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 Scientific 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
Spikemoss – Selaginella
Spike moss has a similar structure to ferns. The relationship might lead one to call the plant spike moss fern, although that is technically not correct either. Selaginella spike mosses are spore-producing plants, just like ferns, and can produce large mats of deep feathery green foliage. The Selaginella genus formed around the time ferns were evolving but took a u-turn somewhere in the evolutionary development. There are over 700 species of Selaginella that span the globe. Some are moisture lovers while others are perfectly suited to arid zones. Many of the spike moss form into a dark, dry little ball when moisture is scarce.