I’ve hiked just about every trail in the Stony Swamp sector of the Greenbelt, but never the Sarsaparilla Trail. At just 0.8 kilometres long (according to the NCC), and a standalone trail, I’m pretty sure it’s the shortest of all the Greenbelt Trails. So, it was always one that I kept putting off because it would be so easy to do at any time.
Now, with a new baby, all of a sudden short trails that are close to home look pretty appealing! So this is one that I’ve visited a few times over the winter, and continue to visit now that spring is finally here.
The trail is open year round, making it great for snowshoeing in the winter, and walking during the warmer months. Dogs are not allowed on the Sarsaparilla Trail, just like they aren’t allowed on other trails in Stony Swamp.
A little friend during our winter hike.
Getting There
The parking lot for the Sarsaparilla Trail is just off of Old Richmond Road, near Hunt Club. You can use these coordinates to get there: 45.303497, -75.831955.
Google calls the parking lot NCC 22, but when I arrived there I noticed the posted sign was for P7. Regardless, there’s a big sign by the side of the road announcing that it’s the Sarsaparilla Trail, so it’s hard to miss!
The parking lot isn’t huge, but there’s room for at least thirty cars. In the winter, it’s plowed. There’s also a spot dedicated to accessible parking.
Trail sign by the side of the road.
The Trailhead
Since there’s only one trail leaving the parking lot, it was really easy to find the trailhead. It was at the back of the parking lot, and there was a big sign there with a map of the trail. There was also a little garbage can off to the side.
The last time we went was in late April. There was a ton of flooding all over Ottawa and the trailhead was pretty wet when we got there. There were actually ducks swimming around beside the map!
The NCC’s map of the Sarsaparilla Trail.
The Trail
We set out on the trail, which was wide and flat, and made of gravel. The trail was wide enough that it would be easy to walk side by side with another person. It’s also flat enough that you could bring a stroller.
I believe it’s the NCC’s intent that the trail be universally accessible. I always hesitate to say that someone could bring a wheelchair out on a trail, just because I’ve never had the experience of being in one.
Only a few metres from the trailhead there was an outhouse. The sign on the outhouse marked it as being accessible as well.
Trail Markers
There were no trail markers along the Sarsparilla Trail. But with the way the trail was constructed, it was super easy to follow. And, there were the typical NCC signs directing you where to go to get to the next “point.”
These signs make the trail extra easy to follow!
On this particular trip, I decided to complete the trail clockwise. Normally, I like to walk it counter clockwise because that gets us to the lookout closer to the end. With all the flooding though, the section of trail between “Point A” and “Point B” was completely swamped. In order to Leave No Trace, I knew I’d have to walk right through the middle of the puddle and get my feet soaked. So I decided to save that for the end!
We came to the first split in the trail after walking only a hundred metres. Heading to our left would have taken us to a covered pavilion with some picnic tables- a great spot to have lunch before or after. Immediately to our right was “Point A.”
The trail split again at Point A. Straight ahead of us was Point B, and to the left was Point E, where the lookout was. We headed to our left, walking through a mixed forest. There was tons of brush down, so the forest itself was actually a bit unsightly.
The Lookout
After walking only 300 metres, we arrived at Point E. Here, there was a sign directing us to the lookout, and we stepped out onto a long boardwalk. We were lucky enough to share the viewing platform with a lovely gentleman who knew a lot about the birds in the area.
Boardwalk leading to the lookout.
And, we got lucky again when a couple of geese swam up right next to the platform and decided to go fishing right in front of us! I’m a little nervous around geese because of how aggressive they can be, but I must admit they looked pretty cute with their little bums in the air.
After enjoying the view for a bit, my daughter informed me it was time to get moving again. Leaving the boardwalk, we turned to our left to head towards Point D. We arrived there having walked only half a kilometre. Wanting to take the “long way around,” we turned left again to head out to Point C. Our other option would have been to skip that portion of the trail and head straight to Point B. But really, this trail is short enough!
We reached Point C after hiking .6 kilometres. Near the sign here, there was a little bench. There are tons of little red squirrels and chickadees along the trail, so this might be a nice spot to stop and see them. Of course, you practically trip over the red squirrels as soon as you leave the parking lot, so it’s not absolutely necessary to get to this spot!
A friendly goose at the lookout.
Heading Back
We arrived at Point B having hiked a total of .7 kilometres. To our right was the trail that joined Point D to Point B. Ahead of us there was a downed tree and a massive puddle between us and the parking lot. As I was typing this, I realized there was no way a person in a wheelchair could navigate this tree- it was blocking the entire trail (I emailed the NCC to let them know).
We were lucky enough to be able to hop over the tree, and then it was time to hit the puddle. My poor old boots haven’t been waterproof in a while, and that puddle was COLD! But soon enough, we were back at Point A. We took a quick detour to check out the pavilion, and then we were back to the parking lot.
After the Hike
The total length of this trail, as it was recorded by our GPS, was 1 kilometre. We covered that distance in 27 minutes. A kilometre can be walked much more quickly, but this is the kind of trail that you linger on. The Sarsaparilla Trail takes you through forest that is currently in pretty rough shape. There are so many trees down that it’s actually not very pretty. But, the lookout is beautiful, and there’s tons of wildlife to be seen. Plus, with how flat and easy this trail is, it’s perfect for literally anyone who just wants to step outdoors. I have no doubt we’ll be back!
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!
Happy hiking baby.
Map and Elevation Gain
Our GPS tracked route along the Sarsaparilla Trail.
Whenever I’m hiking somewhere new, I tend to wonder about who was on, and who took care of that land before me. I’ve enjoyed using this website as a place to start learning more about the indigenous people whose land I’m on: Native-land.ca.
The Sarsaparilla Trail is about as flat as you can get!
Gear We Brought
- Hiking Boots
- Wool Socks
- Warm Leggings
- T-Shirt
- Sweater
- Cell Phone
- Baby Fleece Sleeper
- Infantino Up Close Newborn Carrier
- Pacifier
- Bib
If You Liked This Trail, You’ll Love:
- The Lime Kiln Trail
- The Beaver and Chipmunk Trails
- The Jack Pine Trail
- The Chapman Mills Conservation Area
