Jul 02, 2010 - 04:30 AM

Jeff Hayward

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DURHAM -- Looking for a place to spend an afternoon with the family, without having to travel too far or spend a lot of money?

The Waterfront Trail runs around the shore of Lake Ontario from St. Catharines to the Quebec border and one of the most scenic sections goes right through Durham Region.

Reporter Jeff Hayward and photographer Ryan Pfeiffer recently biked the trail from Pickering to Clarington. They’ve noted great places to stop and take pictures, places to enjoy food, and of high importance to many parents, the location of bathrooms.

What they found was a great place for families to spend a few hours together or fitness buffs to take a stroll or run and view the outstanding scenery.

Download our PDF guide to the trail through Durham Region and take it along with you as you explore Durham Region's waterfront. See 'Related Media'.

PICKERING

THE TRAIL -- The Pickering trail starts near the Rouge River, with a spectacular view as you head east through the Petticoat Creek Conservation Area, a good place to stop for a quick rest or picnic. The trail takes one along residential roads around Frenchman's Bay; don't try to take a shortcut along the waterfront past West Shore Boulevard, it's a dead end. Once you bike or hike back down the east side of the bay and reach the bottom of Liverpool Road, it's along the boardwalk where one can view the large OPG wind turbine.

RESTROOMS -- There are limited opportunities for a restroom break along the Pickering trail; restrooms can be found at the west side in Petticoat Creek Conservation Area, but one won't find another public washroom until reaching the east side of Frenchman's Bay, with another facility at the foot of Liverpool Road (Millennium Square).

PICNIC SPOTS -- The Pickering waterfront trail offers a few spectacular areas for picnics; perhaps the most scenic is at the Petticoat Creek conservation area with another at the Frenchman's Bay east park. One could also easily set up a picnic basket on the greenery near the wind turbine at the eastern part of the trail.

GRAB A BITE -- While there are great spots along the trail for picnics, if one doesn't pack food it could be a hungry journey. However, there are some restaurants at the bottom of Liverpool Road including the quaint Waterfront Bistro overlooking the lake.

PHOTO OP -- A picturesque view of the Pickering marina is afforded at the base of Liverpool Road, especially nice during sunrise/sunset. Getting 'underneath' the OPG windmill further east from that point can also make a dramatic shot.

AJAX

THE TRAIL -- After heading past the Pickering nuclear generating station past Brock Road, one launches onto a section of trail covered by nature's canopy. A bridge crossing requires riders to dismount; for those on inline skates, beware as the trail turns to gravel almost immediately east of the bridge. After an uphill battle, the trail is fairly smooth sailing with a nice view of the lake.

RESTROOMS -- Ajax's Rotary Park, on the western part of the Ajax trail, boasts washroom facilities. More can be found slightly east of that point, but beyond that one will not find another restroom for some distance.

PICNIC SPOTS -- Ajax's trail offers several spots for picnics, with picnic tables along the way near the pedestrian bridge, and another nice spot at the waterfront park east of Shoal Point Road. There are also large grassy areas to the north of the trail along the way (one in particular just east of Rotary Park) that could accommodate a homemade feast.

GRAB A BITE -- Rotary Park boasts a concession stand, but finding food for sale along the way is not an easy task. It's probably best to take food for this section of trail rather than buying it.

PHOTO OP -- The footbridge just west of Rotary Park allows a nice view of a beachy area, and there are several spots along the trail east of Rotary to snap photos of the lake. Paradise Park is another ideal area for photography near the water, just west of Shoal Point Road.

WHITBY

THE TRAIL -- Much of Whitby's waterfront trail is not on the waterfront, including a dangerous stretch of gravel shoulder along Victoria Street where large trucks and other vehicles whizz by. (Tip: there is a narrow 'track' created by bicycles on the inside of the shoulder to smooth out the ride). After travelling along some residential roads, one eventually finds oneself near the water near the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. But then it's back up Gordon Street, with an option to cut through a park to Watson Street or back up to Victoria for a short stretch.

RESTROOMS -- There are portable toilets on Whitby Shores Greenway just south of Victoria Street, also at the foot of the shortcut from Gordon Street to Watson Street. Port Whitby boasts washrooms and one can also find facilities at Heydenshore Kiwanis Park near where Water Street meets South Blair Street, and portable potties on Thickson Road near Thickson Woods.

PICNIC SPOTS -- Because much of Whitby's waterfront trail is not actually on the waterfront, there are limited picnic spots. However, there is a picnic area near Heydenshore Kiwanis Park.

GRAB A BITE -- Those feeling peckish along the Whitby trail can stop at a plaza at Gordon and Victoria streets, and there has traditionally been a chip truck stationed along Water Street near the foot of Brock Street South. The Town boasts the Port Whitby Marina's clubhouse is open to the public for food and refreshment.

PHOTO OP -- A quaint lighthouse stands at the foot of a pier off Water Street, with more attractive scenery along the trail eastbound to Thickson Road. Thickson's Point, just west of Thickson, is a nice lookout spot near the lake.

OSHAWA

THE TRAIL -- A new section of trail is being offered along the waterfront from the Whitby-Oshawa border to the base of Park Road, but you can also travel along Phillip Murray Avenue. The trail then takes tourists through a picturesque wildlife reserve, before snaking up though Lakeview Park with some traveling along roadways. But the trail east of Farewell Street is a treat; another wildlife area, and smooth sailing from there into Clarington.

RESTROOMS -- There is a portable toilet right on Boundary Road as one enters Oshawa's trail system, and facilities at Lakeview Park (slightly off the marked trail). But it's a bit of a hike until one comes across another restroom near Darlington Provincial Park.

PICNIC SPOTS -- There aren't many picnic spots per se along the Oshawa trail, but Lakeview Park would make a suitable venue. If you can bike or hike a little further, there is a nice picnic area at Darlington Provincial Park.

GRAB A BITE -- Food is available at Lakeview Park, but don't count on finding too many other options along the route.

PHOTO OP -- Oshawa's trail has its fair share of photo opportunities; there is a wildlife reserve just east of Cedar Street off the end of Stone Street, with ideal photo-snapping surroundings a little further along the trail at Second Marsh Wildlife Area and McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve.

CLARINGTON

THE TRAIL -- The trail opens with a trip through Darlington Provincial Park near campgrounds and picnic areas with smooth going to Courtice Road up to South Service Road. But as the trail heads back south along Osbourne Road, it turns to gravel, not suitable for those on inline skates. And a bit further down the trail the surface becomes clay/gravel which is also not inviting for inlines. Be careful not to miss the OPG Darlington trail head off Solina Road. But it's a treat for bicyclists; picnic areas, scenery, even a grassy trail leads visitors east.

RESTROOMS -- There are plenty of opportunities to stop for a break along the Clarington trail; there's a washroom just east of the McLaughlin reserve, the Ontario Parks Store in Darlington Provincial Park also boasts facilities. There's a portable toilet at the parking lot near Park Road, with another at the parking area off West Beach Road.

PICNIC SPOTS -- Clarington also boasts pretty picnic areas; some at Darlington park, with another nice spot near the parking area at Park Road.

GRAB A BITE -- The Parks Store (in Darlington Park) boasts food and snacks. There's the Fifth Wheel truck stop at South Service and Waverley roads, and Bobby C's restaurant offers a nice patio view of Port Darlington near the foot of Port Darlington Road.

PHOTO OP -- There is much scenery to snap along the Clarington trail, with Port Darlington a nice sight to take in. Samuel Wilmot nature area, further east on the trail, boasts lookout points near the lake.