Explore the Great Outdoors of SDG Counties & Cornwall

The same landscapes that support the region's farms, orchards and maple forests also create excellent opportunities for outdoor adventure. Quiet country roads, scenic waterways and protected natural areas invite you to slow down and experience another side of the region. A morning spent cycling past farm fields, a walk through a maple forest, or an afternoon paddle along the South Nation River can add a memorable outdoor element to your agritourism getaway.

Looking for ways to work off some of the great food you’ll be enjoying? Then check out these suggestions for hiking, cycling and paddling in SDG Counties and Cornwall.

Many of these routes and conservation areas are located just minutes from local farms, markets and rural communities, making it easy to combine outdoor recreation with farm visits, local dining and other countryside experiences. 

• Cass Bridge Conservation Area: Paddle the placid waters of the South Nation River in Winchester.
• Crysler Recreational Trail: This 6.4km out-and-back forest trail is an easy hike.
• Great Lakes Waterfront Trail: This Ontario-wide cycling and walking trail hugs the waterfront along the St. Lawrence River.

• Oschmann Forest Conservation Area: Take a 1.2km walk along an interpretive trail through a maple, oak and butternut forest to learn how maple syrup is made. In spring, you can see maple sap flowing through the collection lines.
• Reveler Conservation Area: Hike or snowshoe along 3.17km of trails through hardwood forests and natural grasslands. Bring your binoculars to see some of the roughly 100 bird species spotted onsite.
• Robert Graham Forest Conservation Area: Hike a 6.5km trail through a sugar maple and conifer forest near Brinston. You might spot woodpeckers, rabbits, wild turkeys or deer along the way.
• SDG cycling routes: Many of these self-guided biking routes take you to berry farms, cheese shops or craft breweries. The routes range in length from 6km to 82km, so you can have an easy day of pedalling or set yourself a challenge.
• Two Creeks Forest Conservation Area: This conservation area near Morrisburg features 5.5km of trails through coastal ecosystems, grassland flood plains and lowland forests.
• Warwick Forest Conservation Area: In this conservation area near Berwick, you can explore 6km of trails winding through a planted forest of about one million conifers.

You don't have to choose between outdoor adventure and local flavours. In SDG Counties and Cornwall, the two often go hand in hand. Spend the morning on the trail, stop at a farm market for lunch, and finish the day with a local craft beverage or farm-to-table meal. It's a rewarding way to experience the region's landscapes, communities and agricultural heritage all in one trip.