Hawes Snowshoe Route

Dogs No Dogs

Features -none-

A fully serviced chalet is open during ski season and trail passes are required for use of winter trails.

Some of Birch Brook's senior skiers (author included) will remember skiing to the end of McLean Lake, traversing overland to the next series of lakes, and then traversing overland again back to McLean Lake. When Colin's Hut was being constructed, part of that was the route to the work site via snowmobile each day until a rudimentary trail was cut from Colin's Hut to the shore of McLean Lake. It was afterwards improved to become Colin's Heritage Trail.

Dave Hawes (aka "Labrador Wild Man") provided tracks for this snowshoe route. Leaving McLean Lake cabin and trekking across the ice, be sure to take the portage path between the two lake sections. At the end of McLean Lake, the trail may be hard to pick up as it is just snowmobile width and marked with flagging tape. The trail is not maintained and may be obscured by branches in places (users are welcome to help with improvements). With deep snow, it is quite a slog! There is some reprieve at Tilt Pond where a very good snowmobile trail merges into a double-width trail up to Colin's Hut.

As this is a winter only trail, there will be a lot of animal tracks, but sightings of animals are rare.