Haliburton Forest is a large (28,000-hectares), privately owned nature reserve that happens to be the close neighbour of my beloved Algonquin Park. A wide range of educational programs run alongside a pretty substantial forestry operation – there’s always something new to find, but here are my top five reasons to take a trip this year.
1. Learn about forestry. It’s the place to uncover the roots (excuse the pun) of many household items from floorboards to furniture, and even the paper in your printer. You can learn about the history of forestry as you watch horses and humans pull logs through the underbrush. Or you can get up close and personal with more contemporary methods. The integration of animal and machine reduces the overal footprint of the operation (and gives us a chance to spend some time up close with horses).
2. Get some exercise. You can bike, hike or - at this time of year - snowshoe! With so much ground to cover and such a wide variety of species within its rich ecosystems, you’ll give your mind a workout while you’re at it. During the summer, canopy tours offer the chance to walk in the tree branches – brush your hand against the bark of a massive mature Canadian hemlock, and see the forest from a different point of view.
3. Fall in love with the wildlife. Haliburton is widely known for its iconic residents - the wolves whose alphas and offspring roam around a huge enclosure where they can live like a natural pack. The Wolf Centre (which has recently been in the news for all the wrong reasons – but you can get updates on that story here) is where the public can learn about these elusive creatures. Wolves aside, the entire area is a hub for major environmental research programs. Last summer they began to offer chances to go out with the researchers. But it can often be just as interesting to relax and enjoy the songs of the birds overhead.
4. Get a better understanding of sustainability. Halliburton is focused on keeping things local. Its owner, Peter Schleifenbaum has built a sawmill down the road from the main camp so the logs don’t have far to travel. But unlike the mills of my grandfather’s day - this one is certified 100% pure by the Forest Stewardship Council (a very rare and great achievement) and is capable of handling every species harvested within the forest with nothing wasted.
5. Get away for a while. When I start to feel overwhelmed by the rush of the city, I begin making plans for a weekend away. And Haliburton offers a window into a lost relationship with the forest. It brings certain things into view, demystifying topics like sustainable forestry while I’m on a camping trip (even in the dead of winter). I can take a dog sled tour through the woods, or wander the trails to the observatory and spend hours gazing at the magnificent stars – all the ones that can’t be seen under city lights
Haliburton is a must see for any nature nut. Revelations, new and old, are happening in the woods not far from here. And it’s plain to see our place within the natural ecology when a properly structured understory surrounds you. Do you have your own stories from Haliburton Forest - or anywhere else you go to escape?