A new Oshawa trail guide is highlighting six major routes that connect the city’s waterfront, creek valleys, downtown, parks and wildlife areas.
The routes include paved multi-use paths, urban links and natural-surface walking trails. Together, they provide options for recreation, exercise and active transportation through several parts of Oshawa.
Creek routes connect parks and neighbourhoods
The four-kilometre Harmony Creek Trail is an accessible paved route through the Harmony Creek valley. It connects with Donevan Recreation Complex, Eastbourne Park and Farewell Park, although the city advises users to take care around steep slopes and creek edges.
The seven-kilometre Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path follows the Oshawa Creek valley between several access points, including Lakeview Park, the Oshawa Valley Botanical Garden, Rotary Park and Children’s Arena. Trout and salmon migrate through the creek during spring and fall.
A section below the Gibb Street bridge remains closed for safety reasons. The city has temporarily rerouted the path around that area.
Downtown and waterfront connections
The five-kilometre Michael Starr Trail follows a former Canadian National Railway spur that once served Oshawa industries. The relatively flat paved route reaches downtown and connects to the creek paths through on-road links.
Along Lake Ontario, Oshawa’s portion of the Waterfront Trail runs 11 kilometres from Whitby to Clarington. It passes Lakeview Park, Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park, Lakefront West Park, Renaissance Park, Stone Street Park, Pumphouse Marsh and the Oshawa Second Marsh.
Signs along the waterfront route include QR codes with information about parks, amenities and nearby points of interest.
Wildlife reserves add natural trails
McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve has nearly seven kilometres of walking trails and viewing platforms across about 87 acres. The reserve sits near Darlington Provincial Park, the Waterfront Trail and Oshawa Second Marsh. Dogs are not permitted, except certified guide dogs on the Dogwood Trail.
The Second Marsh Wildlife Reserve includes a 2.5-kilometre route beside a 140-hectare wetland on Lake Ontario. The provincially significant wetland provides habitat for birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles and insects, particularly during migration seasons.
Trail rules and seasonal cautions
The city’s Oshawa trail guide asks users to keep right, stay on designated routes, keep pets on leashes no longer than two metres and take litter home when bins are unavailable. Motorized vehicles and hunting are prohibited on recreational trails.
Conditions can change because of flooding and freezing. The city is also warning visitors to avoid wild parsnip and cow parsnip, which can pose health risks to people and pets.
Residents can use Durham Region’s interactive trail map to find connections beyond Oshawa and plan routes through neighbouring municipalities.
