Old-growth forests in Ontario are rare and often under-appreciated. They’ve been reduced to relatively small, isolated pockets due to over a century of clearing for development and resource extraction. While the province’s network of protected places serve as sanctuaries for some of these naturally evolved ecosystems, there are still many old-growth forests at risk from industry such as logging and mining. 

As hotspots for biodiversity, carbon storage and recreation, protecting remnant mature forests should be at the top of Ontario’s plan to meet the federal conservation goal to protect 30 per cent of the lands and waters here by the year 2030.

This summer we’re gearing up for three canoe and camping excursions in unprotected old-growth forest areas of Ontario. Our goal is to build knowledge, appreciation and capacity to advocate for the addition of these special places to the province’s protected area network.

Over the next two months, we will explore and experience old-growth pine forests around the Spanish River and Temagami as well as the ancient giants in Algonquin Park.

Here are some of the details of our upcoming excursions:

August 16 - 19: Canoe trip and trail/campsite maintenance

Rushbrook Lake, Lower Spanish Forest, 60 km north of Espanola, Robinson-Huron Treaty Territory

With significant old white and red pine forest, pristine watersheds and established recreational canoe routes, the area around Rushbrook Lake in the Lower Spanish Forest is prime for addition to the nearby existing Rushbrook provincial park. This trip, organized in partnership with Ontario Old Growth Conservation Volunteers, will focus on expanding public access to these forests. To further this, we’ll be working on campsite enhancement and portage trail maintenance with special guest forest ecologist Mike Henry, who documented this area in the late 1990s and again in 2018.  

August 30 - September 2: Camping and old growth survey work

Brain Lake/Hurdman Creek, Algonquin Provincial Park

Hurdman Creek is within one of the largest unprotected roadless areas in Algonquin Park, with hemlock and yellow birch approaching 300 years old, and the oldest black ash recorded in Ontario so far. On this trip, we’ll support forest ecologist Mike Henry in conducting survey plots to further document this area and advocate for protection from logging.

September 20-23: Canoe trip and trail/campsite maintenance 

Blueberry Lake, Temagami, Robinson Huron Treaty Territory

Old-growth forests around Blueberry Lake, east of Temagami, escaped logging in the 1940s as their hilly and steep location proved challenging for horse logging. Today, these are among the most significant tracts of old-growth forest in the area outside of the protected park and also one of the most accessible. On this trip we’ll be working to maintain campsites, portage routes and an established trail through stunning old-growth.

There are limited spots available to participate in these guided trips focusing on trail and campsite maintenance, as well as old-growth documentation.  For more information, email katie@wildernesscommittee.org