ORANGE TRAIL:
1. Start of Orange Trail: Welcome . This trail goes across the former Ausable river bed.
2. These trees are Scots Pines, non-native trees, planted 30 – 40 years ago to “improve” the camp. They have no financial value and smother now rare native plants which were here. The goal is to have all Scots Pines removed.
3. Before the “Cut” was built as a by-pass, the Ausable River meandered through here. Many invasive species such as Phragmites have occupied this area.
4. This is one of the few natural areas left: land between the old river beds. Often flooded in the Spring, it contains many rare native plants, inc. 4 species of orchids. DO NOT PICK ANYTHING.
5. Note Scots Pines have been girdled so that they stop producing seed which is spread throughout this environmentally important area. These pines will be removed.
6. At the end of this trail, across the Ausable River in Pinery Park, is a huge, active Bald Eagle nest.
7. There are a number of rare plants in this area. Enjoy them when in bloom, but do not pick them.
8. Straight ahead is Boundary Hill. Great exercise to climb to viewing platform, or continue left on Orange Trail.
9. These are Red Pines: 2 long needles, reddish bark and Scots Pine: 2 short, twisted needles, orange at the top of the trunk. They were all planted and will be removed to re-establish the original habitat.
10. This is Oak-Savanna habitat: Oak trees surrounded by open areas. This has become rare in North America. This one contains rare plants.
11. This is the Ausable River which flows from the Burley campground in the Pinery Park. Beavers are common.
12. This trail has been closed for Dune Restoration. The sand dunes become eroded by human traffic.
BLUE TRAIL:
1. Beginning of Blue Trail: the longest trail in the Camp, going east to the Pinery Provincial Park and north along the park boundary to the Ausable River, where it joins the Orange trail.
2. The trail is very steep along the park boundary.
3. This is a grove of Sasafrass trees. This is the northern limit of this tree, which is common in the U.S.A. Leaves, twigs, branches and bark have a spicy smell when crushed or broken.
4. At the top, where the trail splits, is the Pinery Park boundary
5. Beside the natural Attawandaron amphitheatre: a natural opening (savanna) in this area of “Oak-Savanna).
6. Take either way to by-pass the road hill
7. This small bowl is surrounded by magnificent Oak trees. ...making it a savanna opening.
8.
9. To the left is a small Red Pine plantation, 1 of hundreds within Pinery Park.
10. To the left (east) is Boundary Hill, with a magnificent view.
11. The land to the East is Pinery Provincial Park.