Walking the Trans Canada Trail in Eastern Ontario: Research, Resources and Planning Information

Communities, resupply, camping and distances from Ottawa to Brantford via the Greater Toronto Area
 

Preparing to Walk Across Eastern Ontario

 
After completing our first year on the Trans Canada Trail in November 2019, we continued researching and preparing for the next stage of our #Hike4Birds journey across Canada. Our original investigations had concentrated on reaching Quebec from Newfoundland, but the experience of walking through four provinces and part of a fifth had already demonstrated the importance of identifying reliable resupply opportunities, understanding the distances between communities and investigating formal camping possibilities before setting out. As we prepared for Ontario, we returned to maps, municipal trail resources, conservation authorities, tourism information and community websites to assemble the practical information we would need for the next portion of our journey.

 
The following guide brings together our research for Eastern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area, covering the route of the Trans Canada Trail from Ottawa (Ontario-Quebec border) to Brantford, approximately 795 km according to our 2020 planning document. We have condensed the extensive lists of businesses, accommodations and other services into a general overview of communities, grocery and convenience stores, camping opportunities and significant logistical considerations. These notes reflect our preparations for walking this section of the Trans Canada Trail and should be regarded as a historical planning resource rather than a current directory. Businesses, trail connections, camping facilities and access arrangements may have changed, and future walkers should verify current information before departure.
 

The Trans Canada Trail in Eastern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area

 
The route of the TCT in Eastern Ontario begins in Ottawa, following the extensive Capital Pathway system before connecting with the Ottawa–Carleton Trailway through Stittsville and Carleton Place. From there, the trail crosses the rural landscapes of Lanark County through Almonte and Smiths Falls, where it joins the Cataraqui Trail. The route continues through the lakes, forests and smaller communities of the Frontenac region, using sections of the K&P and Central Frontenac trail systems before travelling westward through the Hastings and Kawartha regions toward Peterborough and Lindsay.

 
Beyond Lindsay, the Trans Canada Trail follows a mixture of rail trails, rural roads and conservation lands toward Uxbridge and Durham Region before reaching the increasingly developed communities along Lake Ontario. Through Ajax, Pickering, Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington, the route makes use of municipal pathways, waterfront trails, parks and urban connections. From Hamilton, the TCT turns westward along the Hamilton–Brantford Rail Trail, reaching Brantford - the hub of the TCT trails in Ontario - which is an important junction in the province's wider trail network.
 
Although many of these pathways follow former railway corridors with relatively moderate grades, the route also includes rural roads, suburban streets, park pathways and sections where trail connections are less obvious. Our research suggests that the greatest challenges may not always involve difficult terrain, but instead the availability of overnight accommodations, access to drinking water, safe roadway connections and the additional distances required to reach services situated away from the pathway.
 

Communities and Resupply

 
The following communities were identified in our research as offering groceries, convenience stores, restaurants, accommodations or other useful supplies. The table provides a general overview rather than a complete directory of individual businesses.
 

Community or region	Supplies identified during research
Ottawa	Extensive groceries, pharmacies, outdoor equipment, general retail, hospitals and transportation
Bell's Corners / Kanata	Supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and general retail
Stittsville	Grocery stores, restaurants, convenience supplies and accommodations
Carleton Place	Supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants and other community services
Almonte	Grocery shopping, restaurants and accommodations
Lanark	Grocery and convenience possibilities, restaurants and local services
Perth	Supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants and general retail
Smiths Falls	Extensive grocery shopping, pharmacies, retail, accommodations and rail transportation
Portland / Elgin	Limited grocery, convenience and food-service opportunities, some off-trail
Verona	Grocery store, pharmacy, convenience stores and restaurants
Godfrey / Sharbot Lake	General-store supplies, restaurants and smaller community services
Kaladar / Arden / Tweed	Grocery and convenience opportunities varying by community
Campbellford	Grocery shopping, pharmacies, restaurants and other services
Hastings	Grocery store, convenience supplies, pharmacy and restaurants
Peterborough	Major resupply centre with supermarkets, pharmacies, outdoor equipment and medical services
Omemee	Grocery store, pharmacy and convenience supplies
Lindsay	Extensive grocery shopping, pharmacies, restaurants and general retail
Uxbridge	Supermarkets, pharmacies, equipment and other services
Ajax / Pickering	Extensive groceries, pharmacies, accommodations and suburban retail
Scarborough / Toronto	Extensive groceries, outdoor equipment, accommodations, medical services and transportation
Mississauga / Oakville	Supermarkets, pharmacies, retail, restaurants and accommodations
Burlington	Extensive groceries, pharmacies, accommodations and transportation
Hamilton / Dundas	Major resupply centre with supermarkets, outdoor retail, hospitals and other services
Brantford	Extensive grocery shopping, pharmacies, equipment, restaurants and accommodations

 
Our research identifies Ottawa, Carleton Place, Perth, Smiths Falls, Peterborough, Lindsay, Uxbridge, Ajax, Pickering, Toronto, Hamilton and Brantford as particularly useful locations for obtaining substantial groceries, replacing equipment and accessing medical or transportation services.
 
