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
Gneiss
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of metamorphic rock. Gneiss is formed by high-temperature and high-pressure metamorphic processes acting on formations composed of igneous or sedimentary rocks. Gneiss forms at higher temperatures and pressures than schist. Gneiss nearly always shows a banded texture characterized by alternating darker and lighter colored bands and without a distinct foliation. Gneiss is formed from sedimentary or igneous rock exposed to temperatures greater than 320 °C and relatively high pressure.