Nature & Discovery.
Cooper Marsh Conservation Area sits on the north shore of Lake St. Francis at 20020 County Road 2, just east of South Lancaster — a 673-acre coastal wetland that forms part of the greater Charlottenburgh Marsh, one of Ontario's significant St.
Lawrence coastal wetland systems. The Raisin Region Conservation Authority maintains the property, and the boardwalk system threads breeding habitat for osprey, sandhill crane, and least bittern.
The brief.
The marsh is reached on County Road 2 about 18 km east of Cornwall. The 9 km of nature trails and boardwalks are open year-round; the visitors centre is open May through September with educational displays, a self-guided interpretive sign tour, and a free lending library of binoculars, insect-collection kits, and identification guides.
From June through August, RRCA staff lead free guided weekend strolls of about 40 minutes from the visitors centre. Spring breeding season (May) and fall migration (September) are the strongest birding windows.
Viewing towers and blinds along the boardwalk give clear sightlines into the wetland without disturbing breeding birds.
1. places.
- 01
Cooper Marsh Conservation Area
673-acre coastal wetland on Lake St. Francis with 9 km of trails and boardwalks, viewing towers and blinds, a visitors centre open May to September, and breeding wetland birds including osprey, American bittern, Virginia rail, sora, green heron, wood duck, sandhill crane, and least bittern.
Today's read.
Cool but comfortable for layered effort · light winds · clean air.
By the book.
- 01Cooper Marsh trails and boardwalks are open year-round; the visitors centre is open May to September.Source ↗
- 02Free guided weekend strolls run from June through August, starting from the visitors centre and lasting approximately 40 minutes; the lending library (binoculars, identification guides) is free of charge.Source ↗
- 03Cooper Marsh is part of a provincially significant coastal wetland and supports several species at risk, including butternut, snapping turtles, and black ash; visitors should stay on the trails and boardwalks.Source ↗