a peek inside the fishbowl

We decided that we wanted to explore different cross-country ski trails around Ottawa (with special emphasis on the family-friendly ones) so that’s what we’re doing…. slowly but surely.

Our most recent discovery? P6 along the NCC network of trails (click here for a map) in the Stony Swamp area. By the way, P6 is the number of the parking lot. I have no idea what this trail is actually called, and there’s possibly a bit of extra confusion around the fact that it’s labelled Trail #25 in some places, and Trail #24 in others. ANYWAY, once you drive out to P6 (which is on Richmond Rd approaching Stonehaven in Kanata) and park your car there is really is only one way to go.

I wish the NCC could make all this stuff a little clearer on their website, don’t you? Sigh.

This trail doesn’t look like much as you’re pulling up in the parking lot. In fact, you may have even driven past it a thousand times and not even noticed the park entrance here, but if you’re looking for an easy trail to try, this should be the one. And it’s never as full as some of the others in the area either.

The trail is about 3.5 km long and it’s quite horizontal for the most part, with a few small rises and dips. It starts and ends on a raised boardwalk and weaves through lovely hardwood and evergreen forest. I didn’t expect it to be this pretty actually:

The proximity to trees in some places may be the only challenging aspect to beginner skiiers.

There was evidence lots of snowshoers and hikers when we were there and most of them had remembered to stay off the ski trails too. :)

Funny thing, although we brought seed with us to feed the chickadees, the birds weren’t nearly as plentiful as they are along other trails like Jack Pine, or the trail at P11 (don’t know what that one is called either, but that’s where all the birds are). Check out this little beauty who landed on my hand and paused just long enough for my camera to focus.

Anyway, yes! We had yet another great day out on the trails. I’m hoping for good weather this weekend so we can try out another new one. Question is, where to go next? Hmm.

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