🌞 Woke Up @ #SunRise Trails On Petrie Island Beach In Ottawa 🌳

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Nature Trail Etiquette - Petrie Island Beach
Rules are in place to protect the ecology of Petrie Island now and ensure it is available for the next generations. The park is open from 6 am to 9 pm daily.

⦁ Respect nature- Please stay on the trails and do not disturb or harass animals or damage plants. Petrie Island is home to many endangered plants and animals. As well, you will be less likely to encounter stinging plants and biting insects while on the trails.
⦁ Dogs are not allowed anywhere on Petrie Island as it is an ecological reserve. This protects nesting birds and prevents harm to plants and trees.
⦁ Do not feed the wildlife. Feeding makes animals overly friendly/ aggressive and encourages dependency.
⦁ No fishing except in designated areas on Basswood and Sunrise Trails, and along the causeway. Fishing line and lost hooks are hazardous to wildlife- please retrieve line, hooks and lures for safe disposal.
⦁ Do not damage, pick or remove any plants (including fallen trees or branches and springtime fiddleheads) or animals (including frogs and turtles). This potentially harms the overall balance of Petrie Island’s ecosystems, and it is illegal.
⦁ Bikes are not allowed on nature trails. They may damage the trails and surrounding vegetation and may be hazardous for adults and children enjoying Petrie Island.
⦁ Leave no trace. Litter will negatively affect wildlife and the environment.
⦁ Camping and charcoal grills are not allowed on Petrie Island. Fire permits are required for the two fire pits.

Be respectful of fellow visitors. Loud noise, taking excessive space on the trail and unexpected passing (joggers and bikers please note), detract from the peace and relaxation that people come to Petrie Island for.

Tips for observing nature

Take time to enjoy your visit. There are many physical and emotional health benefits to time in nature. Being mindful of your surroundings will result in a much more rewarding nature experience:
-Walk slowly and quietly
-Pause to observe your surroundings
-Look up into the sky and upper trees- and catch sight of a skein of geese flying over or an inquisitive squirrel
-Look down beside and on the trail- watch for frogs tucked into the reeds, pollinators on the plants, animal tracks, shells from turtle eggs or clams, maybe a little garter snake
-Move your eyes and your head in all directions- even looking behind you. Many animals stay still until you pass them by
-Listen for movement or animal noises- birds singing, beavers slapping their tail, frogs croaking, squirrels chattering, woodpeckers tapping, leaves rustling
-Many plants have smells- like ferns and wild mint

Bring along your camera to capture the moment.
The Bilberry Creek Ravine is in the heart of Orleans. But once you walk far enough along the trails there, you honestly can feel like you’re completely immersed in the forest, which is really cool. There are a handful of official trails in the area that are maintained by the city of Ottawa, and then a huge network of unofficial, unmaintained trails that turned my day into more of a ramble than anything. So this blog post will be a ramble as well, because I can’t really send you on any designated route. Instead, I’ll just let you know what you can expect if you decide to visit!

There are a lot of bridges, short steep sections, and rough trails that wind through the woods for you to enjoy if you do visit.

Dogs are allowed on the trails at the Bilberry Creek Ravine year-round (in fact, neighbors have placed waste bags near the trail heads to remind us to clean up).