Discover the Trans Canada Trail in Campbellford, Ontario, from Hastings to the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge to Ferris Provincial Park.

Truth moment, when life feels too loud, I run to nature. Not in a marathon kind of way, more like a deep breath kind of way. It’s where I can actually hear myself think, where the noise fades and the world feels a little more grounded. You see, I might live in a very big city, but I didn’t grow up in one, and I don’t feel grounded in the downtown core. I find myself more and more guided by a three-week rule: I am incapable of spending more than three weeks in Toronto without losing my mind. 

I tend to head back to Hastings County, where I was raised, and to neighbouring Northumberland County, where we explored. The trails and the woods are where I grew up; cross-country skiing, biking, and hiking are what’s familiar and friendly.

Part of that region is the Trans Canada Trail, which stretches through Hastings and Northumberland Counties like an artery of connection. The Northumberland Rail Trail links small towns like Hastings and Campbellford to Tweed and Havelock on the Hastings County Trail, the Trent-Severn Waterway, outdoor enthusiasts, and people who need a moment outside. There’s something familiar and comforting about walking or cycling that trail, feeling the hum of the trees around me without needing to say a word.

Trans Canada Trail in Campbellford and Northumberland County, Ontario

The Trans Canada Trail isn’t just a trail. It’s a reset button that so many of us rely on. And the part of the trail stretching into Northumberland County has become my escape. Whenever I need to clear my head, I find my way back here. This area reminds me why I love this part of Ontario. There’s the open air, the small-town energy, the river, and the way life slows down when you step away from a screen. It’s where I go to reconnect, paddle, breathe and explore where the Wi-Fi is still weak, one kilometre at a time.

When I head back home, often,  my trail days often start in Hastings, it’s a small riverside village that sits right where Rice Lake narrows into the Trent River. The Trans Canada Trail cuts right through town, and Hastings has become one of my favourite little starting points. Before I even think about hopping on my bike, I stop for a coffee at Bridgewater Cafe. Here’s a hot tip from me to you – the breakfast pocket is amazing. 

Where Is the Town of Hastings, Ontario?

Hastings, Ontario, sits right where Rice Lake flows into the Trent River. Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from Toronto. It’s a small, friendly town that feels like the kind of place where time slows down just enough for you to breathe. It’s part of Northumberland County, about halfway between Peterborough and Campbellford, and it’s one of those spots that perfectly blends water, trail, and community.

The Trans Canada Trail and other trail systems run right through Hastings, making it an ideal stop for cyclists and hikers following the route between Campbellford, Warkworth, and Keene.

When you drive across the bridge in Hastings, you’re not just passing over the Trent-Severn Waterway, you’re stepping into a piece of local history. The New York Times put the Trent-Severn Waterway on its list of places to go in 2025, and Hastings and Campbellford sits right along it. Hastings it at Lock 18. The town’s iconic swing bridge, which stays open to boats through the summer but is closed from October to spring, means cyclists and hikers can cruise right across without interruption. So if you’re on the Trans Canada Trail in the summer, you can continue through on the trail, you just have to go through town to get around the swing bridge.

Hastings proudly calls itself the “Ultimate Fishing Town,” and when you see the anglers lined up along the riverbank. Just steps away from the river is Pieces Pete, the giant mosaic fish sculpture made from thousands of bits of metal, glass, and tile. He’s 12 feet long and 12 feet tall, made entirely of stainless steel. Pisces Pete represents the walleye, the most popular catch for local anglers and one of Ontario’s top game fish. Bay of Quinte is the walleye capital of Canada, and it’s so close by! Just 80 or so kilometres away.

From here, the Trans Canada Trail stretches southeast toward Campbellford. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, you can take the trail west in Hastings towards the swing bridge, where it meets the Kawarthas Trail at the swing bridge

Heading towards Campbellford, you’ll pass farms, quiet stretches of forest, cross a few rural roads, and you’ll see the Trent-Severn Waterway when you arrive back in Campbellford.

Cycling from Hastings toward Campbellford along this part of the Trans Canada Trail follows old rail lines, which are relatively flat and wide. The trail itself is mostly gravel and caters to many outdoor enthusiasts.

Exploring the Trans Canada Trail in Campbellford

When you arrive in Campbellford, the trail meets the Trent-Severn Waterway again. If there were a section of the Trans Canada Trail that my family returns to most often and that I know best, it would be this part of the Northumberland Rail Trail. It’s the section in Campbellford, Ontario, that stretches over the Trent River, where you hike across on the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge into Ferris Provincial Park.

My family moved to the Frankford area, on the Trent-Severn Waterway, from Belleville more than 20 years ago. Once they did, I started venturing east and north from there in my explorations, and we began to find more and more things to do in and around Campbellford. We found the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge, and it became one of our favourite places to visit in every season. It’s open year-round, so yes, I have definitely been on a hike there in winter. We bring visitors to the area to marvel at it and impress them with the views and the construction.

The Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge is one of those spots that manages to be both an engineering feat and a total show stopper for views. It was built by engineers from 8 Wing CFB Trenton as a training project, starting in 2002, and it opened to the public in 2004. Stretching 300 feet across the Ranney Gorge and suspended about 30 feet above the Trent River, this steel beauty weighs in at around 55,000 pounds and can hold up to 75,000. So yes, it’s sturdy enough for me, you, our friends, and everyone stopping to take that “look down between the grates” photo. The bridge connects directly to the Trans Canada Trail, and I venture across it often.

If you’re coming from town, park near the Trent-Severn Waterway at Locks 11 and 12 on Trent Drive, then stroll over the swing bridge, where you’ll see signs for the suspension bridge (pedestrian only, no fee). That’s the west entrance on the Ontario Hydro property. You can also access it through Ferris Provincial Park at 474 County Road 8 (an Ontario Parks day admssion applies unless you’re camping there).

At the west entrance, take a moment to check out the interpretive signage, it tells the story of how the bridge came to be. From there, look down through the open metalwork (if you dare) to the Trent River below or north toward Ranney Falls.

On the east side, Ferris Provincial Park offers the Ranney Falls Trail, an easy, shaded hike that leads south to a quiet boat launch. You can rent a kayak at the park gate (open May through October), dip your feet in the water, or set up for a riverside picnic.

When you get into Ferris Provincial Park, the Trans Canada Trail keeps going around the woodland area and takes you towards Hoard’s Station to the Hastings County border.

If you decide to head north instead, the trail gets a little more rugged with rocky outcrops and elevated views of the river. 

 

The Trans Canada Trail in Campbellford, Ontario, is more than just a route through Northumberland County—it’s a chance to slow down, breathe deeply, and rediscover what makes this region so special. Every time I stop in Hastings for a coffee, cross the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge, or explore Ferris Provincial Park, I’m reminded why I keep coming back.

With amazing spots like Campbellford’s local bakeries, breweries, and riverside trails, this section of the Trans Canada Trail is a destination worth more than just a quick visit. Whether you’re walking, biking, or just chasing that feeling of calm, this stretch of the Trans Canada Trail has a way of pulling you in one step, one view, and one kilometre at a time.

Thinking about basing yourself in the area while you explore? Check out accommodations in and around Campbellford in Northumberland County here:

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