July 9, 2026
A budding nature photographer tries to snap a photo of a basking turtle at Cooper Marsh Conservation Area.
With summer in full swing, the Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) invites all outdoor enthusiasts to spend time in nature at its Conservation Areas: Cooper Marsh, Charlottenburgh Park, and Gray’s Creek. All three are found on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, along County Road 2 in South Glengarry.
“Our three publicly accessible Conservation Areas provide free access to nature trails year-round, but summer is by far the most popular time to visit,” says Pete Sabourin, RRCA’s Team Lead, Field Operations. “Our team takes great pride in making these environmentally significant spaces accessible, safe, and enjoyable for tens of thousands of visitors each year. Everyone is welcome to spend time at our Conservation Areas.”
RRCA’s Cooper Marsh is a 673-acre coastal wetland habitat hosting hundreds of bird species alongside frogs, turtles, and many more animals and plants. A boardwalk and trail system lets visitors navigate the wetland and access viewing blinds and platforms, interpretive signage, and geocaches. During the summer, a visitors centre packed with preserved specimens lets guests expand their encounters with the natural world and also lends out binoculars, insect collection kits, field guides, and other naturalist gear at no cost. Guided tours through the Marsh are offered on weekends at 10:00 am.
The nearby 235-acre Charlottenburgh Park offers trails through varied wetland and forest ecosystems as well as a beach and campground. Further east, Gray’s Creek’s 100 acres provide a large picnic area with a playground and covered shelter, an arboretum tour, native plant demonstration site, nature trails, and a marina and boat launch.
“Our Conservation Areas are part of over 2,000 acres of environmentally significant land owned and managed by the RRCA in its Eastern Ontario watershed jurisdiction,” adds Sabourin. “Protecting these lands’ ecological and hydrological functions gives our communities resilience against natural hazards, habitat for wildlife, and public access to our region’s natural spaces.”
In addition to its three established Conservation Areas, the RRCA is actively restoring a 105-acre Conservation Area near Long Sault in South Stormont. For more information on RRCA Conservation Areas, including directions and lists of amenities, visit rrca.on.ca/Recreation or contact (613) 938-3611 or info@rrca.on.ca.