Explore Our Trails

14+ kilometres of trails, free and open for the benefit of the public.

Our Riverside Cliffs and Alvars Trails offer seasonal-use public access for the understanding and enjoyment of the unique geological features found within, while maintaining and enhancing the natural landscape and biodiversity of these reef-formed limestone outcrops. Protection and management of the cliff edge and cliff face habitats are given high priority since they represent a habitat type identical to that of the Niagara Escarpment. The alvars, a globally rare habitat type, that extend inland from the cliffs, require both protection and management and provide opportunity for research in restoration ecology.

Eco Centre Trail

Open: Year-Round
Substrate: Grass/Soil
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 230 m

The ECO Centre Trail connects the ECO Centre to the Grand Trunk Trail (maintained by the City of Cambridge). The trail starts east of rare’s iconic 1840s Slit Barn and proceeds through a grassland habitat. Along the way, look for the sculpture Elinor, The Bald Eagle, which was created and donated in 2006 by local metal artist John De Boer. This trail is an easy walk on grass/soil substrate, good for hiking, birding and viewing wildlife

Osprey Tower Trail

Substrate: Grass/Soil
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 750 m

Starting immediately across the Grand Trunk Trail from the ECO Centre Trail, the Osprey Tower Trail travels through a shrubland habitat to just west at the Grand River and the junction with the River Trail. There, it enters a grassland meadow offering visitors a clear view of rare’s first Osprey Tower, erected in 2007. Visitors can return to the Grand River to connect with the River Trail, or opt to continue on the loop back to the Grand Trunk Trail through the butterfly grove planted with nectar and host plants to attract various butterfly species.

This trail offers an easy walk on grass/soil substrate and is good for hiking, birding and viewing wildlife. Dogs and cyclists are not permitted on this trail. This trail closes from November 15-March 15 for the safety of users and wintering wildlife.

River Trail

Open: March 15-November 15; Closed Winter
Substrate: Soil/Rocky
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 1930 m

The River Trail is longest trail in rare’s Blair network. The trail follows the Grand River and showcases the mature deciduous forest and limestone cliffs on this area of the property. The River Trail passes several archeological points of interest including a stone fire pit, hunting sites, and paleo-point sites. At the junction of the Osprey Tower and River trails, the confluence of the Grand and Speed Rivers is visible. At its eastern end, the River Trail ends at the Lookout, which provides a scenic view of the Grand River below. This trail offers a walk of medium difficulty on soil/rocky substrate, and is good for hiking, birding and viewing wildlife. Dogs and cyclists are not permitted on this trail. This trail closes from November 15-March 15 for the safety of users and wintering wildlife.

Woodland Trail

Substrate: Soil/Rocky
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 750 m

The Woodland Trail intersects the River Trail at its halfway mark, heading back towards the Grand Trunk Trail. This trail travels through a mature forest within the Cliffs and Alvars area of rare. In spring, ephemerals (wildflowers with a short blooming time) such as White Trillium can be seen carpeting the forest floor. Other noteworthy plants include Wild Ginger, Bloodroot, and Canada Mayapple. This trail offers an easy walk on soil/rocky substrate and is good for hiking, birding and viewing wildlife. Dogs and cyclists are not permitted on this trail. This trail closes from November 15-March 15 for the safety of users and wintering wildlife.

Alvar Trail

Open: March 15-November 15; Closed Winter
Substrate: Soil/Rocky
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 280 m

Alvars are a globally rare ecosystem found on rare lands. The vegetation in this habitat reflects the extreme conditions of the alvar, with drought tolerant and shade intolerant plants, such as Eastern Red Cedar and Northern Prickly Ash, predominating. The Alvar trail connects the Woodland Trail to the eastern limb of the River Trail at the top of the Rock Staircase. This trail offers an easy walk on soil/rocky substrate and is good for hiking, birding and viewing wildlife. Dogs and cyclists are not permitted on this trail.

For those looking for a shorter “inland” adventure, the Maple Lane Trail provides a scenic stroll through wetland, meadow, plantations and mature deciduous forest. This trail connects the Grand Allée Trail, a historic carriageway that passes beside the old-growth two-kilometre loop of Ancient Woods. You can park opposite the gate and rare sign on Langdon Drive to access this trail system. Note that, while out on the Maple Lane and the Deer Run trails, you can participate in the Craig Campbell Fern Walk. Download our Guide to learn more about the ferns you’ll find around particular stations enroute.

