Trails

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Developed hiking trail system - trailhead sign installed. 

Easy-Moderate - 1.2 km (.8 mi) loop

9984 Northville Cres. just off Hwy # 21 at the Ausable Cut Bridge in Northville.

https://w3w.co/reattach.centurion.record

 Owned by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority,  this 32-acre roadside park on the Ausable Cut offers hikers a challenging 2 km loop trail in forested dunes  - easy short-cuts are available.

A wheelchair accessible loop leads you through a Carolinian forest and includes a viewing platform overlooking the river. This is a great place to fish for catfish, drum, perch and pickerel. There is also a children's Story Walk as well as a “wind phone” - a grief tool/resource to encourage and support never-ending connections with loved ones who have passed away.  A gravel parking lot and washroom is available.

Trail network is fully blazed with 8 map kiosks throughout.  PLEASE NOTE: This trail network is EXTREMELY difficult with slippery slopes and lots of mud - especially in the spring and fall. STAY ON MARKED TRAILS - trespassing with not be tolerated.  HUNTING is allowed on this property!

Mystery Falls Loop Trail - Moderate - 2 km (1.2 mi)

Ausable River Valley Trail - Difficult to Extremely Difficult - 6 km (4 mi) one direction

Trails is accessible from two access points from west end of Elm Tree Drive and west end of MacDonald in North Middlesex.  Please note that parking at the end of MacDonald is limited.  DO NOT PARK ON THE CROPS PLANTED BESIDE THE ROAD!

Elm Tree Drive: https://w3w.co/annotated.tunes.lamest

MacDonald Drive: https://w3w.co/headphone.sushi.veterinary

Owned by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, this large property offers two distinct trails:

Mystery Falls Loop Trail (blazed white and blue).  Starting from the parking lot at the west end of Elm Tree Drive, the direct route to the falls is 1 km.  You  can hike the loop trail clockwise to add an additional 3 km.  

Ausable River Valley Trail (blazed white).  You can start at the Elm Tree Drive parking lot or at the end of MacDonald Dr to the north.  Elm Tree to MacDonald is 6 km with optional side trails to reduce the length.

THIS IS A RUGGED TRAIL AND EXTREMELY MUDDY DURING SPRING AND FALL.  Proper footwear is a MUST - white running shoes and flipflops are not recommended.  Elm Tree Drive and MacDonald Drive are NOT MAINTAINED in winter and is posted accordingly.  If you get stuck, your roadside assistance provider will most certainly charge you for the tow.

Please be aware that hunting is permitted on this property and the local landowners are hunters too - STAY ON THE MARKED TRAILS - DO NOT TRESPASS!

1. Forest Walkway Trail

2. Grand Trunk Trail

3. Lagoon Loop.

Trailhead structure & signs

Easy - 1) 2.4 km (1.5 mi) out and back 2) 4 km (2.5 mi) out and back 3) 1.8 km (1.1 mi) loop

Trailhead is located at 12 Railroad Way, Forest.

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Owned by the Municipality of Lambton Shores, the formal 2.8 km (one way) paved Forest Walkway Trail leads south to the Esli Dodge Conservation Area. The Grand Trunk Trail along the old railway track is a 4 km return trip over flat lands. A 1 km Lagoon Loop is available at the end of the Grand Trunk Trail.

A skateboard (X-Park) is available at the trailhead. A small portion of the trail heads east from the trailhead to the Rotary Civic Square including a splash pad. 

Connector trail is blazed 'orange' - has on-trail directional signs

Easy - 2 km (1.2 mi) one direction

9997 Port Franks Road at the Port Franks Community Centre parking lot Trailhead OR at the back of the 'white' blazed trail loop in the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area.

https://w3w.co/glug.handicaps.rejections or https://w3w.co/downswing.airbase.aspects

The connector trail passes through lands owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Lambton County and the Oakridge Family Campground. This 2 km trail connects the Ausable River Cut trail network to the Trailhead of the Lambton County Heritage Forest trails at Port Franks Community Centre parking lot.

Park of this connector is along a paved shoulder of the Port Franks Road.

Trail Loop is blazed  -  has a trailhead map sign.

Easy - 1.5 km (1 mi) loop

7101 Outer Drive west of Port Franks 

https://w3w.co/skirts.shrunken.grocery

Owned by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, the 69 acre ‘L’ Lake site offers a gentle 1.5 km hiking trail through cedar wetlands and mixed Carolinian Forest. This is also the entrance to the Nature Conservancy of Canada's Forest Dunes Nature Reserve.

The trail has many mosquitos during the summer months (June-August).

Passable hiking trail - no trailhead map sign or on-tail directional signs. 

Easy - 4 km (2.5 mi) out and back

7101 Outer Drive west of Port Franks through the ‘L’ Lake Management Area owned by the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority.

https://w3w.co/skirts.shrunken.grocery

Owned by Nature Conservancy of Canada, the hike from Outer Drive to Mud Creek and back is approximately 5 km and leads through the 139-acre Forested Dunes Nature Reserve, part of the 150,000-acre Port Franks Dunes & Wetlands Complex designated provincially as an Area of Natural & Scientific Interest (ANSI) and nationally as an Important Birding Area (IBA).  The old Mud Creek pedestrian bridge which provided access from Huron St. in Port Franks was removed in 2011 due to safety concerns.

