Cataraqui Trail (CT)

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Wildlife

The Cataraqui Trail is a year-round, shared-use recreation trail. In spring, summer and fall it welcomes everyone from runners to cyclists. In winter it is open to snowmobilers bearing a current Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs trail permit. Cross-country skiers are welcome to share the trail.

• Cataraqui Trail: East Segment
• Cataraqui Trail: Central Segment
• Cataraqui Trail: West Segment

There are 48 public road crossings over the 104 kilometer length of the trail. Numerous houses and cottages are built beside or visible from the trail. The communities that the trail passes through or close to are: Smiths Falls (km 0), Portland (km 25), Forfar (km 30), Chaffey's Lock (km 42), Perth Road Village (km 60.7), Sydenham (km 71.7), Harrowsmith (km 78.2), Yarker (km 88.6), Camden East (km 95), Newburgh (km 98.7), Napanee – 7 km beyond Newburgh.

The trail surface is usually the gravel surface of the old railbed. In many places, an additional layer of crushed stone (granular A – ¾ inch minus) has been added. In 2008 and 2009, stone dust surfacing was placed from Hogan Road (km 66.8) to Boyce Island (km 68.2) and from Yarker (km 88.8) to East Street in Newburgh (km 98.4). This work was done with the help of grants from the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and the National Trails Coalition. A stone dust surface is more expensive but provides a smoother ride than the rest of the trail. Approximately 30% of the trail has this stone dust surface so a hybrid or mountain bike is the best choice for cycling on the trail.

The 104 km non-motorized trail contains a variety of geographical features and has a historical past. Built upon the former CN rail line, the multi-use trail runs east to west and passes through a number of communities including Portland, Chaffey's Locks, Sydenham and Harrowsmith. Today, the recreational trail is used by cyclists, runners, horse riders, snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and people just out for a stroll, enjoying spotting wildlife and the natural surrounding.

From Smiths Falls (km 0) to Chaffey's Lock (km 42) the trail passes through flat farmland and woods overlying limestone and sandstone. From Chaffey's Lock (km 42) to Eel Bay (km 68.5) on Sydenham Lake, the trail traverses a neck of the Canadian Shield known as the Frontenac Axis. This links the vast Shield country to the north with its smaller but most impressive southern extremity, the Adirondack region of upper New York State. The Shield country is identified closely with its dominant geological characteristics of rugged, hilly forests, plentiful lakes and swamps and numerous outcrops of attractive pink granite and grey gneiss. From Eel Bay (km 68.5) to Strathcona (km 103) the trail crosses mainly flat agricultural land known as the Napanee Plain.

When crossing the agricultural landscape, the trail right-of-way is generally bordered on both sides by a narrow, natural hedgerow of sun-tolerant native trees, shrubs and plants. This provides ideal habitat for a wide variety of insects, birds and small mammals. In swampy areas, the right-of-way offers a dry respite to the surrounding marshes much appreciated by egg-laying turtles who will take advantage of the gravelly banks along the edge of the trail. In forested areas, the trail provides sunlit edges which permit the growth of sun-tolerant vegetation such as wild apple trees, berry bushes and grass, thereby enhancing the forage possibilities for numerous animal species. The observant trail user will encounter: a variety of birds including herons, ospreys and turkeys; several varieties of turtle including the snapping turtle; several species of snake including the endangered black rat snake; and mammals such as mice, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, otters, foxes, coyotes, and deer.

The history of the Cataraqui Trail starts back in the 1800's with the construction of a number of railways in eastern Ontario. Following deregulation of the railway industry in Canada, CN has abandoned or sold many former branch lines in recent decades, and over time rails and ties were removed and parts of the rights of way sold off. Train services along this line were discontinued in 1986, the ties and tracks were removed in 1989. The section of this line was sold to the Cataraqui Conservation Authority in 1998.