The smaller communities along the Cataraqui, K&P and other rural trails offer a more varied selection of supplies. Some have grocery or general stores, while others provide only convenience items or restaurants. Several businesses identified during our research are located on nearby highways rather than directly beside the trail, making additional walking necessary.
 
Through the Greater Toronto Area, the challenge changes considerably. Grocery stores, pharmacies and restaurants appear frequently, but the proximity of services does not necessarily mean they are convenient to reach from waterfront pathways, industrial areas or suburban trail connections. Our preparations therefore consider not only where supplies are available, but also how far they may be from the proposed route.
 

Distances and Significant Gaps Between Services

 
Our research identifies several sections where distances between communities, trail junctions and dependable resupply opportunities warrant particular consideration.
 
The Capital Pathway, identified at approximately 25.4 km within our planned route, provides access through Ottawa before connecting with the Ottawa–Carleton Trailway, which our notes measure at approximately 23.2 km. This portion passes through developed urban and suburban areas where supplies are relatively frequent.
 
Beyond Carleton Place and Almonte, the route moves into smaller communities and more rural surroundings. The distances between services become more important, particularly where local roads connect separate trail systems.
 
The Cataraqui Trail, identified in our research at approximately 81 km along the intended portion, crosses a mixture of forest, wetland and agricultural landscapes. Although settlements and road crossings occur along the corridor, larger grocery stores are not necessarily located directly on the trail. Portland, Elgin and Verona offer potential opportunities for supplies, but some require leaving the route.
 
Our notes identify approximately 34.8 km of Central Frontenac Trailway and distinguish between the K&P Trail and other connecting pathways around Sharbot Lake. The research also records approximately 14 km between Sharbot Lake and Mountain Grove and a longer distance of approximately 40.4 km toward Kaladar, depending on the route selected. These sections require particular attention to trail junctions and community access.
 
Further west, the route includes rail trails and connecting pathways through the Hastings and Kawartha regions. Our research identifies approximately 32.7 km for the Lang–Hastings Rail Trail, while the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail includes a researched section of approximately 50.5 km. Larger communities such as Peterborough and Lindsay offer substantial resupply opportunities, but rural connections between them may provide fewer services.
 
Between Lindsay and the Greater Toronto Area, the TCT passes through agricultural landscapes, conservation areas and smaller communities before reaching the more densely developed Durham region. The trail increasingly uses suburban roads, paved pathways and municipal connections.
 
From Ajax and Pickering through Toronto, Oakville, Burlington and Hamilton, groceries and other services become frequent. However, the availability of authorized camping and affordable overnight accommodation is a more significant concern than the distance between supermarkets.
 
The final approach from Hamilton to Brantford follows the Hamilton–Brantford Rail Trail, offering a more continuous former railway corridor after the extensive urban connections around Lake Ontario.
 
These distances are historical planning estimates rather than verified current route measurements. Different alignments, road detours and access points may change the actual distance walked between communities.
 

Formal Camping Opportunities

 
Our research identifies a range of private campgrounds, conservation-area facilities and provincial parks across Eastern Ontario, although their distribution is uneven and not all are conveniently accessible from the Trans Canada Trail.
 
Near Ottawa, our notes identify Wesley Clover Parks Campground, situated close to the Ottawa–Carleton Trailway connection near Corkstown Road. This appears to be a useful formal camping possibility when leaving the capital region, although opening dates and tent availability require confirmation.
 
Farther west, the research identifies smaller private camping facilities in the Rideau Lakes region, including Twin Pines Campground near Lombardy and Moonlight Bay Campground at Otter Lake. These may require leaving the Cataraqui Trail and travelling along connecting roads.
 
Around the Frontenac region, our notes identify various campground and accommodation possibilities near lakes and smaller communities. However, proximity on a map does not necessarily mean convenient access from the trail. In particular, our research notes that Frontenac Provincial Park and Sharbot Lake Provincial Park are not directly accessible from the proposed pathway without additional travel.
 
Through the Trent Hills and Kawartha regions, further private camping opportunities were identified around Hastings and nearby waterways. Our original notes include Stoney Point Trailer Park and Campground, although its access and seasonal availability would need to be confirmed.
 
Formal camping opportunities become less straightforward as the route approaches the Greater Toronto Area, and there will likely be a need to rely on paid accommodations such as hotels in this area. Although the wider region contains conservation lands, parks and campgrounds, these are not necessarily located directly on the Trans Canada Trail, and many urban green spaces do not permit overnight camping. Walkers should not assume that a park or recreational area provides a lawful overnight stopping place.
 
The distribution of formal camping facilities is therefore an important consideration even where grocery stores and communities occur frequently. The distance between authorized overnight sites may differ substantially from the distance between resupply opportunities.
 
Wild camping should not be assumed to be permitted along the Trans Canada Trail, and camping regulations vary according to land ownership, park management and local bylaws. Our research distinguishes formal campgrounds from parks, picnic areas and other places where overnight camping may not be authorized. Future walkers should investigate current regulations and obtain permission where required.
 

