Welcome to the Carp Barrens Trail, a 3 km loop operated by the Friends of the Carp Hills under an agreement with the City of Ottawa and in partnership with the Ottawa Mountain Bike Association, who maintain the trail.
The Carp Barrens Trail lies on one of the most ecologically significant areas in the region. Because of its unique character, the Carp Barrens are a candidate for the designation as a Provincially Significant Area of Natural and Scientificean Interest (Life Science).
The Carp Barrens area is ecologically sensitive and is for pedestrian and mountain bike use only. Dogs are not permitted. You can enjoy its beauty and minimize your impact by staying on the trail as much as possible. The trail is closed seasonally each year to protect Species at Risk including nesting turtles and birds. Trail closure runs from the first Tuesday after Victoria Day in May until August 15.
We hope that you enjoy this series and learning about a few of the species and natural features present at the Carp Barrens.
Learn more about the Carp Barrens Trail at https://carphills.com/?page_id=1967
Eastern Whip-poor-will - Antrostomus vociferus
Made famous in folk songs, poems, and literature for their endless chanting on summer nights, Eastern Whip-poor-wills are easy to hear but hard to see. Their brindled plumage blends perfectly with the gray-brown leaf litter of the open forests where they breed and roost. At dawn and dusk, and on moonlit nights, they sally out from perches to sweep up insects in their cavernous mouths. These common birds are on the decline in parts of their range as open forests are converted to suburbs or agriculture.