OSSCC Hike: Sandy Hills Regional Forest
(nature preserve north of Elmira)
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Contact: Email Bett Fitzpatrick, bettfitzpatrick@gmail.com, or text 519-208-3408 if you plan to join us.
Please add cell # to your phone contacts in case of delays or last-minute cancellations.
Time: 10:00 am
Hike Location: Sandy Hills Regional Forest, 390 Sandy Hills Dr/Township Rd 3, Elmira. We’ll begin the 5 km hike at the southern section of the woods. If driving through Elmira to Sandy Hills Drive, there is angled parking off the road on the right at the trailhead.
Duration: Betty Dyck is leading this approximately 2-hour hike.
Come join us!
General Description:
The Sandy Hill Regional Forest consists of two tracts of land on either side of Sandy Hills Road at the extreme northern tip of the Region of Waterloo. It is a large complex of conifer plantations some of which were established as far back as the 1930s on wind-eroded sandy soils. Some of the older stands are now quite mature and have some of the attributes of conifer forests much further north. From 1957 to 1974, the federal Departmentof Forests had a research station within a clearing in the southern block to study forest insect pests. The conifer stands support a number of bird species (Golden crowned Kinglet, Ovenbird, and Pine Warbler) which prefer this type of habitat for breeding. One Scots Pine stand in the northern block is in poor condition, but is now being converted to Red Oak. The southernmost part of the forest is a cedar swamp.
( https://regionofwaterloo.ca)
Come prepared!
Layer for winter weather, wear sturdy footwear with good grip; bring drinks and snacks for elevenses. A backpack is useful to stash extra mittens and such. As with any winter hiking, icers are recommended
Bett Fitzpatrick
There will be NO cancellation blog posted for hikes. Please register with Bett, she will send cancellation/update notices via emails received