Wed.
26 June: Appleton to Carleton Place: The Rotary Centennial Trail
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The Centennial Trail runs between Appleton and Carleton Place -
about six kilometres, depending on your start and end points |
There is more than one way to travel the few
kilometres between the village of Appleton and the town of Carleton Place, in rural
Eastern Ontario. You can drive of
course. Or you can, I suppose, canoe up
the Mississippi River, but it would be more sensible to do the journey in the
other direction! But how many people
know that there is a delightful trail that links these two communities?
In 2005 the Rotary Centennial Trail was created, but
over the years, it seems to have faded into relative obscurity. Its start and finish points are vague, although
the central part of the trail is well-sign-posted. Its creators did a great job of linking
existing roads with sections of woodland trail.
The roads are not busy.
This short hike of about six kilometres (depending on
where you start and end) has plenty to offer:
historic homes; river views; watching future (or past) Brooke Hendersons swinging
their clubs as you walk beside the golf course;
turtles crossing the quiet roads; lonely sections of trail through the
trees; feeling far from anywhere. And the grand finale of reaching downtown Carleton
Place along the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail (the old railway), crossing the Mississippi River, with
the ornate Carleton Place Town Hall as a back-drop to the fast-flowing waters.
And of course, the advantage of doing the walk in this
direction is that you have plenty of choices for ice cream at the end. And a friendly taxi service to give you a
ride back to the start if you wish (drop into County Cabs at 123 Bridge
Street, handily situated in the centre of town).
This is an ideal stroll for anyone who wants a gentle walk
with lots to see along the way. Try it
out for yourself.
Enjoy this photo record of a trail that deserves to be “rediscovered”.
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| A scenic start to the walk |
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| Beside the Mississippi at Appleton |
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| Appleton Bay (and runway for the 'plane) |
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| The dam at Appleton. Here once was a busy woollen mill, now a ruin |
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| Quiet roads through Appleton |
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| This was once the Appleton General Store and Post Office |
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| Crossing the river in Appleton |
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| I think this was the home of Joseph Teskey, Mill owner, built around 1844 |
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| The Mississippi River |
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| Very little traffic |
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| We head out into the countryside before turning left here |
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| Some very nice sections of trail |
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| This turtle was probably looking for somewhere to lay her eggs |
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| Luckily she turned back into the grass |
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| Look for these signs |
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| The trail map |
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| Great idea for any trail these days |
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| Some lonely sections of trail |
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| Arriving in Carleton Place at McNeely Ave. (Hwy 29) |
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| The Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail (the old railway line) |
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Crossing the Mississippi in Carleton Place,
and closer view (below) of Town Hall
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| Our reward |
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The route of the Centennial Trail
and connections via OVRT and streets
into downtown Carleton Place |
