Activities
Discover a wilderness adventure, just minutes from your doorstep.
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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.
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.
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.
Recorded Bird Species
Birders are invited to contact us with updates and recent sightings.
- Mallard
- Mallard x Black Duck cross
- Common Merganser
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ruffed Grouse
- Common Loon
- Osprey
- American Kestrel
- American Woodcock
- Herring Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Rock Dove
- Mourning Dove
- Barred Owl
- Long-eared Owl
- Northern Saw-whet Owl
- Common Nighthawk
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Eastern Wood-Peewee
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
- Alder Flycatcher
- Blue-headed Vireo
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Grey Jay
- Blue Jay
- American Crow
- Common Raven
- Tree Swallow
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Boreal Chickadee
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Brown Creeper
- Winter Wren
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Swainson’s Thrush
- Hermit Thrush
- American Robin
- European Starling
- Cedar Waxwing
- Nashville Warbler
- Northern Parula
- Yellow Warbler
- Chestnut-sided warbler
- Magnolia Warbler
- Cape May Warbler
- Black-throated Blue Warbler
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Blackburnian Warbler
- Palm Warbler
- Black and White Warbler
- American Redstart
- Ovenbird
- Mourning Warbler
- Common Yellowthroat
- Song Sparrow
- Lincoln’s Sparrow
- Swamp Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Common Grackle
- Pine Grosbeak
- Purple Finch
- Red Crossbill
- White-winged Crossbill
- Pine Siskin
- American Goldfinch
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.
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