Hike FullInto the Domain

This hike will showcase the 4,000-acre Domain Nature Preserve, tour the Harburn Wells and hike the historic Peterson Rd..  You will meet at the Domain lodge, where an introductory Powerpoint presentation will explain the features of the hike before departing. Refreshments will be served. From the Lodge, you will drive to the property entrance, hike through the 1986 tornado path to Ritchie Lake and make the climb up to the Harburn Wells. From the wells, the hike will continue to the Peterson Rd., where a description of the area’s settlement history will be provided. The hike will end with a loop up to Carroll Rd. and back to the vehicles. Back at the vehicles, handouts will be provided on the Harburn Wells, the colonization Rd.s of the 1800s, and the Domain. Hikers who wish to return to the lodge for guided tour of the accommodations will be invited to do so.  Suitable for adults, and teens . No dogs please.

HIKE #: 33

DATE: Saturday, September 21

START TIME: 1:00 pm

DURATION: 4 hours, 3km

LOCATION: The Domain Nature Preserve,  1282 Carroll Rd., Haliburton

RATING: Challenging – Most of this hike is easy going, on existing trails and level ground but 0.5km is through the woods with no trail at all. It is classed as “challenging” because of the steep, 200-foot climb from Ritchie Lake up to the Harburn Wells, and because of the need to ford the Little Drag River twice on foot, over boulders and rubble. Waterproof footwear is required and a walking stick is advised when crossing the creek.

MAXIMUM#   20

AMENITIES: parking, washrooms, food, shelter

LEADER: Peter Hynard

LEADER BIO: Peter Hynard is a registered professional forester with a degree in forest science from the University of Toronto and a licence to practice forestry in Ontario from the Ontario Professional Foresters Association. He has nearly 50 years of practical experience in the field, most of it this area. Today, Peter is semi-retired, lives near Minden and continues to practice forestry part-time on large properties in Haliburton, Hastings and Muskoka. His specialties are air-photo interpretation, silviculture and commercial timber sales. The Domain Nature Preserve is one of Peter’s forestry clients. Peter also has an interest in local history. He is a member of the Forest History Society of Ontario and has given talks on local forest history at the Minden Cultural Centre and the Haliburton fish hatchery. The use of “witness trees” and dendro-chronology to date events is a method he often uses in his forestry work.

DIRECTIONS: To reach the property from Haliburton, go northwest out of town on Hwy 118 for 2km. Turn right onto Harburn Rd. and go 10.1km to Carroll Rd.. Turn right on Carroll Rd. and go 1.4km to the lodge entrance. Turn into the entrance driveway and go 0.2km to the lodge. Park in the designated area and walk to the main lodge building.  The distance from Haliburtn is approximately 15km. GPS coordinates:  N 45.1067, W 78.4054