Grand Allée Trail

Open: Year-Round
Substrate: Soil / Rocky
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 1120m

The Grand Allée is an historic carriageway lined with Carolina Poplar trees. The original brick gateway structures remain intact today and can be seen at the trailhead at Whistle Bare Road. From this trailhead, the Grand Allée travels along a hedgerow and enters into the Old Growth Forest remnant with a cathedral-like canopy. Some trees in this forest are more than 200 years old! Deeper into the Old Growth Forest, the trail crosses Bauman Creek, a coldwater tributary to the Grand River. Brook Trout, an indicator species of good ecosystem health, can be spotted within Bauman Creek because of its cold temperature and high oxygen content.

Maple Lane Trail

Open: Year-Round
Substrate: Grass / Soil
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 620m
The Grand Allée veers westward into Maple Lane, another historic carriageway lined with large Sugar Maples. Maple Lane continues into rare’s Butterfly Meadow within the Thompson Tract. The meadow is planted with several butterfly host plants and is a haven for numerous species of butterflies. Maple Lane exits onto Langdon Drive, where a small road shoulder is available for visitor parking.

Dear Run Trail

Open: Year-Round
Substrate: Soil/Grass
Difficulty; Easy
Length: 970m
The Deer Run Trail connects Maple Lane back to the Grand Allée Trail, looping through rare’s Black Walnut plantation. The plantation provides a stark contrast between the structure of a diverse forest ecosystem and that of a planted monoculture (an area planted with only one species). As the name suggests, it is not uncommon to see White Tailed Deer running through this area!

Butterfly Interpretive Loop

Open: Seasonally (May - October)
Substrate: Grass
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 930m
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The Butterfly Interpretive Loop is an educational butterfly trail that loops around the gardens at Springbank and is part of the Savvas Chamberlain Family Pollinator Preserve. Native plants and bushes that are known to attract butterflies were planted along the trail with seven interpretive signs to educate trail users about local butterflies, as well as what plants attract them to your garden. This project was completed with the help of a group of students from Sir Sanford Fleming College in Lindsay. Included in the loop is our conceptual longhouse which was designed and erected by Bill Woodworth, an architect with the University of Waterloo School of Architecture in Cambridge.

Springbank Pavilion

The pavilion, just south-west of the community gardens, was built in 2011 to provide sheltered space for gardeners, visiting school children, and community groups to rest or partake in events. It is a unique structure designed by students at the University of Waterloo’s School of Architecture in Cambridge and built by volunteers under the leadership of Laura Knap, a graduate of the school. Most of the wood required for the project was rough sawn cedar harvested from a sustainable forest in Eastern Ontario.

Springbank Trail (300 m)

From the South Parking Lot across Blair Road from rare’s historic Slit Barn, the Springbank Trail parallels Blair Road through meadow and woodland, before ending at the parking lot at the entrance to North House and Springbank Farm. Connections are made here with the Butterfly Loop and the Neuman Trail. This trail offers an easy walk on soil/gravel substrate and is good for hiking, birding and viewing wildlife.

Neuman (700 m)

The Neuman Trail is rare’s newest trail in the Blair Area, named for Martin Neuman, an early supporter of rare. Starting from the Springbank Farm parking lot, the trail branches left from the gravel laneway, paralleling Blair Road southeast along a grassland meadow and through a copse of trees, across a bridge over a small creek, before curving south through more meadow. It leaves rare lands, skirting a stormwater basin and exiting onto Newman Drive (different Newman). No parking is provided at Newman Drive for trail users; it is recommended that the South Parking Lot at the west end of Springbank Trail be used instead. The trail offers an easy walk on soil/gravel substrate and is good for hiking.

Quick Tips

Trails are free and open to the public

Trails are open sunrise to sunset

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.

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

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

Leashes are required

We love our four-legged family members as much as you love yours, but due to our
commitment to protecting the delicate ecosystems, the presence of wildlife and children and youth participating in our educational programs, certain trails at our location prohibit dogs and all other trails require dogs to be on a physical leash.

Leashed dogs are welcome on the ECO Centre Trail, Grand Allée, Maple Lane and Deer Run trails.
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No dogs are permitted on the Osprey Tower Trail, River Trail, Woodland Trail, Alvar Trail and Butterfly Interpretive Loop.

Your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines is greatly appreciated, as it aids in our conservation, research and educational endeavors while ensuring an enjoyable experience for all visitors.

Trail Map

View our Downloadable Trail Map

Explore Our Trails

Quick Tips

Leashes are required

Trail Map

Protecting 1,200 acres of land

Parking Locations