McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve

McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve

McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles25 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
9
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0

LegoDad77
Alert, Canada1,490 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020 • Solo
Located near GMC HQ, this is a must see! The view from GM is AMAZING!

Not too sure about parking, on the north side you can park on the street. I didn't see latrines or water fountains.

There weren't many bugs, and overall it was pretty scenic. Parts were closed due to the Boomer-Doomer, but what I did see was good!

There were some pokemon stops and gyms.
Written June 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Happy traveller
Ontario, Canada89 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Kayak, fish or hike around the trails. Lots of wildlife around. Great spot to spend an afternoon. Park at the bottom of the GM HQ parking lot. Free parking.
Written October 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Louis P
Oshawa, Canada19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2015 • Family
Spring or summer is a great time to put in your kayak or canoe for a leisurely paddle around the marsh. Always plenty of wildlife to see, including ducks, geese, heron, beaver, snapping turtles, and a plethora of marsh birds. As it's sheltered from the wind and lake, the waves are usually minimal, making it great to take young children as well. You can land on the far shore and get into the lake with a short "portage" (maybe 20 feet). When the lake is calm, it's a beautiful paddle, as you can see clearly down to the bottom. Great little trip.
Written January 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

7continentsTO
Courtice, Canada139 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2015 • Couples
If you park at the bottom of the west parking lot of the GM Headquarters Building on Colonel Sam Drive (lots of parking and the company does not mind since it owns the Reserve) it is an easy walk to a viewing platform that overlooks Second Marsh. Watch for birds every where. Bring some bird seed along to feed the attack chickadees. Then you can walk south towards the lake on a very pleasant grass trail that takes you through Cool Hollow to the Lake. After backtracking a 100 m you can then walk east to circle the reserve and see McLaughlin Bay. When you get to the east parking lot you can either go west along the tree line back to the west parking lot or you can go around the Sight Impaired Trail on the right. There are ropes to guide those with impaired vision and several stations where there are plaques with Braille that explain some of the features. Go slowly since there are many birds nesting in this little area. Watch for the multitude of Yellow Warblers in the Forsythia bushes.
You can also walk north from the viewing platform to walk through the Old Ghost Road Woods on a boardwalk.
This whole area is a quiet, safe and pleasant place to take a walk with kids. It is a special place to go bird watching throughout the year but especially in the spring.
Written April 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Happy traveller
Ontario, Canada89 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021 • Friends
Beautiful, peaceful place to spend an afternoon. We walked around the edge of the bay.(It was frozen solid!) There were swans out in the bay.
Written March 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Petsitter4U
Oshawa, Canada103 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016 • Couples
It's a lovely marsh trail...however, there were no garbage cans or recycling bins available where the path entrance is located. As well, there are no dogs allowed....If you have your dog on a leash, why can't we walk our dogs here? They claim is scares some of the wildlife...well, that's nature...why try to control a natural environment where the hierarchy of the animal kingdom will sort out its own domain...
Written August 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kristen28006
Orillia, Ontario, Canada13 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2017 • Family
We went for a walk on a beautiful fall afternoon. I would suggest proper foot wear if you want to use any trail other than the paved ones. After a day of rain, there were some muddy spots, and some cut grass. The trails are easily travelled, no tricky spots. We stumbled upon a beautiful rocky shore on Lake Ontario with a marvellous view. Ample parking here.
Written September 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marc L
McNab/Braeside, Canada39 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2017 • Family
Next door to the GM HQ parking lot it is very easy to park/walk to the trails. There are several trails so you can pick the one that suits your ambition level. Bonus: There are electric car charging stations in the lot if you have an EV.
Written August 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TeeZeeOntario
Ontario121 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2015
This is a lovely area to walk and wander. Pretty quiet peaceful. Cold in the winter. Can be mucky but great in the summer.
Written February 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

thefogman
oshawa, Canada132 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2015 • Friends
this sanctuary bounded by east oshawa and darlington provincial park is an awesome visit to untrampled marshland. there are so many divergent pathways here. depending on the time of day it can be very uninhabited. this is a wonderful escape spot for nature lovers. so many varied species of birds, and animals call this reserve home. it is near spotless, easily accessed and with little trouble you are able to imagine this particular area before the advent of urban sprawl. whenever passing through oshawa, and in need of a stretch, or walk this place can be readily reached by taking the harmony road cut off, heading south down farewell avenue and turning left at the first set of lights after leaving the highway 401 ramp. head straight east until you pass the general motors offices, there is ample parking. the environs in and around the reserve are ideal for photography, bird watching, relaxing and indeed indulging in copious fresh air.
Written December 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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