The Passionate Hiker: A Dam Nuisance

Wed. 16 December: The Rideau Trail: Ghost Town and Red Rock

Following blue and orange routes today

This was our final “official” hike of the year – and what an enjoyable short trip it was.

The Big Rideau North Shore Road is narrow and twisting, and luckily at this time of year free of any traffic. It made an exciting access route to the start of our hike. There’s a handy place to park cars at the lonely Cooper Drive junction.

We followed the Rideau Trail along Cooper Drive - a leafy track - before taking the overgrown side trail to the “ghost town”. One of the two buildings still stands – just. It’s a two-room farmhouse open to the elements, its roof draped with fallen tree branches. It might make a shelter from the rain, but it’s a mess inside. Nevertheless the tumble-down building made for a good group photo by the front door (or doorway)!

Someone spotted the remains of a doormat. At one time, long ago, this was, we think, a working farmhouse. Beside the house is a swamp which may have once been a lake. It felt more forlorn here than ghost-like.

Returning to the Rideau Trail, we continued eastwards to the large swamp, where, as feared, the beaver dam was not safe for a crossing. The water was flowing through a gap in the middle of the dam, which was soft underfoot. This particular dam has become a bit of a nuisance to Rideau Trail hikers, and seems to be getting harder to negotiate every time we visit.

Making a note to return in January or February when we should be able to cross the ice here, we turned around. But given the unseasonal weather this year, even that might not be a safe bet.

We enjoyed the conversation and the company as we strolled through the woods. In no time we were back at our cars. As an extra bonus, we drove further along North Shore Road to Red Rock. This large granite rock, sitting beside Big Rideau Lake, is a “hidden gem”. It has been protected for all time under the Rideau Waterway Land Trust.

A few snowflakes drifting by, and temperatures inching towards zero, were a reminder that winter cannot be very far away. Bring it on – we’re ready!

Note: single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately.

Statistics:

Total Distance: 4.9 km (hike)

Height Gain: Negligible

Max. Elev: 153 m (502 ft.)

Time on Trail: 1 hr. 29 mins.

Cooper Dr.: 9.36 am

Ghost Town: 10.03 am

Beaver dam: 10.29 am

Ret. to cars: 11.05 am

Temp: Zero rising to +2C