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rare Butterfly Trail

rare Butterfly Trail at Springbank Gardens. Explore the world of butterflies with our new interpretive signage! Butterflies

Trails

2014 property trails

Use of rare trails is free!

At present, we have a few trails which are open to the public. 

The River Trail

Perhaps the most recognized trail at rare is the River Trail in the Cliffs and Alvars. This rare trail, transects The Grand Trunk trail – which is part of a greater trail system maintained by The City of Cambridge.

The River Trail runs adjacent to the Grand River along scenic cliffs and throughout second growth forests.  It is closed to public access between November 15th and March 15th as it is a High Risk Zone for roosting Bald Eagles.

When opened, The River Trail is accessed directly off the City of Cambridge Grand Trunk Trail at the George St. parking area or at rare’s 1840′s Slit Barn (768 Blair Road). When beginning at the Slit Barn, part of the rare ECO Centre, start at CAFKA’s “IMITATE” archway.

Maple Lane and Grand Allée

For those looking for a shorter “inland” adventure, the Maple Lane Trail provides a scenic stroll through wetland, meadow, plantations and mature deciduous forest.  This trail connects the Grand Allée Trail, a historic carriageway that passes beside the old-growth Ancient Woods (a 2 km loop).  You can park opposite the gate and rare sign on Langdon Drive.  Leashed dogs are welcome on this trail.

Butterfly Trail 

An educational butterfly trail loops around the gardens at Springbank. Native plants and bushes that are known to attract butterflies have been planted along the trail with signs to educate trail users about local butterflies, as well as what plants attract them to your garden. This project was completed with the help of a group of students from Sir Sanford Fleming College in Lindsay. Included in the loop is our conceptual longhouse which was designed and erected by Bill Woodworth, an architect with the University of Waterloo School of Architecture in Cambridge. This feature sits in the naturalized field just west of the gardens, displaying the size and structural components of an aboriginal longhouse, being about 200 feet in length and 28 feet wide.


About Man’s Best Friend…

Dog walking is not permitted in the Cliffs and Alvars (River Trail and Woodland Trail) or at Springbank. Dogs on leash are welcome Grand Trunk Trail, Maple Lane and Grand Allée. Please keep dogs on a leash to protect wildlife and visitors.

Bicycles

Bicycles are not allowed on rare’s Cliff and Alvars trails, as cycling is damaging to the trails and risky for the cyclist and other trail users. Cyclists – please keep to the Grand Trunk Trail.


Please refer to our geo-caching policy before participating on the rare property.

Please help us educate others in our community about protecting and respecting this incredible natural resource.  Please report any signs of abuses of the use of rare trails by calling 519-650-9336.

Our trails are designed to give you better access to the natural beauty of rare, while encouraging education and spreading ecological awareness. These trails also allow the community to see the rare, or uncommon, elements which exist here: limestone cliffs, alvars, floodplains, diverse flora and fauna, historical buildings and the confluence of aboriginal transportation routes.

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