Ottawa's urban winter trail network expanding west

Ottawa's network of urban winter trails is set to expand again this winter thanks in large part to a big push by volunteer groomers in the city's west end.

Following a successful pilot project last year, the Ottawa West Winter Trail will make a 16-kilometre winter trail for cross-country skiers, snowshoers, fat bikers and hikers permanent, according to co-ordinator Roger Colbeck.

"People were just so happy," said Colbeck. "They said how great it was to have this in their own backyard since they can't get out to Gatineau Park."

The expansion means the west-end trail will now run the full length of Watts Creek, a multi-use pathway owned by the National Capital Commission thatruns from Kanata's March Road in the west to Carling Avenue in the east, and will include several loops in the Greenbelt north of Highway 417.

Colbeck says volunteers, who are also members of the Kanata Nordic Ski Club, will groom the trail.

Part of expanding network

Urban winter trails have steadily gainedpopularity in Ottawa following the 2016 launch of the Kichi Sibi (formerly SJAM) Winter Trail along the Ottawa River between the Canadian War Museum and Westboro Beach.

The number of winter trails has grown so much in recent yearsthat volunteers came together to form the Urban Winter Trail Alliance, which includes groomed trails in Orlans, along the Ottawa River, and through Britannia Park.

Adding the west-end trail to that alliance meansresidents, who previously had to travel further, will now have their own freeaccess to a nearby winter trail,saysColbeck.

"Ithink people were maybe feeling a bit left out when they saw everything going on at Kichi Sibi," he said. "And then when they saw the Britannia Trail happening and our trail happening, I think it really started bringing home the idea that there was this trail system thatcould maybe one day extend all across the city."

Britannia Trail also expanding

By crossing Carling Avenue, users of the west-end winter trail will be able to continue their journey along the existingBritannia Winter Trail, which will also officially expand this winter.

The new sections mean the western tipwill reach Andrew Haydon Park, whilethe eastern endwill reachDeschnes Rapids, according to Britannia Winter Trail board member Marlene Cross.

"It's amazing," said Cross. "Wouldn't it be wonderful ifsomeday all the winter trails in the Urban Winter Trail Alliance would be connected?"

Unfortunately, adds Cross, trail users won't soon be able to enjoy a seamlessconnection between theBritannia trail and its eastern neighbour,the Kichi Sibi trail.

The challenge is twofold:a section of the multi-use path west of Westboro Beach is butted against the traffic lanes of the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, meaning road plows would inevitablypush snow and salt from the road onto the winter trail. Secondly, any attempt to use the southern side of the parkway would conflict with the ongoing construction of Ottawa's light-rail system.

The dream still lives on that one day winter trail users can easily cross the entire city, says Colbeck.

"We've looked at Scandinaviaand we've said, 'We can do better than some of the countries that are known there for having all these trails,'" he said.