Rattray Marsh Conservation Area
Rattray Marsh Conservation Area is part of the Credit Valley Conservation Authority, an organization responsible for managing 10 conservation areas within the Credit Valley region. It features a rare natural cobble beach on 90 acres of the Lake Ontario Shoreline. This gem is located within Jack Darling Memorial Park in Mississauga, Ontario. One of the distinguishing features of the Rattray Marsh is the last remaining lakefront marsh between Toronto and Burlington. Rattray Marsh is an environmentally-sensitive wetland that is home to a variety of breeding bird species offering nature lovers a wonderful place to catch glimpses of the pileated woodpecker, eastern screech-owl, eastern kingbird, and great horned owl among others. The marsh is also important for migratory birds in the spring and fall. You will generally see more species of birds during the spring and fall migration periods than at any other time of the year. The area is also home to herons, rabbits, beavers, deer, foxes, and more. Grab your binoculars and cameras and get ready to snap some awesome photos.
If you are planning to visit Rattray Marsh Conservation Area, we highly recommend getting there early as parking at Jack Darling Memorial Park fills up fast, especially on nice, sunny days.
Trails
Rattray Marsh is a great place for a morning stroll with your dog. The Conservation Area features five trails all of which are fairly easy to navigate making it accessible to hikers of all experience levels.
| Trail Name | Length | Difficulty | Stroller Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoll Trail | 0.3 km | Moderate | No |
| Silver Maple Lane | 0.9 km | Easy | Yes |
| Pedestrian Waterfront Trail | 1.1 km | Easy | Yes |
| Sheridan Creek Trail | 0.4 km | Easy | Yes |
| White Pine Trail | 0.3 km | Moderate | Yes |
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The Knoll Trail is a boardwalk loop connected to the Pedestrian Waterfront Trail. This trail offers great sports to view birds and other wildlife.
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The trail surface is a combination of soil, wood chips, decking, and aggregate.
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The Pedestrian Waterfront Trail is part of the Trans-Canada Great Lakes Waterfront Trail networks. The Mississauga portion of the Waterfront Trail is a continuous trail that passes through 22 parks including Rattray Marsh. It is a wonderful trail for hiking and cycling. However, cycling is not permitted in Rattray Marsh.
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There are gentle slopes on this trail that take you through parts of an old-growth forest. See wildflowers as you enjoy a short walk along this trail.
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As the name of the trail suggests, you will see large white pine trees as you walk along this trail. The trail surface is a mix of soil and decking.