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Activities

Discover a wilderness adventure, just minutes from your doorstep. 

Hiking

Hiking is one of the more popular activities in the wilderness area. Users can expect all types of terrain for all skill levels. Wilderness areas typically do not have any managed trail systems. All hikers are encouraged to exercise caution when navigating these trails. Many trails may lack signage, have dead-ends, split trails and could be in a condition other than those described in the maps below. 

Guided Hikes

Our guided hikes for those who might want to explore the woods, but would feel more comfortable in a group with others leading the way. Spaces are limited and registration is required.

Trail Stewardship & Reporting

Our volunteer Trail Stewards help maintain the trail system, monitor the activities of visitors to the park, and offer education on appropriate trail use. They are also expected to help maintain the trails by picking up garbage and may be asked to assist in rehabilitating trails. Training is provided by the Bluff Wilderness Trail Association.

Submit A Trail Report
Become A Trail Steward

Trail Maps

We strive to make trail information as accurate as possible. Friends Of Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes disclaims any liability for accident, loss, injury, inconvenience, or any other damage that may be sustained by anyone using the information contained on this website. Trail construction and maintenance is not the undertaking or responsibility of our society. Trail users are solely responsible for using their own judgment in interpreting this information to safely enjoy outdoor pursuits throughout any property within the boundaries of Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes.

Canoeing

Susies Lake, the heart of nine Birch Cove Lakes, offers a canoeing experience that rivals those found in National parks. When paddling these waters, it is not uncommon to see otters, beavers, and bald eagles soaring overhead.

Canoe Routes

Birding

With the extensive variety and mix of woodlands, plant species, food sources and wetlands, the Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes offers considerable options for bird habitat.

One of the species of interest is the common loon. If you are aware of a nesting pair on any of the many lakes found within the boundaries of Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes, please let us know, and we will confirm their status and register their presence with the Birds Canada, national loon survey. 

Birders are invited to contact us with updates and recent sightings.

  1. Mallard
  2. Mallard x Black Duck cross
  3. Common Merganser
  4. Ring-necked Pheasant
  5. Ruffed Grouse
  6. Common Loon
  7. Osprey
  8. American Kestrel
  9. American Woodcock
  10. Herring Gull
  11. Great Black-backed Gull
  12. Rock Dove
  13. Mourning Dove
  14. Barred Owl
  15. Long-eared Owl
  16. Northern Saw-whet Owl
  17. Common Nighthawk
  18. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  19. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  20. Downy Woodpecker
  21. Hairy Woodpecker
  22. Northern Flicker
  23. Pileated Woodpecker
  24. Eastern Wood-Peewee
  25. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
  26. Alder Flycatcher
  27. Blue-headed Vireo
  28. Red-eyed Vireo
  29. Grey Jay
  30. Blue Jay
  31. American Crow
  32. Common Raven
  33. Tree Swallow
  34. Black-capped Chickadee
  35. Boreal Chickadee
  36. Red-breasted Nuthatch
  37. Brown Creeper
  38. Winter Wren
  39. Golden-crowned Kinglet
  40. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
  41. Swainson’s Thrush
  42. Hermit Thrush
  43. American Robin
  44. European Starling
  45. Cedar Waxwing
  46. Nashville Warbler
  47. Northern Parula
  48. Yellow Warbler
  49. Chestnut-sided warbler
  50. Magnolia Warbler
  51. Cape May Warbler
  52. Black-throated Blue Warbler
  53. Yellow-rumped Warbler
  54. Black-throated Green Warbler
  55. Blackburnian Warbler
  56. Palm Warbler
  57. Black and White Warbler
  58. American Redstart
  59. Ovenbird
  60. Mourning Warbler
  61. Common Yellowthroat
  62. Song Sparrow
  63. Lincoln’s Sparrow
  64. Swamp Sparrow
  65. White-throated Sparrow
  66. Dark-eyed Junco
  67. Red-winged Blackbird
  68. Common Grackle
  69. Pine Grosbeak
  70. Purple Finch
  71. Red Crossbill
  72. White-winged Crossbill
  73. Pine Siskin
  74. American Goldfinch

Flora & Fauna

iNaturalist has a dedicated page for tracking flora and fauna sightings at Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes. 

Photography & Art

Capturing the natural world’s stunning beauty and the wildlife inhabiting it is a passion for many. For many local artists, visiting BMBCL to capture its beauty has been an important part of building awareness of this wilderness area. Artists such as Joy Laking, Ron Kuwahara, Sunetra Ekanayake, Don Pentz, Geoffrey Grantham, and photographer Irwin Barrett, to name a few, have ventured into BMBCL Wilderness to capture its beauty. Many artists plein air paint in BMBCL—painting outside rather than doing it from a photo or in studio.

Friends of BMBLC organize such events on occasion; but BMBCL Wilderness is always open and is the perfect place for artists to visit, be inspired and help promote the importance of protecting wilderness by sharing artwork.

Friends of Blue Mountain & Birch Cove Lakes
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