Gould Lake North-East Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Geological Significance · Lake · Views

A strenuous 5km featuring several climbs, with nice views and beautiful scenery.

Park on Bedford Rd then take Famous Trail (Trail 10), passing past lots of beaver activity. At about 0.5km, you'll reach a fork where the Famous Trail (Trail 10) continues left and the East Trail (Trail 9) goes right. I recommend that you go left, and get the steeper section done early, but you can go either way.

Continue on Famous Trail (Trail 10) for two major climbs, to about 1.0km, where the East Trail (Trail 9) again connects. Turn left at the fork. You get a bit of a reprieve as you follow the East Trail (Trail 9) west. At about 1.2km you'll come across another fork: Mica Loop (Trail 6) heads right and Tom Dixon Trail (Trail 7) heads left. East Trail (Trail 9) ends at this point.

I recommend that you turn left, but you could do this loop in either direction. Follow Tom Dixon Trail (Trail 7) for another 250m or so to 1.4km where Tom Dixon Trail (Trail 7) continues left and Mica Loop (Trail 6) begins. Go right and take Mica Loop (Trail 6) for 3.3km.

During this section, you'll be mainly hiking along the shoreline, with intermittent views over Gould Lake. The trail here is rugged with many steep sections and climbs. It is possible to go swimming at several points, though there is a better swimming area just south of the Mica Loop (Trail 6) on the Tom Dixon Trail (Trail 7). There is no particularly special lookout point or rest area, but at about 3.1km there is a clearing with a fire pit.

At about 3.5km, most of the steep sections are behind you. There is a nice short trek through a lush forest until the trail reconnects with East Trail (Trail 9). Turn left, and follow the East Trail (Trail 9) all the way until it reconnects with Famous Trail (Trail 10) at around 4.4km, and then it's back to the car.

The wetlands, woods and shoreline areas provide many opportunities for wildlife viewing and nature appreciation.

Eastern Ontario was once one of the mica mining capitals of the world and, between 1870 and 1910, Gould Lake played a major role as a centre for mining.