Woodland Trail
Store
Gallery
Quick Facts
| Difficulty | easy |
| Trail Type | linear |
| Distance | 600 m |
| Estimated Time | 15 minutes one way |
| Surface Type | forested, boardwalk |
| Elevation Change | 27 meters |
| Features | forest, fields |
| Trail Markers | none but easy to follow |
| Scenery Rating | special features |
| Maintenance Rating | well maintained |
| Cell Reception | strong |
| Dog Friendly | on a leash |
| Fees | donations accepted |
Map
Directions
For directions to the park go to the Daly Point Nature Reserve page.
The trail can be accessed from the Field Trail next to the shelter. It can also be accessed from the end of the White Pine Path and from the Warbler Trail.
Description
The Woodland trail is the center of activity for birds in the park (see the gallery). They are quite tame and readily land in your hand if you have seeds. Sunflower seeds are their favorite. The first time it happens it feels weird, but once you get used to their little claws it is very exciting. The kids had fun too!
The trail starts on the Field Trail near the shelter. It travels down a hill and through an old field before entering the woods. The trail passes through a spruce stand and past the junction with the White Pine Path before entering a young hardwood stand in a lower wet area, ending on a boardwalk on the Warbler Trail.
From the Sign
The Woodland Trail
As you are walking through the Woodland Trail, you will see a mix of shade tolerant trees such as sugar maple, American beech, yellow birch, red spruce and eastern hemlock. You will also see standing dead and dying trees with a mixture of new growth. These are the features that define the Acadian Forest.
The gaps in the forest created by dying trees allow the sun to penetrate the canopy and promote new growth. The dead wood is home to many insects and small animals. You may see woodpeckers, owls, bats, and martins depending what time of day you are visiting.
The Acadian forests reduce the impacts of storms, floods, drought, and insect attacks. Trees provide shade for streams and brooks, keeping water cool, and the soil is a natural storage tank for moisture, reducing the effects of droughts. Tree roots and fallen tree trunks slow down runoff and keep stream banks from eroding, and forest canopies intercept rain and keep it from washing soil away.
The Acadian Forest resists insects and disease because of the different tree types and ages. In contrast, softwood tree farms, with extensive areas of one tree species, can be devastated by pests quickly and do not provide the homes for animals and insects which are required to have a healthy forest.
Blog Post
Trail Last Hiked: January 20, 2018.
Page Last Updated: Dec. 12, 2018.