the Lime Kiln Bridge at 25E. Intersections 25D and 25E are essentially the same intersection on either side of the short bridge. The Rideau Trail then crosses over the bridge to 25D and continues south over some slightly rooty sections to 25C. It then follows a wide trail to 25B and goes right following the wide gravel fire road to Old Richmond Road where it continues along Old Richmond Road.

At 25F if you continue straight (south) you will follow a relatively flowy trail that goes through fields and forest, Be aware that there is lots of vegetation right alongside the trail as it is very narrow single-track and you will make contact with the vegetation.

This trail intersects with the Rideau Trail at 25C. There you can join the Rideau Trail in either direction or turn left and continue straight on another slightly rooty trail that goes through forests and fields and past an old overturned outhouse.

This trail ends at the “mulch trail”, one of the fire roads created to fight the fire, that is now covered with wood chips. The wood chips created a very soft trail that is not particularly enjoyable to ride on but it is becoming more packed and better to ride on each year.

The “mulch trail” is part of a secondary trail of the Rideau Trail that goes from NCC Parking Lot P10 on Moodie Drive then goes to the right after the Lime Kiln (at an unmarked intersection), continues to 25E where it goes north and over a bridge and past 28G, 28H, 28J and 28K to NCC Parking Lot P8 and continues across Moodie Drive.

The “mulch trail” starts at an unmarked intersection along the wide gravel fire road that runs between NCC Parking Lot P10 (Lime Kiln Parking Lot) and Old Richmond Road southwest of the Lime Kiln. It includes (obliterates) parts of the Lime Kiln Technical Trail on its way to 25E. At 25E it follows the path of (obliterates) a previous really enjoyable single-track trail until it ends at the bridge at the start of the Wild Bird Care Centre trails (Trail 28). These trails, the Chipmunk Trail and Beaver Trail, are wide easy dirt trails.

The official parking lot for the Lime Kiln is along Moodie Drive, NCC Parking Lot P10. P10 is the start of a wide dirt trail that goes over two bridges (one short, one long) and leads to the Lime Kiln. After the bridges the trail becomes a wide gravel trail (fire road) and continues to Old Richmond Road.

The most famous trail in the system, the Lime Kiln Technical Trail, starts at the Lime Kiln, 25A, and goes for approximately a kilometre to 25E at the Lime Kiln Bridge. It has been broken into three sections by the “mulch trail” (fire road) that obliterates short sections of it. This trail is very technical and also features some very interesting geology. Since the fire more rock has been exposed and, IMHO, the trail has become more technical and difficult.

This is another trail system that includes many intersecting trails and many unofficial trails that are not on the official NCC map. Although including the famous Lime Kiln Technical Trail, this trail system includes trail of various terrain and degrees of difficulty. Please remember these are shared trail so please respect other trail users.

GPS gpx Files

The gpx file for this trail system (and other trail systems) can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

GPX files - Google Docs

If you do download the gpx file please email me at richardw.woodley@gmail.com and let me know so that I have an idea of how many people are downloading and using the files.

Photos

I hope to add photos in the future.

Posted 2015-09-04

Jack Pine & Trail 26 Trail System

Much of my introduction to mountain biking was at the MTB Kanata group rides at Jack Pine. During its time, which seems to have passed, MTB Kanata was the place for all things mountain biking in Kanata and Ottawa. MTB Kanata held regular group rides at the Kanata Lakes trails (which includes the trail area now known as the South March Highlands) on the weekends and regular weekly night rides at Jack Pine, usually including a run through the Lime Kiln Trail. These rides were very informal reflecting the great sense of community that was MTB Kanata in its heyday.

(Map Updated May 2016 to include NCC Intersection Waypoints)

The Jack Pine Trail System is accessible from parking lot P11 on West Hunt Club Road, as well as parking lot P9 on Moodie Drive, and from entrances across from parking lots P8 and P10 on Moodie Drive.

Most of the trails in the system are relatively easy non-technical trails, particularly the trails starting from P9. The start of the trails from P11 include some rocky sections. The trail system also includes a number of board walks that can be treacherous when wet.

Most of the trails are official trails, including a section of the Rideau Trail, and are on the NCC map. However there are two unofficial trails that go off from the main trails that tend to be narrower and more isolated than the main trails. One of these goes to the Log Farm and the other to a working quarry.


