Mississippi Riverwalk

Wed. 10 February:  Mississippi Riverwalk

A stroll beside the Mississippi River in Carleton Place

This was an enjoyable stroll beside the icy Mississippi River as it flows through Carleton Place on its way north to Almonte and eventually to the Ottawa River.  

The town has done a good job of building boardwalks through the trees, and there are several viewpoints where the hiker can stop to admire the fast-flowing waters and the rapids.

The building of the divided highway to Ottawa has, I suppose, made Carleton Place a more convenient dormitory town for the big city.  We walked beside a large estate of new, upmarket homes, packed tightly into a section of land bordering a bend in the river.  Luckily the riverside woodland was spared.

This is a good area for birders, and we spotted several varieties darting through the trees, including cardinals, chickadees, swallows, and there were ducks paddling on the river.  We probably saw several other species, but the Passionate Hiker needs a lot more practice to identify them! Good reason to return to this popular place.

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

Gathering at the Arena on a snowy morning

The first section of trail...

...and the reverse view in summer

An icy path beside the river

Past some large new homes built for Ottawa commuters

Arklan Rapids

A well-built boardwalk...

...and a similar view in summer

Google Earth shows a pleasant peninsula, now wall-to-wall homes.
The trail follows the treeline.