Oshawa’s Waterfront Trail is 11km along the shores of Lake Ontario. It is home to Second Marsh, the largest remaining coastal wetland between Niagara and Presqu’ile. The preservation of this thriving marsh is a testimony to the dedication of concerned citizens and the leadership of General Motors in regenerating Lake Ontario. Beside Second Marsh, General Motors has createdthe McLaughlin Widlife Reserve– 41 ha (108 acres) of natural habitat and over 7km of trails.
- Number of heritage sites and attractions including Camp X (the first secret agent training school in North America) and the Oshawa Community Museum comprising 3 restored homes from the 1800s.
- Beaches, concessions and washrooms are located at the main waterfront park, Lakeview Park.
- The Dogwood Trail, located in the McLaughlin Wildlife Reserve, is a one of a handful of multi-sensory trails in North America designed to give the partially sighted or visually impaired a way to enjoy the area’s natural bounty.
- In 2015, the City of Oshawa installed a plaque on the Waterfront Trail off of Colonel Sam Drive to honour the Scugog Carrying Place–an ancient route established by the First Nations and used by early settlers to travel between Lakes Scugog and Ontario.
- Darlington Provincial Park is located at the Oshawa-Clarington boundary, a great place to camp and enjoy swimming and hiking.
Trail Attributes
Distance: 11km
- Majority of the Oshawa’s Waterfront Trail is 3-metre asphalt with some sections on road allowances
- 9 waterfront parks. The trails in Lakefront West Park and Stone Street Park meet accessible standards. Caution should be used on other portions fo the Trail that may contain steep slopes and unprotected edges close to the water’s edge.
Protecting. Connecting. Celebrating. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.
The Waterfront Regeneration Trust is a registered charity. Charitable Registration Number: 86767 9821 RR0001
