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Haliburton Highlands Places To Go and See

People from all over North America and around the world come to Haliburton, Ontario, Canada for the annual fall colour tours throughout the province. Nowhere are the colours of the deciduous trees such as, maple, oak, birch so intense. Haliburton's Fall Packages are included in the Provincial Great Fall Drives Booklet

Here's a link to the Fall Colour Tours in Ontario, which are updated each week on Tuesday and Friday:
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Link to:

Celebration of Trails

September through November

The Celebration of Trails is an annual autumn celebration of trails, events and communities in east Central Ontario. Exciting trail event for all ages and interests will get you out and active to discover the regions great trails. Haliburton County offers several events during the Celebration including the Haliburton Forest Trail Run, the IB&O Trail Mixer, Gems Beneath Your Boots, and the Hike Haliburton Festival. The Celebration of Trails is your path to fun and adventure.

Contact: Barrie Martin Tel: 705-328-0261

Celebration of Trails

Torrance Barrens

The Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve consists of 1990 hectares (about 5000 acres) of crown land south-east of Bala, which is administered by the Province of Ontario. The first of its kind in Canada, the Torrance Barrens is now officially recognized as a "Dark Sky Reserve." The geology of the landscape is characterized by low ridges of Precambrian Shield, which was formed approximately 2.5 billion years ago.

The rich variety of vegetation, the geology and the large size of the Barrens have resulted in a diversity of plants and animals, including some provincially and nationally rare species such as the Southern Bog Lemming and the elusive Five Lined Skink, Ontario's only lizard. One might also find the threatened Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, the uncommon Eastern Hognose Snake and several species of birds and mammals that are at the northern limit of their distribution.

The area is home to many erratics–large boulders that were dropped off by receding glaciers.

The troughs between the rock ridges are filled with wetlands and small ponds and lakes. The wetlands are diverse, with dense open-water marshes, peat lands, grassy bog mats, floating shrub mats and swamps dominated by mature conifer trees or shrub thickets. Beavers are active in many wetlands.

The lunar landscape of the Barrens is characterized by low ridges of Precambrian bedrock, separated by wetlands and peat-filled hollows, scattered boulders and even a little soil. The prevalence of bare bedrock is the direct result of wave-washing by the receding waters of the ancient, glacial, Algonquin Lake and Nipissing Lake. The nationally-rare Eastern Bluebird and Cooper’s Hawk can often be spotted on the Barrens and the elusive Wippoorwill and Nighthawk can be heard in late evening. Many diverse vegetative species grow here. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake–a threatened species–can also on occasion be found here, as can Ontario’s only lizard, the Five Lined Skink. Amateur astronomers have identified the Barrens as an ideal place to view the night skies with little light infiltration from urban areas.

THE DARK SKY RESERVE

Once the Conservation Reserve was established, naturalists realized that the Torrance Barrens had a previously un recognized attribute. Because of an absence of light pollution at night, it was a remarkable place to view the natural beauty of the starry sky. Protected or undeveloped land virtually surrounds the Reserve, acting as an additional buffer from urban lighting. This combination of attributes makes the Barrens unique in Ontario. In 1999, the Ontario government acknowledged night-sky viewing as an important use of the Torrance Barrens and added the designation of Dark Sky Reserve to its title. The announcement received national and international attention. This is indeed a special place to view the universe.

The metamorphosed rock is more than two billion years old. It has been under mountains, under water, under miles of ice and under tropical jungles many times in its history. Today, it is under your feet as you look up into the cosmos and appreciate the immensity of time and space. To claim this find, place yourself at the posted coordinates and identify the glacial feature you can see both north and to the south.

The dark sky designation was a project was developed by Muskoka Heritage Foundation director Peter Goering in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources, with support from the Township of Muskoka Lakes Ratepayers Association and the Township of Muskoka Lakes. The growing awareness of light pollution of the night sky and the inability of large sectors of the population to experience and enjoy astronomical events has created a demand for an area where the dark sky can be preserved.

The Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve

A combination of ancient rock outcrops, peaceful wilderness and rare plants and wildlife makes Muskoka’s Torrance Barrens a unique Conservation Reserve. In 1999, the Barrens’ nighttime star-filled darkness was designated by the Ontario government as the world’s first permanent Dark Sky Reserve – a move that recognized the region as a protected space free from intrusion by urban light pollution.