The Jack Pine Trail System is great for family rides or for introducing beginners to mountain biking. They are also a really great place to go for a fun flowing ride, However, be aware that these trails are very popular with walkers, especially during the fall when the leaves are changing colour. Remember the IMBA Rule of The Trail No 4. - ”bicyclists should yield to all other trail users”. These are shared trails so always respect other trail users.

GPS gpx Files

The gpx file for this trail system (and other trail systems) can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

GPX files - Google Docs

If you do download the gpx file please email me at richardw.woodley@gmail.com and let me know so that I have an idea of how many people are downloading and using the files.

Slide Show of A Typical Jack Pine Trail 26 Ride

Viewing Slide Show Full Screen Recommended

Posted 2009-06-11
Updated 2017-10-22

Lytle Park Trail System

Lytle Park is a neighbourhood park in Barrhaven with well used sports fields. It is located on O'Keefe Court near the corner of Cedarview and Fallowfield Roads


It contains a small but interesting trail system including 4 kilometres of paved/gravel paths , that extend to a 7 km loop when you add in the connecting roads, and about 5.5 kilometres of single track dirt trails that go through a variety of terrain and even includes some interesting technical rocky and rooty sections. Parts of the trails go around an old pit that is used as a swimming hole.

GPS gpx Files

The gpx file for this trail system (and other trail systems) can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

GPX files - Google Docs

If you do download the gpx file please email me at richardw.woodley@gmail.com and let me know so that I have an idea of how many people are downloading and using the files.

Posted 2011-09-13
Updated 2011-10-04

Monaghan Forest Trails

The Monaghan Forest Trails are almost in my back yard yet I was unaware of them for years. This is likely because they are not on any of the National Capital Commission (NCC) maps nor on the list of City of Ottawa conservation areas, although an after the fact search discovered mentions on several bird watching sites. I have a fellow mountain biker to thank for suggesting I check them out.

 

The Monaghan Forest Trails cover a variety of terrain from bush to grassy areas and includes forest roads, double track trails and even some technical single track.

The trails are located in a corner between Old Richmond Road, Fallowfield Road and Moodie Drive, north of Steeple Hill Crescent and south of a working quarry. You can access the trails from a parking lot on Fallowfield Road across from the Valleyview Little Animal Farm. There is also a parking lot on Alti Place, off of Moodie Drive.

Interestingly I did notice a few trees with what looked like NCC trail markers on them that the trees had grown over. They were also higher up the tree than normal suggesting they moved up with the trees growth. So if they were once NCC trails that was quite a few years ago.

Rideau Trail

The Rideau Trail runs through this area and interestingly the other maps I looked at do not agree on exactly where it goes. Even the official Rideau Trail map does not match where the trail goes according to the signage. The map on this website reflects the signage, the orange triangles used along the rest of the Rideau Trail.

Warning

At the end of Kyhmer Court where the Rideau Trail enters the Monaghan Forest Trails there is a trail going northeast in a loop with a spur off of it. That spur ends at a gravel road that goes around a working quarry. For some reason there is no fence at that point but the road clearly is on private property and should be avoided. I understand the road around the quarry goes dangerously close to the edge of the pit cliffs in places.

GPS gpx Files

The gpx file for this trail system (and other trail systems) can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

GPX files - Google Docs

If you do download the gpx file please email me at richardw.woodley@gmail.com and let me know so that I have an idea of how many people are downloading and using the files.

Photos

I hope to add photos or slide shows to each of the specific trail sections above in the future.

Posted 2016-09-03

Trail 27 Trail System

These trails used to be designated as Trails 27 & 28 but the NCC has renumbered some trail systems and combined Trails 27 and 28 as Trail 27, and used Trail 28 as the designation for the trails near the Wild Bird Care Centre.

These are the trails that I got an MTB Kanata group ride lost on, Luckily we ran into Duncan who knew the trails and managed to lead us back to the other group. I wonder where Duncan, The Spaceman, and The Dish are now.

 (Map Updated May 2016 to Include NCC Intersection Waypoints)

These trails are accessible from across from parking lot P11 on West Hunt Club Road and from parking lot P13 beside Bell High School on Bruin Lane, which is off Cassidy Road and Cedarview Road. They are also accessible from a trail beside D. Aubrey Moodie School that has no parking but is not far from the back end of the Old Quarry Trails adjacent to Bells Corners. I am usually riding these trails after doing Jack Pine and accessing them from across from P11.

