The TransCanada Trail from Sharbot Lake to Hwy 7 – Part 4 of 4

***Please click on this link Map Locations of ALL Trails on this Site to view a map with the location of every trail “2oldguyswalking” has written a review on.***

The TransCan runs for about 30 kms to the West of the village of Sharbot Lake to Hwy #7, just past the village of Arden. From there it follows way too close to the highway for our likings. However, from Google Maps satellite view, those 30 kms looked rather interesting. I broke this length of trail up into 4 reasonable one day walking lengths.

This is part 4 from the village of Arden to Elm Tree Rd. off Hwy # 7. Part 1 can be found here :The TransCanada Trail from Sharbot Lake to Hwy #7 Part 1. Part 2 can be found here : The TransCanada Trail from Sharbort Lake to Hwy #7 Part 2. Part3 can be found here : The TransCanada Trail from Sharbot Lake to Hwy #7 Part 3.

Village of Arden to Woodcock Rd (1.6 kms one-way)

Parking in the village of Arden is not a problem. We chose to park in the CDN Legion lot. The trail marker for the westbound trail is signed The Arden Garden Trail. Once you clear the outskirts of Arden (which won’t take long), at 0.5 kms, you’ll come across the first of three bridges. A lovely old iron railway bridge with big timber decking and a photogenic open water wetland to the South leading to Arden Lake. As you continue past Arden Lake, you’ll notice the trail seems to be “bordered” by huge old timbers. That’s all I thought they were until, on the return trip, I looked closer. That’s when I realized it was another very long, low bridge made of timbers stacked one upon another atop huge old sections of tree trunks. About half a km through semi shaded, tree lined trail will bring you to Woodcock Rd (labelled Ardendale on Google Maps). There appeared to be parking room for a coupla cars at Woodcock.

Woodcock Rd to Gendron Rd (2.0 kms one-way)

Half a kilometer past Woodcock Rd you’ll see a coupla ponds through the trees to the South. You won’t get many photos of them as there’s a steep bank from the rail berm to the water’s edge, but it’s still pretty to see the sparkling waters through the trees. The trail becomes well canopied for the next little ways with some rather impressive rockcuts until you come upon the third bridge. This one is longer than the first iron rail bridge, and has a rather active stream splashing under it. The Wife pointed out how the natural stone used to build the supports had sculpted edges. You just don’t see that kinda detail in modern stuff. Another kilometer of well canopied trail with a coupla ponds full of turtles and more rockcuts later will bring you to Gendron Rd. There’s absolutely no parking opportunities on Gendron at all.

Gendron Rd to Elm Tree Rd. (950 meters one-way)

There’s alot of “wow!” packed into this little stretch of trail, with some of the highest rockcuts I’ve seen on a railtrail. The temperature fell noticeably as we walked between the walls of stone. I snapped my fingers and heard an echo. The scent on the air was earthy, and the walls were clothed in lush mosses. The Wife said the exposed areas reminded her of marble cake.

Once through the canyon of rock, the trail burst into open air sunshine, presenting a lovely pond. Then, into a short stretch of pleasantly canopied trail before a large, heavily reeded and cat-tailed wetland appeared. The trail here was only an inch or two above the water and someone had dug a channel across the trail to allow the water to flow across, under controlled conditions. Otherwise, this section might’ve been flooded. The Wife excitedly pointed out a patch of fringed gentians as we walked through this wetland, then she spotted another, and another. The wetland ended at Elm Tree Rd. where we determined parking for about 4 cars. This link will open Google Maps at the location : https://goo.gl/maps/g3NkhvQUWEyTwfJN9

Elm Tree Rd to Hwy #7 (incomplete)

I had my doubts as to whether we’d complete this stretch due to it’s proximity to Hwy #7. We could hear some of the heavier vehicles on the highway, but decided to see how close we got before it became totally distracting. The Wife continued to find gentian patches, but when we rounded a curve and caught sight of some idiot’s discarded living room couch, box spring, and mattress … I’d had enough. This was our first outing in months due to the heat, and we’d been having a wonderful walk. I wasn’t about to spoil it because of some A-hole. So, we turned back at this point and cheered ourselves up again, with the return walk.

The Final Take

This roughly five kilometer stretch of the Trans Canada trail provides a surprisingly pleasant walk. The stretches between roads are fairly short, yet I can’t say as I ever felt like I was walking suburbia. There are ponds, bridges, impressive rockcuts, and wetlands. Open air and cool canopied stretches. As with any railtrail, it’s wide and relatively flat, easy walking, and there’s ample parking at all but one of the points where it crosses a road.

Have a nice walk,

Bushwhacker