Landowner Rights & Trail User Responsibilities

The Waskahegan Trail is a unique resource that exists only because of the generosity of landowners. Before you set foot on the trail:

  1. Know the landowner rights and the trail user responsibilities.
  2. Check the trail conditions

Wanisan Trail to Meadow Shelter

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Attendance was light for the Wanisan hike, as it also happened to be Mother’s Day. It was a beautiful spring day with the early greens all around. With the shade of the trees and the breeze, we did not get too hot.   

One outstanding thing was how very much the water has receded in the wetlands. Some lakes were dried up.

On the trail we saw violets, strawberry and saskatoon blossoms, a water calla lily, wild sarsaparilla and cattails.

We heard a white-throated sparrow, a sora and gulls. We also saw a red-necked grebe and a blue-winged teal.  Using the Merlin app, we were able to identify the sora by sound. 

The butterflies are everywhere—we saw a swallowtail butterfly, spring azure butterflies and cabbage white butterflies. 

There were e-bikers as well.

Our destination was the nice Meadow Shelter, complete with tables for lunch, and toilets.  We met joggers, another Waskahegan hiker, a fourth Waskahegan hiker and four hikers with dogs.  One dog had chewed through his leash, so we were able to assist with safety-pins. 

On the way back, we stopped at the Wanisan shelter. It was outfitted with with chairs, cooking tri-pod, cooking utensils, golf balls, etc.  

The quality and condition of the Waskahegan boardwalks was impressive as usual.  

Thanks to John for scouting and leading the hike. You can see all the photos on Flickr.

Where we’re going next.

North Miquelon from Spilstead Road

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Eleven hikers came out to hike the North Miquelon trail starting at Spilstead Road. Under overcast skies, the wind was a bit stiff for a good part of the hike. Scattered showers were predicted but none came. On the way back, the sky started to clear. Areas where in the past, we needed to step carefully over mud puddles or water, were dry.

When we scouted the hike earlier in the week, we ran into the landowner Mr. Curry as he was working in the hay field (Curry Pasture). He mentioned his concern for the hay crop. Last year it went yellow from lack of moisture. He was very relieved when it came up green this spring.

In 1906, his grandfather homesteaded the land, and in the 1960s the family cleared the bush from the pasture. He said our trail used to come out at a different part. We told him that we had re-routed it when the Sanctuary Estates was built. A strong supporter of our trail, he said the only thing was that he doesn’t go into the bush on windy days. A wise man!

On this day we ran into four people on the trail, two of whom live in Sanctuary Estates. They told us about sled trails through the park. For instance, if you go straight on the broad road at the Spilstead Gate, you’ll head south in a big loop and come back east on the north side of Larry Lake. You’ll come out just on the rise in the trail near the spot where we saw the deer skeleton last year. This is where you’ll have a great view of Larry Lake. The trail is about 6 km.

On the nature side, we heard the drumming of ruffed grouse several times. There were lots of squirrels, ducks and geese. There was one flower—a coltsfoot.

Thanks to everyone for coming out to the hike, to the landowners for their continuing support, and to trail maintenance for clearing the trail. You can see all the photos on Flickr.

See where we are going next.