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> Home > Walking Trails > Madawaska River & Highlands Tours > Renfrew Millennium Trail Information | How to get there | Directions | Map | Points of Interest

DISTANCE: 3.4 km TRAIL TYPE: Stone dust, abandoned railway DIFFICULTY: Easy, suitable for wheelchairs

Station Rest-Station Information Renfrew’s Millennium Trail is 3.4 km long, has lighting, and is suitable for walkers, joggers, wheelchairs, bikers, and cross country skiing. It follows the route of the CN Railway, through the heart of Renfrew and imparts the atmosphere of both the town, and countryside. There are an amazing number of American Elms. Beavers can be seen in Smith’s Creek, down where logs were once driven to a sawmill in the town centre. Plaques placed along the Millennium Trail describe Renfrew’s heritage, including its country-wide fame as Dairy Town Canada. How to get there Driving along Hwy 17, take the Bruce St intersection into Renfrew (traffic lights). At the next set of traffic lights, turn left on Stewart St and cross the Bonnechere River. You are now on Raglan St S. Follow the signs to Hwy 132, or at the next set of traffic lights, turn right onto Munroe, then turn right onto Lochiel N (stop sign) and left onto Lisgar St. Turn left onto Ma-Te-Way Park Dr and park in the Ma-Te-Way Recreational Park, or alternatively continue on Lisgar St and park your car on the shoulder of Riverview Dr which is on your right. Directions At Riverview Dr, walk across Lisgar Rd to the sign for the Millennium Trail - but before you do, note the trail along the abandoned K & P Railway line that goes into the Calabogie area. Pass by Ma-Te-Way Recreational Park and then on a wooden bridge high over Smith's Creek. Walk along Carswell St. The red brick building on your left once housed the Maple Home Cheese Factory. Here, on the opposite side of the street, thirst can be quenched at the elegant Station Rest-Station. There is a short detour from the path of the railway line. Follow the stone dust trail along Carswell St to the right, then left at Prince West Street. Straight on through. Over on the right, millstones can be seen in the historic Stewart Park. Just past the Heritage Renfrew panel for Smith's Creek, is the remnant mill pond on your right. At the dual lane Barnet Blvd, retrace your steps.

Map -- Renfrew Millennium Trail

Points of Interest

A Three Railway Town. The Opeongo Line, started in 1854, was the major thoroughfare for transporting immigrants into the county, and timber out. Both the Opeongo Road and steamships fell into decline with the ascendency of the railways. The Railway Era lasted about a century and was a boom to developing Renfrew town. The Central Canada Railway (today part of the CPR) reached Renfrew in 1872. The Kingston & Pembroke (K&P) Railway, affectionately called the Kick and Push, got to Renfrew in the 1880s - and there it ended, never reaching Pembroke. The last of the three, the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway (later part of CNR) came to town in the next decade. Today, this abandoned line hosts the Millennium Trail, while the K&P is a marvellous means for hikers and cyclists to go to Calabogie.

The collision of two iron horses with no serious casualties in Renfrew in 1907. By permission of author Carol Bennett McCuaig. The Story of Renfrew, http:/renc.igs.net/~juniper

 

Links of interest
		• Town of Renfrew web site

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First Posted: July 20th, 2001

Authors: Richard Richardson & Gregory Richardson