This trail system also includes more unofficial trails than official ones and includes quite a few interconnecting loops. Most of these trails, particularly the official ones, are easy and non-technical.

However you will notice some narrow interior trails that are more difficult to navigate because they are narrow and twisty. As well, the trail that goes south along West Hunt Club Road includes some rocky and rooty sections, as well as a section that can get very muddy during the spring and after extensive rainfalls. Some of the unofficial trails closer to Bell High School are also somewhat more difficult.


It was not till I walked the trails taking photos that I realized just how much there is in there, particularly the twisty inside trails. There really are two trail systems, an outside easy system and an inside intermediate level system. There certainly are enough trails for anyone to tool around on for quite a few hours doing different loops in different directions. These are also shared trails but not nearly as heavily used by pedestrians as Jack Pine, except when you get close to Bell High School.

GPS gpx Files

The gpx file for this trail system (and other trail systems) can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

GPX files - Google Docs

If you do download the gpx file please email me at richardw.woodley@gmail.com and let me know so that I have an idea of how many people are downloading and using the files.

Slideshow of a Typical Trail 27 Ride

 

Viewing Slide Show Full Screen Recommended

Posted 2009-06-22
Updated 2018-06-04

Bruce Pit Trails

This is one of the most extensive trails systems I have ever mapped. Even though there is very little on the official NCC map (below), other than the official Trail 29, there is an extensive system of unofficial undocumented trails.

There is a wide variety of types of trails in this system from paved and gravel paths to wider dirt trails and very narrow twisty singletrack with rooty sections and lots of fallen logs. The trail system includes some interesting sections following creek beds.

I started mapping these trails in 2010 extensively tracking and marking waypoints to follow all the intersections. When I started mapping the Dog Walking Area it got so complex that I left it for a year and went on to mapping other trail systems

When I returned to the project this year I decided to not include the Dog Walking Area, as my maps are mainly intended for mountain bikers and although bikes and dogs can co-exist we usually avoid the Dog Walking area while riding. This made finishing up the project easier.

I hope to add photos of these trails at a later date.

GPS gpx Files

The gpx file for this trail system (and other trail systems) can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

GPX files - Google Docs

If you do download the gpx file please email me at richardw.woodley@gmail.com and let me know so that I have an idea of how many people are downloading and using the files.

Posted 2012-10-13

Hazeldean Woods Trails

The Hazeldean Woods Trails is a small but fun trail system in the Hazeldean Community in Kanata, roughly bounded by Hazeldean Road and Castlefrank Road in the southwest and Kakulu Road and Shearer Crescent in the northeast.



The trails are located within two City of Ottawa parks, the Hazeldean Woods Park and the Glen Cairn Reservoir (Forest) adjacent to an underground water reservoir. The trail system is within close riding distance from the Old Quarry Trail System across from the Hazeldean Mall. The total parkland is about 19 hectares (47 acres) with about 5 kilometres of distinct trails.

Although there is not a lot of distance to the trail network it seems longer than it is because of the different loops you can do riding around in it and because of the variety of terrain from easy double track to some really interesting rock gardens and a few challenging climbs (at least for me). This is a local trail system but on both a late Sunday morning and early after supper evening we had no conflicts with other trail users only meeting a few friendly dog walkers and local youngsters on their bikes.



GPS gpx Files

The gpx file for this trail system (and other trail systems) can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

GPX files - Google Docs

If you do download the gpx file please email me at richardw.woodley@gmail.com and let me know so that I have an idea of how many people are downloading and using the files.

Posted 2012-06-12

Trails 20, 21 & Untrails Trail System

Dedicated to the memory of Andy (FaustCan) who introduced me to The Untrails

These trails are accessible from Parking Lot P4 on Haanel Drive, although I usually ride to them on the Trans-Canada Trail (TCT). I would describe these trails as being at the low end of intermediate level trails, except for portions of the The Untrails that are more technical. The terrain is varied including a climb from the TCT up to P4. Trail 21 includes board walks over wet areas and forested areas, as well as sections over grassy areas.

