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rare's Trail Network (Waterloo Region)

The original 900+ acres of the rare reserve along Blair Road has three sets of trail systems: Cliffs & Alvars, Ancient Woods & Thompson Tract, and Springback Farm. Click on the image below for an enlarged trail map for download, and follow the links below that to learn more about these trail systems.

Help to educate others in our community about respecting the land we live on. Please report any signs of abuses of the use of rare trails by calling our administrative hub, Lamb’s Inn at 519-650-9336.

NOTE: Our seasonal trails (River, Woodland, Alvar & Osprey Tower) have now reopened for spring. The Springbank Butterfly Loop remains closed until Springbank Farm reopens to the public in May. See you all on our trails!

DOWNLOAD A TRAIL MAP WITH TRAIL DESCRIPTIONS HERE! (Updated May 1, 2023)

rare Trail Systems:

Click an image below to see the trail system at that specific location.

Quick Tips

All rare trails are FREE and open to the general public from sunrise to sunset.

Please stay on the trails —rare is home to sensitive vegetation communities that can be trampled with off-trail use. 

Please carry out all garbage — conserving the beauty of this natural space is one of rare’s top missions. Please help us keep it clean.

No camping, campfires, foraging, or hunting is permitted anywhere on the reserve.

The use of motorized vehicles are prohibited on all rare trails.

Dogs on leash sign

Off-leash Dogs

We love our four-legged family members as much as you love yours, however, because of the fragile eco-system we work so hard to steward, the possibility of interactions with wildlife that call rare home, and the possibility of frightening children participating in educational programs at rare prohibits dogs on certain trails and requires them to remain on leash for others.

We do not allow dogs on the Osprey Tower Trail, River Trail, Woodland Trail, Alvar Trail, and Butterfly Interpretive Loop. However, dogs are more than welcome if they remain on a leash on our ECO Centre Trail, Grand Allee, Maple Lane, and Deer Run trails. We thank you in advance for helping us further our efforts in conservation, research, and education, and allowing the space to be enjoyed by all users by respecting our guidelines. 

Parking Locations

  • Lamb’s Inn (administrative hub): 1679 Blair Road, Cambridge, ON N3H 4R8
  • rare ECO Centre: 768 Blair Road, Cambridge, ON N3H 4R8
  • Springbank Trail Parking Lot: (Across Blair Road from the Slit Barn, with trail access to Springbank Farm)
    768 Blair Road, Cambridge, ON N3H 4R8
  • North House Parking Lot: (Closer parking to Springbank Farm, and access to accessible parking at Springbank Farm)
    681 Blair Road, Cambridge, ON N3H 4R8