KARS-ON-THE-RIDEAU, September 4, 2025 – Baxter Conservation Area’s forest trails are more accessible than ever now that a stretch of new boardwalk has opened along the Fiddlehead Trail.
The completed 200-metre path represents nearly half of the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation’s planned boardwalk upgrades as part of its Nature For All campaign at the popular walking spot south of Kars.
The new stretch begins near Baxter’s interpretive centre, winding through a treed wetland before connecting to a stone-dust path leading to a state-of-the-art accessible bridge over Baxter’s wetland.
The new boardwalk is two metres wide with built-in rest areas and safety kick-bars on either side. It is built on raised aluminum posts to protect it from frost-heave and moisture, and an innovative copper treatment technology will protect the wood from rot and bugs without the harsh chemicals of traditional pressure treatment.
This new accessible infrastructure would not have been possible without multiple generous funding partners. The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation (RVCF) received funding from the City of Ottawa’s Rural Community-Building Grant and the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund small projects component, as well as numerous contributions from private RVCF donors in support of this project. The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, which owns and operates Baxter Conservation Area, provided in-kind labour and expertise throughout planning and construction.
“Everyone deserves an opportunity to enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of spending time in the great outdoors, no matter their age or ability,” said Diane Downey, RVCF’s Executive Director. “We are so grateful to our funding partners and supporters for making this next phase of our project possible.”
The Nature For All campaign aims to transform Baxter into Eastern Ontario’s most accessible nature destination. Phase I of the campaign included the replacement of Baxter’s old wetland bridge with an accessible span and two large education platforms in 2024. Phase II aims to expand the accessible trail network connecting to the bridge.
“These generous contributions are bringing us significantly closer to our goal of 500 metres of fully accessible boardwalk, where visitors can explore nature safely and comfortably,” said Mrs. Downey. “With major sections now complete, we continue to seek new partners to help us finish the final stretch and bring this inclusive vision to life.”
To learn more about the campaign or to donate, visit www.rvcf.ca/nature-for-all
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