Walk Across History: The New Corduroy Trail at the Langmann Sanctuary

The trails at the George Langmann Wildlife Sanctuary continue to grow, and one of the latest features takes you back through time — quite literally.

Located on the Red Trail, the newly built Corduroy Trail offers visitors the chance to walk across a historic form of infrastructure, once used to cross swampy, low-lying ground. Corduroy roads — built using logs laid perpendicular to the trail — were historically used to stabilize roads in wet conditions. When submerged in waterlogged, acidic soil, these logs could last for centuries.

Corduroy roads have been in use since Roman times, and were notably used during major conflicts like World War II by both German and Soviet forces. Even today, remnants are uncovered during major road projects — including sections of the Alaska Highway and King Street in Waterloo.

The Langmann Sanctuary’s Corduroy Trail, constructed in 2024, uses a modern approach. A protective membrane separates the gravel surface from the logs below, preventing the gravel from filling the crucial water channels between logs. Drainpipes were also installed to allow water to flow naturally, accommodating the fluctuating water table in the wetland.

The finished trail spans 45 meters, contains an estimated 190 cedar logs, and took over 150 hours of volunteer labourto complete. Total construction cost was $4,320.

This project wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our partners:

On behalf of the Orillia Fish and Game Conservation Club, thank you to everyone involved. We hope you’ll take a walk through history the next time you visit the sanctuary.