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		Hikes
		Hikes

Luther Marsh

Just the Facts:

		8 KM	114 KM / 1.7 Hours

Earlier this season, we decided to take a look at hikes north of the GTA and found ourselves attracted to the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area. Located in the Orangeville area, in a town called Grand Valley , this is one huge marsh!

Luther Marsh is fundamentally a bird sanctuary and home to many varieties of duck, sparrows, owls, and geese. Many areas are hailed as sanctuaries in order to restore bird populations, wooded areas and to rejuvenate watersheds. Fishing and hunting are permitted in some areas at certain

times of the year. It is best to consult with the park’s site for specific details. Boating is permitted during the summer but since Luther Lake is very shallow and full of stumps and weeds, park administration advise people to proceed with caution when using motorized vehicles—best to stick with canoes!

There are two hiking trails that meander through the park and along the lake: The Shoreline Trail and the Mallard Pond Trail. The easy, 5 km-long Shoreline Trail begins that the main parking lot is a mix of grassy path and paved road (wear waterproof boots if you’re visiting after a heavy rain shower—we’ve got the mud stains on our shoes to prove the need!) The Mallard Pond is south on Side Road 21 from the main entrance to the park (a large sign will point you in the right direction, it’s a right-hand turn once you reach the 90 degree bend in the road, limited parking). This 4 km-long trail is mostly grassy path and can also get pretty mucky in the spring and fall. Both of these trails are family-friendly and don’t ask for any significant physical exertion. The nice thing about these hikes is the likelihood that you’ll stumble upon some waterfowl and other birds along the route. We just had to take a break and listen to all of the birds and frogs along the swampier part of the Shoreline Trail. For those hoping to bring their bikes along, there is the 9 km Bootlegger Bike Trail--- with a potential of 32 km round-trip if you’re willing to take a spin around the lake. Be sure to take a climb to the top of the bird watching towers—you’ll be amazed at the size of Luther Marsh! In terms of facilities, there are vault toilets and a few picnic tables at the main gates.

We spent about three hours walking around this Management Area and found it to be a very peaceful place. We couldn’t believe the number of dragonflies flittering about (and how close they would come to smacking us in the face!) Since we visited in June, there weren’t many other people to speak of, only another couple who was taking a nice nap by the Mallard Pond. It would be interesting to see what this area is like in the peak summer months!

Nancy and myself were actually very shocked to find out that hunting is allowed here at Luther marsh. There were shotgun shells all along the path to emphasize the point!

The first thing we saw as we pulled up to the lake was a bird (eagle I think) swoop down and snatch a fish out of the water, and fly off. It was so fast and amazing that I couldn't even pull out my camera!

Here is a short cell phone video of the marsh. Crappy video, but you get the idea.

Here is the actual marsh. The peeping of the frogs is almost deafening!

For more information about hiking Luther Marsh:

Grand River Conservation Authority—Luther Marsh

http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=27&Sub1=128&sub2=0

Natural Tourist—Luther Marsh (includes video footage of the area)

http://www.naturaltourist.com/content/content.asp?CID=506&LID=9&CGYID=12

It sounds weird, but I would love to learn what types of animals make the different poops. Sometimes you are sure there are animals out there, but you can never see them!

Hikes

Luther Marsh