The rare Charitable Research Reserve is a 1,200+ acre urban land trust and environmental institute in Waterloo Region/ Wellington.

No. In 2004, the Cruickston Charitable Research Reserve was renamed rare as an acknowledgement of the reserve’s history and its mission to discover the most inclusive practices and answers to environmental issues, stewarding the reserve’s diverse network of natural landscapes for ecological integrity and future generations.

Yes. The trails are open to the public free of charge from dawn to dusk. The Grand Trunk Trail (part of the Cambridge Riverbank Trail system but crosses the rare property) is open all year. The Cliffs and Alvars Trails are open from mid March to mid November. Visit our trails page.

Yes. All of the events listed in our Events Calendar are open to the public for free or for a nominal fee.

Due to the fragile ecosystem we work hard to preserve, bikes and strollers are only permitted on the Grand Trunk Trail, Maple Lane, Grand Allee, and Deer Run trails.

We are a charitable organization that relies on grants, individual donations, foundations and corporate support.

Trail Head parking is accessible off of George Street or at 768 Blair Road (at the rare ECO Centre).

The Slit Barn was renovated to provide a three-season facility for rare events, education programs and private rentals. Along with the adjacent Resource House, this area is known as the rare ECO Centre, the hub of our Every Child Outdoors environmental programming.

Springbank Farm is the site of 110 community garden plots, two food bank gardens and an educational demonstration garden.