North Ottawa Dunes Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Wildlife

In between the Ottawa Sands Loop to the south and Homestead Loop run in P.J. Hoffmaster State Park to the north, this loop provides a longer, stretched-out option for visitors looking to up the mileage without too much strenuous elevation gain. The trails through this park are mostly flat and wide with occasional roots and loose sections to navigate.

As all trails in North Ottawa Dunes can be traveled in any direction for pedestrians, this loop run can be done in reverse or adapted in a variety of ways for time or ability.

For a shorter option, see the North Ottawa Dunes Lower Loop, which descends the staircases to North Beach Park.

Bugs can be present in warmer, wetter months.

Great location for a winding, up-and-down run with more trails to explore and add or subtract total mileage.

From the Coast Guard Park parking area off N Shore Road, find the southern trail entry back toward the road that runs along the bike path, parallel to the road. Because of the numerous trails through the park, keep an eye on the Trail Run Project mobile app or take a peek at the posted trail maps at most intersections.

This first section makes up one of the longer uphill climbs to gain the elevated terrain of these inland dunes. Reaching the high point, continue west past Intersection 2 toward the western boundary of the park as the trail bends to the north. From here, stay left at all intersections as the trail winds back and forth, up and down through the woods, finally reaching Intersection 10. (For those interested, the trails continue left (north), to connect with P.J. Hoffmaster State Park.)

At Intersection 10, take the rightmost trail toward Intersection 9 and begin the return journey. This run continues to Intersection 8, 7, and then 21, before staying left at all intersections along the eastern boundary back to the start.