Other Practical Considerations

 
Trail access and navigation: Eastern Ontario contains numerous well-established rail trails, but the network also includes changing trail names, junctions, road connections and sections where different mapping sources may not agree. The routes around Sharbot Lake, the connections between rural trail systems and the transition into the Greater Toronto Area require particular attention.
 
Trail surfaces and conditions: Former railway corridors generally appear to offer moderate gradients and relatively straightforward walking. However, conditions can vary between crushed-stone pathways, natural surfaces, gravel roads and urban pavement. Seasonal flooding and trail maintenance may also affect access.
 
Water: Lakes, rivers and wetlands occur throughout Eastern Ontario, particularly around the Rideau Lakes, Frontenac and Kawartha regions. Nevertheless, their proximity to the trail does not guarantee safe or convenient drinking water. Urban areas offer more opportunities to investigate public facilities, but their availability cannot be assumed.
 
Food and supplies: Major communities provide extensive grocery and equipment options, while smaller villages may have only general stores or convenience supplies. Walkers should identify which businesses are directly accessible from the pathway and which require travelling along roads to reach them.
 
Camping and accommodations: The limited distribution of formal campgrounds along parts of the proposed route may require additional planning. Through Toronto and the surrounding urban communities, hotels and other paid accommodations may be more readily available than authorized campsites, although costs and availability will vary.
 
Road walking and urban connections: While much of the route follows dedicated pathways, sections of rural road, suburban street and urban sidewalk remain necessary. Traffic conditions, crossings and the continuity of pedestrian infrastructure should be investigated before departure.
 
Transportation: Our research identifies VIA Rail, regional transportation services and extensive public transit networks in Ottawa and the Greater Toronto Area. These may provide opportunities for resupply, medical assistance or interrupting the journey, but schedules and access arrangements require confirmation.
 
Medical and emergency services: Major centres such as Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Peterborough, Lindsay, Toronto, Hamilton and Brantford offer medical and other essential services. Smaller rural communities have more limited facilities, making it useful to identify nearby service centres before entering longer trail sections.
 

A Note for Future Walkers

 
These notes represent the information we assembled while preparing to walk from Ottawa to Brantford on the Trans Canada Trail in 2020. They were intended to answer practical questions about the distribution of communities, grocery stores, formal camping opportunities, trail connections and distances between services across a region where the national pathway follows many different local trails.
 
The Trans Canada Trail is an evolving network, and route alignments, businesses, camping facilities and transportation services may have changed since our research. We encourage future walkers to consult current provincial and local trail resources, verify the availability of essential supplies and confirm camping arrangements before departure.
 
For a fuller account of the landscapes, communities, wildlife, histories and experiences of our journey, we invite you to explore our daily Eastern Ontario and Greater Toronto Area #Hike4Birds entries.

 

Following Our Research: Additional Notes from After the Trail

 
Our subsequent walk from Ottawa through Eastern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area in the spring of 2020 revealed that the availability of communities and services did not necessarily make a route easier to complete. Much of the journey followed beautifully maintained rail trails, including the Cataraqui Trail, sections of the K&P Trail and the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail, where we appreciated the relatively level surfaces, natural surroundings and opportunities to visit smaller communities. Nevertheless, confusing trail connections and differences between maps and conditions on the ground occasionally complicated our progress, particularly through parts of Lanark County. As we continued westward, persistent heat and humidity became increasingly difficult to manage, while the need to obtain drinking water and identify suitable overnight stopping places remained important considerations.
 
The challenges changed considerably as we approached and entered the Greater Toronto Area. Grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants and other services were readily available, but the route increasingly followed suburban streets, busy roadways and paved urban pathways. Formal camping opportunities were extremely limited and not really an option for us along the immediate trail corridor, and we relied on paid accommodations for much of our passage around Lake Ontario. Although these provided welcome opportunities to rest, clean our equipment and recharge our devices, their cost was a significant departure from the camping-based travel we had originally envisioned. Elsewhere, when circumstances required us to camp along the trail, we made every effort to remain away from private property, homes and developed areas, following Leave No Trace principles and minimizing our presence and impact. These experiences should not be interpreted as indicating that informal camping was authorized.
 
Despite these complications, the developed pathway network through Ontario offered many rewarding opportunities to explore the province on foot. The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail brought us through waterfront parks, conservation areas and communities around Lake Ontario, while the Hamilton–Brantford Rail Trail returned us to the quieter surroundings of a former railway corridor. Our experiences reinforced an important lesson for future walkers: access to shops and services is only one part of successful planning. Trail continuity, safe pedestrian connections, seasonal conditions and the availability of authorized overnight accommodation can be equally important, particularly where a long-distance route passes through major metropolitan areas.
 
For more detailed information, check out our :

Reflections on Hiking the Trans Canada Trail in Eastern Ontario (Ottawa to Lindsay)

Reflections on Hiking the Trans Canada Trail in the GTA (Lindsay to Orillia)
 
See you on the trail!