Distance: 3-kilometre loop on the Roddens Hill Loop Trail; 1-kilometre stroll along the Madawaska River
Average time to complete: 1.5-2 hours plus picnic time by the beautiful river
Difficulty: moderate – some steep inclines, loose rocks and washed out areas; easy – well used and flat bush road along the river
Parking: free parking near the Ontario Power Generation dam and free shoulder parking along Dam Road
General safety tips: check weather conditions; wear sturdy footwear; carry plenty of water, snacks and safety gear; and always let someone know when and where you are going and your expected return, especially if exploring alone in limited cell service areas
The Roddens Hill Loop
The Roddens Hill Loop Trail is unmarked, and I just happened upon it while walking the dogs along Dam Road in Jewelville, Ontario one day. If you drive all the way down Dam Road to the Ontario Power Generation dam, you will see the unmarked entrance to the trail approximately 300 metres back from the dam. I usually park at the dam and walk back up the road to what I call the trail entrance.
The trail is fairly steep for the first half, so my walking poles come in handy, especially during the winter months. About halfway up the trail there is a beautiful view of the rolling Raglan Hills but they are really only visible during the winter months when the trees have lost their leaves. Unlike many of the other mountain and hill hikes in the area, there isn’t a dedicated view on this trail but there are still really neat things to be seen and heard. I was hiking this trail alone once, while looking for mushrooms when a herd of about 15 deer ran right across the path in front of me. It was quite startling to see that many of them clustered together in one area but also quite serene.
This trail is used as an ATV trail and there are a lot of offshoots that I have explored, some of them are dead ends, some lead back to Dam Road or private property so I like to stick to the main ‘loop.’ Once you’ve passed the more barren section with a view, you will start descending into a heavily forested area, with even a small stream to cross. You will eventually reach a cottager’s road that connects back to Dam Road, which is close to the dam and where I park my car.
The Madawaska River Trail
I usually then get back in my car and drive back up Dam Road following the portaging signs for the lower loop ‘trail’ along the Madawaska River. This one has two entrances and I usually stick to the one closest to the dam, but you can also take the entrance with the MNR sign. I shoulder park and walk but some drive right to the river. This bush road is not well maintained and sometimes there are fallen logs across it. There is an unmarked foot path along the river in this area, but it does cross some steep areas that are close to the rushing river so be careful if that’s the way you choose to go. I like to just stick to the dirt road, as you can sometimes come across campers in the wooded areas where the foot path is.
The Madawaska River is a dam-regulated river, but it is very stunning. Large volumes of water can be seen rushing over rocks at all times of the year. In the winter, slabs of ice form around the rocks in the river, creating a picturesque scene. As new features appear and disappear at different water levels, this river is a very popular paddling spot that brings paddlers with all sorts of experiences. Depending on when you visit, this area can be filled with paddlers going down the rapids and portaging back up, to do it over and over again.
Historic Site
Following the bush road, you’ll walk along the river in forested and sandy areas, while listening to the sounds of rushing water. There are a number of areas along the trail where you can go back down to the river, to enjoy the scenery or let your dogs go for a swim. There’s even a burial site of several loggers that lost their lives while getting logs around the rapids in the late 1800’s. The area where you will be walking is the original site of the village of Palmer Rapids and you can follow the signs to visit the small cemetery on top of a hill.
This isn’t as much a hiking trail as it is a scenic area. But I’ve made a bit of a loop out of it by following the bush road, going up on the hill to visit the burial site, stopping a few times along the river to let the dogs go for a swim. And then heading back down towards my car.