Strong
Best WindowMay through October; year-round at the Quarry Line and Limerick Forest
Variantsday-hiking · family-friendly-walking · rail-trail
RegionMerrickville-Wolford, Ontario

Hiking.

The Quarry Line traces a 10 km loop from the Merrickville Blockhouse along Mill Street through cedar woodland and historic stone-quarry markers, and the Merrickville Limerick Trail begins about 2.5 km east of the Blockhouse along Scotch Line and runs 5–15 km return into Limerick Forest. Together with the Hanlan's Marsh boardwalk in the Limerick North Tract, those routes anchor an unusually full village trail inventory for a region under 3,200 residents.

Hiking in Merrickville-Wolford
01 — What to know

The brief.

Six village-anchored trails run from short interpretive loops to a 15 km Limerick connector. The Quarry Line is a Township-maintained 10 km loop with stone-dust and natural surfaces; the Merrickville Limerick Trail is shared with the Merrickville District Trails Society and combines on-road approach (Brock Street, Collar Hill, Scotch Line) with signed forest path.

The Limerick Forest North Tract carries a boardwalk to a viewing platform over Hanlan's Marsh — a 1,500 ha provincially significant wetland and ANSI. RiverWalk loops 0.5–1 km within the Rideau Migratory Bird Sanctuary by the village beach.

May through October is the easiest window; Quarry Line and Scotch Line stay walkable in winter. The Scotch Line is a multi-use corridor shared with snowmobiles, ATVs, and equestrians — expect mixed use.

02 — Locations

6. places.

  1. 01

    Quarry Line

    10 km woodland loop from the Blockhouse along Mill Street, passing historic stone-quarry markers and 100-year-old cedar forest.

  2. 02

    Merrickville Limerick Trail

    5–15 km return from a trailhead 2.5 km east of the Blockhouse on Scotch Line, connecting to Limerick Forest loops and the Hanlan's Marsh boardwalk.

  3. 03

    Limerick Forest North Tract

    Boardwalk and viewing platform out to Hanlan's Marsh / Wolford Bog (~1,500 ha provincially significant wetland and ANSI).

  4. 04

    Merrickville RiverWalk

    0.5–1 km loop within the Rideau Migratory Bird Sanctuary near the village public beach and boat launch.

  5. 05

    Woodland Toboggan Hill Loop

    1–1.5 km woodland loops with optional steep climb for scenic views.

  6. 06

    Dam to Depot

    1.5 km return from the depot crossing the lock gates along the canal's north side.

03 — Conditions

Today's read.

Air Quality
20
eu-aqi · low
UV Index
1.0
scale 0–11
Humidity
56%
relative
Visibility
32.4 km
clear
Temp
+4.1°
H 15° · L 0°
Sun
05:37 / 20:21
14h 44m daylight
A+
Prime conditions for hiking

Cold but firm — winter-ready conditions · light winds · clean air.