Few natural vistas can match the inspirational panorama of the Milky Way-our home galaxy-arching overhead on a cool, clear summer or early-autumn evening. At the Torrance Barrens, the ancient constellation and planets shine forth in majestic profusion. On occasion, the northern lights (aurora borealis) are visible – often as greenish wisps but sometimes as spectacular curtains of colour. In binoculars, rivers of stars that are completely invisible to the naked eye flow into view. Rich star clusters, wispy nebulas, the cloud banks of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn are all visible with a beginner’s telescope.

Geography

The Dark Sky Reserve is a designation added to the Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve – an area of some 1900 hectares of crown land, south-east of Bala, which is administered by the Province of Ontario. It is relatively open with modest tree-growth – which gives a clear view of the sky from horizon to horizon. The Torrance Barrens are characterized by low ridges of Precambrian bedrock separated by wetland and peat-filled hollows. The bedrock provides a sold basis for astronomical instruments such as telescopes.

Background

Once the Conservation Reserve was established, Muskoka Heritage Foundation director Peter Goering realized that the Torrance Barrens was an ideal candidate as a Dark Sky Reserve because of the absence of light pollution at night. He proposed the idea in 1998 as part of the public input into the “Lands for Life” discussions. With co-operation and support from Michael Silver (Township of Muskoka Lakes Ratepayers Association), Russ Black (Muskoka Heritage Foundation), Astronomer Terence Dickinson, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Muskoka Heritage Foundation and various politicians, there was wide acceptance of the idea. In 1999, the Ontario government acknowledges night-sky viewing as an important use of the Torrance Barrens including the concept in its Statement of Conservation Interest and adding the designation of Dark Sky Reserve to its title. The Township of Muskoka Lakes has already passed a resolution to encourage the use of night lighting that directs all light towards the ground and hence decreases the pollution of the skies.

Recreational Opportunities

The Township of Muskoka Lakes Recreational Trails Committee has created several trails suitable for educations and interpretive hikes as well as family exploring. The trails are accessible from the parking area at Highland Pond off County Road 13. Excellent blueberry picking in the summer, and a main snowmobile trails runs through the area in the winter.

Hiking Trails

Main Trail (3.0 km)

The main trail circles Highland Pond, which is a relatively large shallow pond surrounded by floating fen mats that provide habitat for several species of orchids including the White Fringed Orchid, Rose Pogonia and Calopogon. A large intermediate fen extends off the western end of the pond. This sedge dominated wetland provides a field habitat for Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow and Bobolink.

Barrens Extension (6.0 km)

Accessed from the Main Trail, this extended loop takes the visitor around another large fen and past a working beaver dam and house.

Pine Ridge Trail (5 km)

Immediately north of Highland Pond, this trail runs northwest to southeast along the southern shore of Pine Lake. It can be accessed from the Main Trail. This trail is the best example of the "ridge and trough" pattern that characterizes the Torrance Barrens landscape.

Directions

Access to the Torrance Barrens is off District Road 13 (Southwood Road). Turn west onto District Road 13 (between Gravenhurst and Washago), then drive about 20 minutes until you see the brown Torrance Barrens sign on your right. Parking is in the area to the left of the sign. An alternate route is to turn south onto District Road 13 from the village of Torrance on Hwy 169. Drive on County Road 13 until you see the sign and parking area. If you are in the Gravenhurst or Bracebridge areas, proceed North on Muskoka Road 169 (former Hwy 169) and turn South on Southwood Road (Muskoka Road 13) and go approximately 6.5 km until you see a sign, "Torrance Barrens." Stone cairns, white marks on the rocks and metal signs mark the trails.

A full-colour brochure is available from the Ministry of Natural Resources located in Bracebridge at the Muskoka Heritage Foundation Resource Centre.

GPS

Here is a link to a geocache site with information about the Torrance Barren's Dark Skies, and GPS coordinates. Torrence Barren

This link goes to the Barrens Dark Sky information at geocaching.com site.

Here's a link to some excellent hiking trail in the Muskoa area: http://www.muskokatrails.com/pdfs/28-29_SIM_2007.pdf

Haliburton Highlands, Ontario, Canada