The trail has been cleared for the most part, however, there are thick areas that we are working to trim back.  PLEASE BE AWARE that this property is renowned for having TICKS.

Developed hard-surfaced walking & bicycle trail.

Easy - 9 km (5.6 mi) one direction

Anywhere along Highway 21 from the entrance of Pinery Provincial Park and Grand Bend.

https://w3w.co/available.arrangement.paddlers or https://w3w.co/fluids.contoured.lozenges

This 10 km multi-use and relatively flat trail runs parallel to Highway #21 from Grand Bend to the entrance of Pinery Provinial Park at 1512 Lakeshore Drive (Hwy #21). Interest has been expressed to build a 'Pinery to Port Franks Bikeway' also along Highway #21.​

This is a paved trail.

Two trails have been blazed, trailhead & on-trail signs have been installed and unwanted ATV trails have been covered with brush to permit re-naturalization.

Easy - 2 trails - 4  km (2.5  mi), 1.5  km (1  mi) out and back

In Ipperwash from the end of Richardson Drive off East Parkway Drive.

https://w3w.co/product.danger.diodes

Owned by Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Carolinian Forest & Dunelands here covers over 500 acres and includes a 172 acre Nature Reserve. The Dunes & Swales ('White') Trail is 5.5 km and winds through a Carolinian Forest of sand ridges and wet swales passable on boardwalks. A variety of wildflowers makes this trail a feast for the eyes in spring. The Cedar ('Green') Trail is 2.2 km and features many cedar coves.

Gravel parking lot available. The trails have mosquitos during the summer months (June-August).

Developed trails - trailhead and on-trail signs installed and trail guide available.

Easy-Difficult - 3 separate trails - 4.8 km (3 mi) loop, 3.2 km (2 mi) loop, 2.2 km (1.4 mi) one direction

Boothill Road from north & Vernon Road from south near Village of Sylvan on County Road #7.

https://w3w.co/reach.fleshly.heated

Owned by the Thames Talbot Land Trust, the 367 acre property located in the Ausable River Valley (east side - just north of the bridge on County Road  #7) has a difficult 4.8 km and an easy 3.2 km trail loop through mixed Carolinian-Great Lakes Hardwood Swamp Forest, and a 2.2 km trail along the river - Visit www.thamestalbotlandtrust.ca​

The trails have mosquitos during the summer months (June-August).

Blazed & accessible hiking trail loop - no trailhead or on-trail signs.

Easy - 1.6 km (1 mi) loop

9904 Nipigon Street in Port Franks - 0.5 km east of Port Franks Road at Whatman Street.

https://w3w.co/maturity.pest.meditation

Owned by Lambton Wildlife, this extremely rare 37 acre ‘Dry Oak-Pine Woodland’ has a 2 km trail traversing gently on a sloping sandy terrain. The Karner Blue butterfly after which this Nature Sanctuary is named is extirpated.

Trail is overgrown with poison ivy.

Trails are blazed - has trailhead with map and on-trail directional signs.

Easy & Moderate - 3 separate interconnected trails - 2.1 km (1.3 mi), 2.8 km (1.7 mi), 3.1 km (1.9 mi) and a 550 m (0.4 mi) accessible path.

9997 Port Franks Road at the Port Franks Community Centre in Port Franks.

https://w3w.co/glug.handicaps.rejections

Owned by the County of Lambton and managed by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, this 570 acre Oak-Savanna & Carolinian Forest offers three trails respectively 3.1 km, 5.2 km & 6.6 km in total length from the Community Centre. 

Welcome to the 'Heart of the Trails' where more than 18 km of trails can be found within a 4 km radius on 5 separate properties, many of which are connected.  This showcase trailhead and adjacent 'Circle of Life' features native artwork, native plants, and carved animals. A 550 m long wheelchair accessible path through a 'tree tunnel' can be found behind the community centre with over 100 trees and a children's Story Walk installed.

Gravel & woodchip walking/hiking trail loop. Planned on-trail signs to include a series of interpretive panels and a StoryBook.

Easy - 1 km (.6 mi) loop

10035 Museum Road, Grand Bend (just north of the Pinery Provincial Park entrance off Hwy. 21)

https://w3w.co/expose.gigabytes.mavericks

Owned by the County of Lambton, the Woodland Heritage Trail is a loop through the forest around the museum. The trail is accessible year round and in the winter, snowshoes are available for rent. There are a variety of sizes for adults and children (who have to be over 60 pounds to use the equipment).

The trail is included as part of your regular museum admission fee.  Visit www.lambtonmuseums.ca/lambton-heritage-museum/ for more details.

Developed Trail System - Trailhead signs and markers installed.

Easy - Moderate - various distances

8680 Rock Glen Road - Follow the Conservation Area sign from County Road #79 just north of Arkona.

https://w3w.co/duping.helpless.palettes

Owned by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority,  this 67-acre gorge site has a 1.5 km hiking trail with steep stairways and a wheelchair accessible overlook. 

An entrance fee applies.  Visit www.abca.ca for more details.

Developed hiking & bicycle trails - trailhead signs installed.

Easy - various distances

1512 Lakeshore Drive (Hwy #21) 10 km south of Grand Bend.

https://w3w.co/available.arrangement.paddlers

Owned by the Province of Ontario, this large 6300-acre park has kilometers of sandy beaches and an extensive network of hiking & bicycle trails through Oak Savanna. 

An entrance fee applies.  Visit www.pinerypark.on.ca for more details.