Barnum Creek Nature Reserve

History

The land around Barnum Creek was likely used by First Nations for hunting, fishing and gathering for thousands of years before Europeans came to the area. In 1864, The Canadian Land and Emigration Company sold land to the first settlers as farmland.

From the mid-1860s much of the Barnum Creek Nature Reserve (BCNR) was used primarily for mixed farming which was difficult because of the shallow and rocky soils.

By 1974, Mr. John Dobrzensky & his son had purchased 500 acres of what is now BCNR. In 1987, 300 acres (of the original 500 acres) were sold to Mr. Dobrzensky’s daughter Margaret who continued to ensure the long-term sustainability of the forests. Ms. Dobrzensky also continued to maintain much of the now abandoned farmland in its grassland state, recognizing the importance of this habitat for a number of Species at Risk.

In 2008, Margaret Dobrzensky purchased an additional 100 acres and enrolled the entire 600-acre property in the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program.

Hear from Leopoldina Dobrzensky as she shares her story of the property in this video.

Please click here for information about how you can donate land to the HHLT.

Ecology

The property is a spectacular example of the diversity of ecosystems in the Haliburton Highlands. The Reserve includes habitats ranging from Tolerant Hardwood Forest, Mixed Wood Forest, Marsh and Swamp to Open Upland Successional Forest habitat which is reclaiming former agricultural land.  Similar habitats are found immediately south of the property and onto a large tract of Crown Land that is known to provide habitat for Species at Risk (SAR) such as Blanding’s Turtle, Whip-Poor-Will and Five-Lined Skink. The Open Upland Successional Forest habitat is known to provide suitable habitat for numerous Species at Risk known to occur in Haliburton County.

A significant component of the property is comprised of mature maple forest with abundant ground cover including wild leek, blue cohosh, leatherwood and maidenhair fern. Calcareous soils, which are limited in the Haliburton Highlands, are derived from fingers of marble, dolostone and limestone extending into the granitic rock that dominates the landscape.

The property is bisected by Barnum Creek which drains from Barnum Pond, located approximately 2 km east of the property, and flows into Barnum Lake, located approximately 6 km west of the property. The creek changes in nature as it passes through the property from a wide marshland on the east, to a narrow flowing creek, and finally to a series of beaver ponds. The creek serves as important habitat for moose, deer fox, wolf, beaver, porcupine and muskrat. Blue Heron and a wide variety of bird species are abundant. In addition to providing important habitat, the wetlands also deliver important ecological functions such as flood attenuation, groundwater recharge/discharge, water filtration and carbon sequestration.

For more information on the moths that inhabit Barnum Creek, please click here.

Management

Under terms of the Ecological Gifts Program, the HHLT will continue to carry on the legacy of the Dobrzensky family and manage the property, in perpetuity, to ensure that the long-term health and diversity of the ecosystems are protected and maintained.

The Barnum Creek Management Committee reports to the HHLT Board and organizes a group of volunteers, Barnum Creek Property Monitors, who visit the reserve bi-weekly to ensure the security and well-being of the property. To find out more about volunteering, please click here.

The committee has developed a long-term management plan for the property. Conservation goals include:

• protecting and maintaining biodiversity and ecological functions
• Protecting and maintaining habitat for species of significance: Species at Risk, and provincially and locally rare species
• maintaining open areas for species that forage in open areas and/or bask in full sun
• Promoting water quality and riparian habitat through the protection of Barnum Creek and its associated wetlands
• Conserving forests that capture and store carbon in trees and soils thereby mitigating the effects of climate change
• promoting succession from mature forest to old growth forest
• Establishing permanent sample plots to allow HHLT to identify and monitor changes in biodiversity at BCNR
• Promoting environmental education and low impact recreational opportunities

Location and Trails

Barnum Creek Nature Reserve is located at #1118 Gould Crossing Road.

From Minden: Take South Lake Road (County Road #16) to Gelert Road.  Turn left and follow Gelert Road to Gould Crossing Rd. It is approximately 24 km from Minden.

From Haliburton: Take Gelert Road (County Road #1) to Gould Crossing Road. The Nature Reserve is 5 km southeast of Haliburton Village.

A note of caution ‐ Google Maps mistakenly calls Gould Crossing Road, Cowan Road.  There are two signs together on Gelert Road. One says Gould Crossing Road, the other Barnum Creek Nature Reserve.

GPS coordinates N 45.0179, W 78.5318

The trail system at Barnum Creek Nature Reserve is thanks to generous funding from the Haliburton County Development Corporation (HCDC), Haliburton Rotary, and TD Friends of the Environment.

For the trail map, please click on this Link

We have created an educational guide on hiking Barnum Creek trails with children. For more information, please click on the following documents: Barnum Creek Habitat Hike Educator Guide and Barnum Creek Habitat Hike Educator Companion

Guided Hikes/Snowshoes

HHLT has partnered with experience experts at Yours Outdoors to offer guided hikes of Barnum Creek Nature Reserve.

Click Here to visit their website where you can find more information and book your guided hike or snowshoe.

Parking

There is an area set aside for parking in spring, summer and fall in a designated field near the trailhead. The road to the trailhead is not regularly maintained and the road can be rough.  It is always recommended that you check conditions before driving up the hill to the trailhead.

No parking is available at the trailhead in winter. The road to the trailhead and parking area are not plowed.  You may be able to park on Gould Crossing Road at your own risk. From there you can walk up the hill to the trailhead. Please do not block the snow plow turnaround or private driveways.

Acknowledgments

The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust thanks the following people/organizations for their generosity and support:

• Leopoldina and Margaret Dobrzensky for the donation of Barnum Creek Nature Reserve through Environment Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program
• The Coral and Bill Martin Family Foundation for assistance with acquisition costs
• The Haliburton County Development Corporation for assistance with trail development and driveway improvements
• TD Friends of the Environment for assistance with interpretive signage
• Rotary Club of Haliburton for assistance with trail development costs