6 Nature Destinations to go for a hike at this summer
Sage and Sparrow Conservation Area, BC (Photo by NCC)
Observed every year on the first Saturday in June, International Trails Day celebrates and spreads awareness of nature trails, their development and the healthy lifestyle they promote. The American Hiking Society started this special day in 1992, and it has since spread to over a dozen other countries.
In honour of International Trails Day, here are six Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) Nature Destinations to go for a hike at this summer:
Sage and Sparrow Conservation Area, British Columbia
What better way to discover the richness of this grassland treasure than to follow the old trails deep into the heart of this spectacular conservation area? Explore hills covered in sagebrush, grasses and wildflowers and take in the beauty of a magnificent canyon with a natural spring that runs year-round. And there’s more in store: panoramic views of the Similkameen Valley south into the U.S., small lakes, open forest and gullies with trembling aspen await.
Nodwell, Alberta
Nodwell, AB (Photo by R. Berdan)
The Nodwell property at Horseshoe Canyon is an isolated pocket of badlands amidst the Alberta prairies. The geological features of the property, made visible through erosion, represent 70 million years of our planet’s history, and contain information about past plant and animal life as well as human history. The geological layers include sandstone, white mud, coal seams, volcanic ash and fossils of prehistoric life, including dinosaurs.
Start your journey in the upland prairie habitat on the trail along the canyon edge. Follow it through the wooded coulee slopes and into the canyon badlands. While in the canyon, keep an eye out for signs of erosion, such as rills (channels made by small streams) on the coulee slopes and hoodoos. This is truly a unique place with breathtaking views.
The Weston Family Tallgrass Prairie Interpretive Centre
The Weston Family Tall Grass Prairie Interpretive Centre, MB (Photo by Mike Dembeck)
The Weston Family Tallgrass Prairie Interpretive Centre is nestled within the heart of the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve, just 80 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg. It provides a unique opportunity to experience one of the rarest ecosystems in North America: the tall grass prairie.
The centre includes interactive displays and exhibits, a 400-square-foot prairie mural, a meeting space and an observation deck on the second floor. The surrounding grounds feature a prairie garden, picnic shelter and the Prairie Orchid Hiking Trail.
Learn about the tall grass prairie ecosystem, including its history, the species that live here and how NCC is helping protect it, by browsing the exhbits or taking part in a guided tour, which can be booked in advance.
North Bear Alvar, Ontario
North Bear Alvar, ON (Photo by NCC)
Experience the unique sights, scents and sounds of Carden’s alvars and wetlands. Alvars are globally rare ecosystems characterized by shallow soils on limestone bedrock. Meander along a boardwalk through a wet meadow. Listen to the music of grassland birds and insects while wandering through a field of flowers and enjoying the peace of nature.
The North Bear Alvar is a mix of extensive grassland, shrub and treed alvars that support unique species. Logs and rocks provide cover for snakes, and the wetlands are home to many frogs and turtles. Keep an eye out — you might even spot a moose or black bear!
Green Mountains Nature Reserve, Quebec
Green Mountains Nature Reserve, QC (Photo by Claude Duchaîne)
Lace up your hiking boots, recharge your batteries and awaken your senses as you explore this natural gem’s majestic forests. Nestled in the heart of an important tourist region in Quebec, the Green Mountains Nature Reserve offers hikers a vast 100-plus-kilometre trail system.
Musquash Estuary, New Brunswick
Musquash Estuary, NB (Photo by Mike Dembeck)
Take a hike on the Musquash Estuary Nature Reserve’s well-marked coastal trails. A hike on the Black Beach Trail rewards with a variety of habitats — coastal peatlands, eastern white cedar stands, mature red spruce forest with plentiful patches of tall ferns — and remains, such as old foundations, from Musquash’s former homesteads.
To learn more about NCC’s other Nature Destinations, visit naturedestinations.ca.
