The Jack Pine Trail- A 2.25 km Hike in Ottawa

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The Jack Pine Trail is a shorter route than I usually write about, but I had so much fun walking it this past March, that I decided to make an exception.

This trail is technically only open for hiking on April 15^th. But, with the thaw that we had at the beginning of March there was almost no snow on the ground. So I took it upon myself to make an exception to the rule. I knew there would be no way anyone could actually ski on the trail, so I thought I might as well take advantage.

I got crazy lucky and pulled into the parking lot just behind a lovely couple who was going out to refill all the birdfeeders in the area. That meant that almost every step of the way, I got to see a little bit of the wildlife in the area coming out for a snack. It was an amazing feeling to be walking along and having chickadees, blue jays, and finches (plus some beautiful red birds that I couldn’t identify) swoop through the air around me.

Just an FYI- Dogs are not allowed on this trail. There are signs posted that informed potential dog walkers that they might get a $100 fine for bringing their pup into this area, as it’s considered a conservation area.

Getting There

The Jack Pine Trail can be accessed from two different parking lots: p11, off of Hunt Club, or p9, off of Moodie Drive. I chose to start at p9 and walk the three loops that make up the Jack Pine Trails.

There was a big sign at the edge of Moodie Drive announcing that I had arrived, so it was easy to know where to turn. You can use these coordinates to get there: 45.293052, -75.816387.

The p9 parking lot is pretty big, with space for at least fifty cars. There were signs posted near the trailhead indicating that certain parking spots were reserved for accessible parking. There were two outhouses available, and one also had a sign indicating it was wheelchair accessible. Off to the side of the parking lot, there were a few picnic tables scattered about.

The Route

I started the trail at what I considered the trailhead, because there was a big sign and the outhouses there. This had me completing the loop counterclockwise.

I had walked less than 100 metres when I came across the first big feeding station. There were a couple skittish squirrels there, as well as chickadees flitting about. Another 100 metres along the trail was a spot with a bench, and where I saw more birds in one place than I ever could have hoped for! Here, there was also a billboard with a poster of the different kinds of birds. It was really neat to try and identify the different kinds of birds in the area.

In this spot, I had the option to continue hiking straight, or turn to my right. Had I turned to my right, the trail would have made a tiny little loop, and would have looped me back around to the parking lot. I think choosing this route would have had me walking for less than half a kilometer. I chose to continue on.

SO MANY Birds!

As I walked along, the birds seemed to stay with me. They were more easily startled than the squirrels, and would land and then take flight again often as I walked along. I continued to see tons of little squirrels darting through the woods. I wasted a ton of time trying to get good pictures of these little creatures!

When I had hiked for 0.6 kilometres, the trail once again gave me the option to turn right and complete a smaller loop. Again, I carried on straight in order to complete the third, and biggest loop, of the trail.

The trail had been quite wide so far- it would be easy to walk side by side with someone on this path. It was also really easy to follow because of how wide it was. There were some trail markers scattered about, but I really didn’t need them because it was so easy to follow the path.

Heading Back

The trail changed from being forested around the 1 kilometre mark. Then, it took me through a lovely marsh for the next half a kilometre. At this point, I was making my way back to the parking lot.

After hiking for about 1.7 kilometres, I reached a split in the trail that could have taken me across Moodie Drive, over to the Lime Kiln Trail. Had I wanted to add on that route, I would have turned left. Today though, I chose to head back to the parking lot and keep my walk short

I got to cross a lovely boardwalk at the 2 kilometre mark. If I had chosen the smallest loop, I would have missed this, but both the second, and the largest loop, allowed the opportunity to cross here.

I arrived back to the parking lot having only walked 2.25 kilometres. The trail ended on the opposite side of the parking lot from where I had started.

What I Thought

The Jack Pine Trail was some of the easiest walking I’ve done in awhile. The whole trail feels almost completely flat, and the amount of little critters there are to stop and stare at allows for a lot of breaks! Despite all the time I spent looking around, I was able to complete this trail in fifty minutes.

I would absolutely recommend this trail for families with young children. It would also be great for people who are just getting used to the idea of walking or hiking outdoors. Actually, this is a great trail for anyone who wants to get outside and see some cute little creatures, but only has a short time to do so. I think this trail would be an amazing after work or for an after dinner walk in the summer.

I hope this trip report has enough info to get you there too. Let me know in the comments, or share and tag a friend to start planning your next adventure!

Maps and Elevation Gain

Gear I Brought

• Hiking Boots
• Crampons
• Base Layers
• Fleece Sweater
• Winter Coat Shell
• Mittens
• Buff Merino Wool Headband
• Cell phone