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
Blanding’s Turtle - Emydoidea blandingii
The Blanding’s Turtle is a medium-sized turtle easily identified by its bright yellow throat and chin. Unlike most Ontario turtles that have wide, flatter shells, the Blanding’s Turtle has a domed shell that resembles an army helmet. Its shell is black to brown with yellow flecks and streaks, its head and limbs are black-grey and the bottom shell is rich yellow. Blanding’s Turtles live in shallow water, usually in large wetlands and shallow lakes with lots of water plants. It is not unusual, though, to find them hundreds of metres from the nearest water body, especially while they are searching for a mate or traveling to a nesting site.