Volunteers invited to help restore the Dumoine Trail in Pontiac

Tashi Farmilo

CPAWS Ottawa Valley, in partnership with Friends of Dumoine and ZEC Dumoine, is organizing a volunteer cleanup of the Dumoine Tote Road Trail in Pontiac on Saturday, June 7. The event is part of a broader effort to maintain and protect this historically and ecologically significant route.

The cleanup will target an 8-kilometre stretch between Robinson Lake and Red Pine Rapids. Volunteers will work with hand tools to remove debris, trim back overgrowth, and restore the trail after the winter. The terrain is generally flat with a few gentle hills. Chainsaws and other mechanized equipment are not permitted, and large deadfall will be handled by professionals.

The Dumoine Tote Road Trail follows traditional Indigenous portages and the path of a 19th-century wagon road. At 26 kilometres in total, the trail lies entirely within the Dumoine River Aquatic Reserve—a protected area CPAWS began securing in 2008. The reserve safeguards a diverse landscape of forest and river systems, preserving natural habitats and ensuring public access to an undeveloped wilderness corridor.

Participants will meet at the ZEC Rapides-des-Joachims parking lot at 8:30 am on Saturday, June 7, and begin work around 9:30. The cleanup will continue until approximately 5:00 pm. Volunteers should bring lunch, water, gloves, and tools such as loppers, rakes, or clippers if available. Equipment will be provided for those without their own, and water can be refilled along the trail at Grande Chute.

Camping is available nearby on Friday and Saturday nights for volunteers who wish to stay over, with several site options offered during registration. The event will proceed in rain or shine, barring severe weather.

Registration is required and must be completed by 10:00 am on June 6. Ride-sharing may be arranged for those who need transportation or can offer space. For details or to register, email ov-outreach@cpaws.org.