Birches Run

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

There is ample parking and during winter, the fully serviced chalet is open. There is no fee for off season hiking but donations are appreciated.

It's hard to have a favorite direction for experiencing the trail. When accessing the route from Games Trail, there's a steady climb right to the Upper Deck turn and then a nice downhill to McLean Lake Trail, but from the other direction, there is a short climb past Melville Lookout, and then a fast downhill. The snowy birch and fir woods are gorgeous.

Off season hikers are surrounded by green with glimpses of Gosling Lake through the trees and by rocky knolls that are worthwhile destinations accessed from the trail.

The undergrowth is lush through the birch forest. Hike amid ferns and a profusion of wildflowers. The portion of trail between Upper Deck and McLean Lake Trail was previously burnt but regrowth of saplings masks that history. A pleasant legacy of fire is the field of blueberries that ripen late summer.