A Day Trip to Limerick Forest
Explore sustainable tourism businesses and attractions.
The Limerick Forest area was settled in the late 1840's, mostly by Irish potato famine survivors coming up the Rideau River. The land was cleared largely for agriculture, but the repeated cropping and grazing could not be sustained by the increasingly nutrient deficient soils, and the land "ran out".
Without roots, wind blew the soil away, causing choking dust storms and later even sandstorms that turned the land into a desert with stony plains and sand dunes. Whole families abandoned the area. The land then fell back to the counties.
In 1921, a Reforestation Act was passed in Ontario allowing counties to enter into an agreement with the province to establish plantations of forests to renew the land. Over the years, Red Pine and Jack Pine Plantations were established in particularly sandy areas.
At Limerick Forest there is approximately 180-kilometres of trails ranging in size from single tracks to full-sized vehicles. There are two main categories of use, motorized and non-motorized.
Lookout Trail Loop
Lookout Trail Loop. Click to expand.
This loop trail is 1.6-kilometres long and takes an average of 17 minutes to complete.
Chalet Loop Trail
Chalet Loop Trail. Click to expand.
This loop trail is 2.7-kilometres long and takes an average of 29 minutes to complete.
Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly
Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly. Click to expand.
From high fashion to practical outdoor gear, alpaca products are making their mark. Our focus is to provide high quality extremely warm Canadian and Peruvian made alpaca products suited to our Canadian climate. We selected our business name, Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly as we are aiming to produce a high quality product in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
Further Details
For more information contact: Geoff McVey, Forest Manager Phone: 613-342-3840 ext. 2416
