Sunday 14 June 2020

Urban Hiking Rattray Marsh Conservation Area

This weekend we went with an urban hike and picked something that would be on the way to the grandparents in Oakville for a social distancing visit with Grandma. Like usual we got up early to make sure things wouldn't be too crowded when we visited the Waterfront Trail in Jack Darling Memorial Park that leads directly into one of Mississauga's best kept secrets Rattray Marsh Conservation Area.

After parking in Jack Darling Memorial Park's lot, turn right when you face the waterfront to make your way towards Rattray Marsh via the waterfront trail.

The path towards the Conservation area isn't well marked, which is probably why it isn't better known. If you look into the distance you can see the Toronto skyline across the water (including the CN Tower).

The kids always enjoy climbing along the rocks and exploring. 

Molly watching the waves crash on a slightly crisp morning.

Large sections of beach on the waterfront trail are fun to explore.


A lot of the rocks made noises like wind chimes as we walked along them.

Rattray Marsh Conservation area is a series of dirt paths and wooden bridges and boardwalks taking you through the only waterfront marsh between Toronto and Burlington. Here Molly is doing a bridge on the bridge, because she's a goofball like that. 

Because it hadn't rained in several days and was a little cool and breezy bugs were not a problem while we were there.  We spent nearly two hours exploring the waterfront trail and Rattray Marsh.  In terms of wildlife we saw a Heron, but weren't fast enough to snap a picture of it. This pretty urban hike is close enough to our house that we'll try to come at least one or two more times this season. I may bust out my snow shoes this winter and visit as well.  Molly's favourite part of the hike was the wooden boardwalk and Jack liked the beach and rocky climbs along the water. The area opens at 8AM. I recommend arriving early on weekends to make social distancing easier. By the time we left the park was beginning to get busy.


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