Hiking.
McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve runs about seven kilometres of trail across an 87-acre lakeshore reserve donated to the City of Oshawa by General Motors of Canada, including the multi-sensory Dogwood Trail designed for partially sighted visitors. The 11-kilometre Oshawa segment of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail strings together Lakeview Park, Pumphouse Marsh, and Oshawa Second Marsh on the lakeshore, while the paved Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path drops north–south along Oshawa Creek as an inland connector.
The brief.
McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve and the Waterfront Trail are the two easiest hiking surfaces inside the city. McLaughlin Bay's trails — including the wheelchair-accessible Dogwood Trail — are short, flat, and lakeshore-oriented; the Waterfront Trail runs the full 11 kilometres from Whitby to Clarington and connects directly to Lakeview Park and the wildlife reserve.
Note that Oshawa Second Marsh's interior woodlot trail network has been closed for falling-tree risk from emerald ash borer impact; lakeshore access remains via the Waterfront Trail. The Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path is paved and shared with cyclists.
Best window for unbroken footing is May through October; the Waterfront Trail and McLaughlin Bay reserve stay walkable into shoulder season and through mild winters.
4. places.
- 01
McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve
~87-acre lakeshore reserve donated by General Motors of Canada; about 7 km of trails including the multi-sensory wheelchair-accessible Dogwood Trail.
- 02
Oshawa Second Marsh
137-hectare Provincially Significant Wetland on Lake Ontario; west-side Waterfront Trail access only (interior woodlot trail closed due to emerald ash borer).
- 03
Lakeview Park
Lake Ontario lakeshore park with mature trees; trail connections to the Waterfront Trail and Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path.
- 04
Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path
Paved north–south path along Oshawa Creek connecting the lake to inland Oshawa.
Today's read.
Cool but comfortable for layered effort · light winds · clean air.