Green Belt

Trails Skied: ONSC Trails, Glide Wax: , Grip Wax:

This report is for the new Ski Heritage East trail, which is a shared-use trail that runs along the Ottawa River between the Green\'s Creek section of the Greenbelt and Petrie Island. The trail actually has two distinct sections - Green\'s Creek to Radisson and Hiawatha Park to Trim Road. This morning I skijored the Green\'s Creek/Radisson section.

The temperature was around -8, with about 5 cm of new snow on a base that looked to be groomed a couple of days ago. The Radisson section of the trail in Orleans is mostly through open fields (very similar to SJAM), making it difficult to see the trail at first with all the new snow and the wind. The single set of classic tracks were in good shape - it appears that others users of the trail respect them. Ski conditions were quite good, especially when you get out of the wind in the woods near Green\'s Creek. Very little traffic this morning - only saw a few dog walkers and a couple of snowshoers around 10 am.

For this section of the Ski Heritage East trail, finding parking is an challenge. There is a parking lot on the Sir Georges-Etienne Cartier Parkway just west of the Green\'s Creek bridge that is reasonably close, though from the lot to Green\'s Creek is not a groomed trail and you will want to take your skis off to cross the bridge. Otherwise you\'re looking for on-street parking in Orleans.













Kichi Sibi Winter Trail


The National Capital Greenbelt has over 100km of trails and another 25km of recreational pathways, most of which are suitable for cross-country skiing in the wintertime. All of the trails are suitable for beginner and family outings. Some are now maintained by volunteer groomers; OWWT, BWT, SHE, Kichi Sibi.


ONSC grooms The Hornet's Nest (Tauvette street to Montreal Rd), Mer Bleue and Pine Grove Forest (the section off Leitrum Rd). Trails are classic skiing ONLY, no skating is allowed on these trails. The Hornet's Nest is groomed at least weekly and the others as time permits. Updated trail conditions are available at the snow phone; 613-837-SNOW.

Green Belt Skiing