Grand River Country | Trails Take Flight

Arboretum Trails - University of Guelph

Latitude/Longitude: 43° 32' 27" N , 80° 12' 53" W

The “Arboretum” is universally acclaimed as a wonderful place to see and study countless species of trees and wander through many trails to do so. One special looped trail of 2.5 km allows the walker to experience a diverse habitat that is part garden and part natural woods. The Arboretum is a department of the University of Guelph, and is located on the east side of the main campus. It is open year round, and admission is free.

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The full loop consists of three connected trails that go past The Arboretum Centre, the Taylor Nature Centre and the Information Kiosk. If you begin at the Kiosk (where maps, informational brochures and parking are available) at Arboretum Promenade, take the 1.1 km Ivey trail. The Ivey Trail is mostly hard-packed fine gravel and winds through a wild field and extensive areas of mown grass. It has access to other trails, exotic gardens, and a great variety of native and exotic trees. The trail passes by The OAC Centennial Arboretum Centre and a large parking lot, continues through some mixed woods, and ends at the J. C. Taylor Nature Centre approximately 200 metres from The Arboretum Centre parking lot.

From the Taylor Centre, the 750 meter long Col. John McCrae Trail winds westerly past the Gosling Wildlife Gardens on a grassy surface, passes by a rehabilitated gravel pit, follows a century old fence row, and ends in the middle of a mixed woods. Much of the walking along this section is on overgrown trail which is often uneven and a little difficult. Near the end of this section, there is a small open pond.

The next section of the loop consists of the 650 meter long Wild Goose Woods Trail. It passes through mixed old growth forest and a fascinating swamp, and has a wide variety of native flora and fauna. The trail varies from wide boardwalk to narrow boardwalk to dry dirt surface to wet dirt surface. Waterproof footwear is needed in winter and spring for some sections. The trail ends just south of the Kiosk parking lot.

This area attracts an amazing variety of wildlife including many different birds. During spring and fall migration, 10 flycatcher, 29 warbler and 17 sparrow species have been recorded here. In late spring and summer, it is likely that the trail user will observe or hear the Black-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Pine Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Field Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark and Baltimore Oriole.

Winter birds include Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bohemian Waxwing, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Shrike, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin. More rarely one can see the Long-eared Owl, Winter Wren, Rusty Blackbird, Pine Grosbeak, and Hoary Redpoll.

Trail Owner and Manager: University of Guelph (Arboretum)