Trail 21 used to be divided into Trails 21 (west of Haanel Drive) and Trail 22 (east of Haanel Drive) but they were combined into one trail a few years ago when the NCC consolidated trail numbers and transferred some to trails without numbers. Trail 22 does not seem to have been used anywhere else.

Trail 20 is very wet and not rideable for most of the riding season. It normally does not dry out until late July or August and then does not recover well from rainfalls during the fall. I usually avoid it.

A loop of Trails 20 and 21 is one of our favourite winter cross-country skiing routes, starting at P4 and going down the south side of 21, taking the Trans-Canada Trail (TCT) to Trail 20 and along it, then looping back along the TCT to the north side of Trail 21, and then adding in a loop of the upper portion of Trail 21.

The Untrails

The Untrails are a group of unofficial trails west of Trail 20 and north of Trail 21. A wide section of trail connects Trail 20 to Trail 21 after which you can go straight across and connect to the Old Quarry Trail system across Robertson Road.

However the most interesting part of The Untrails are the single track trails west and north of the wide trail section. These trails were referred to as The Untrails because originally they were very rough and, to me at the time at least, not particularly fun to ride. The trails have now become worn in and were actually quite enjoyable to ride when I rode them to track and add to the trail system map. The portion closer to 28C at the southern end is more technical.

An interesting feature along the wide portion of The Untrails are the ruins of an old homestead (see map), While this does not seem to be preserved in any official way please be respectful of it and other such ruins that are located along the trails in the Greenbelt.

Untrails Updated Summer 2020

I have been aware of trails in the northwest corner of Haanel and Timm Drive for quite awhile but have not been able to find them till I saw them recently on another map. This 2020 update includes those trails. There are some very technical sections on these trails, including one along a cliff. Unfortunately I neglected to take photos for the slide show of this technical section as I was distracted by concentrating on the trail.

Also note that the last portion of this section that leads to the parking lot at Timm Drive “peters out” near the end and you lose the visible trail as Timm drive comes into view and you have to ride “cross-country” across the field to get to the parking lot. 

Postscript 2023

Over the last few years while hiking the Untrails I have noticed quite a few new offshoots from the trails that I never had the chance to check out or map. Now that I have retired from mountain biking I will no longer be updating the trail system maps (but I do plan to continue adding E-Bikeable routes to this site). However I have noticed that Open Street Map based maps, despite their name, have excellent trail coverage. While I cannot personally verify the accuracy of their Untrails maps their coverage of the Old Quarry Trail System, which I am most familiar with, is excellent. Therefore I am including my latest (2020) map of the Untrails with the current (2023) OSM Topo (4UMaps) map as the background.

 

I will be soon adding a separate section to this site on Open Street Map and GPS Visualizer.

 

GPS gpx Files

The gpx file for this trail system (and other trail systems) can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

GPX files - Google Docs

If you do download the gpx file please email me at richardw.woodley@gmail.com and let me know so that I have an idea of how many people are downloading and using the files.

Slide Show of Trails 20, 21 and Untrails Trail System

 Posted 2016-08-27
Updated 2023-10-06

Trails 11 & 12 Trail System

Trail 11 is the only Greenbelt trail that I cannot ride all of, due to a rocky uphill section known as the “creek bed”. This puts this trail system in competition with the Lime Kiln Trail for the most difficult and technical Greenbelt trail.


This trail system is accessible from NCC parking lot P3 on Corkstown Road. It is also accessible via a very short ride on the road from the adjacent Trans-Canada Trail, as well as from the municipal camp ground on Corkstown Road.

This system starts with Trail 11 which involves a lot of climbing, with quite a few up hills and down hills, including the infamous very rocky and technically difficult ”creek bed” section.

Trail 11 Altitude Profile

At the top Trail 11 joins Trail 12 which is a simple loop on the official map. However there are a large number of interconnecting and criss-crossing unofficial trails as well, including a few that go down the hill and reconnect with Trail 11. The trails at the top are probably best described as intermediate level as far as technical difficulty is concerned.


This trail system is unique in the Greenbelt for its climbs and is an enjoyable challenge to ride.

GPS gpx Files

The gpx file for this trail system (and other trail systems) can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

GPX files - Google Docs

If you do download the gpx file please email me at richardw.woodley@gmail.com and let me know so that I have an idea of how many people are downloading and using the files.

Photos From Trails 11 and 12 Trail System



























Posted 2009-08-29
Updated 2011-10-04