Pine Knoll Trail

The trail begins 1 km walk from the Sanctuary entrance and winds its way up into a jack pine forest. This unique area of the Sanctuary was once a sand dune that was deposited by winds following the last Ice Age. Jack pines are found only in this area of the Sanctuary because they prefer sandy, acidic soils. Halfway along the trail there is a bench beneath a large pine where you can sit, watch the birds and listen to the chatter of red squirrels. Woodpeckers and chickadees are frequently seen in the Pine Knoll area and if you scatter some seeds at your feet, you may get an up close look at a curious Black-capped Chickadee. The pines begin to disappear as the trail descends, replaced by paper birch, beaked hazelnut and trembling aspen.