Snowshoe Route #1

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The summits provide panoramic views of the ski trails below as well as Lake Melville and the Mealy Mountains in the distance as the route reaches the summits of major knolls viewed from the ski chalet and trails.

During ski season, the fully serviced chalet is open. When running in the off season, amenities are not available.

Start from the old log cabin and follow snowshoe trail E1 to Brook Trail, and then follow snowshoe trail C3 (cross Rabbit Run twice) right to Snowshoe trail D1. This is an easy route through mature black spruce forest.

From snowshoe trail D1, access snowshoe trail D2 where the ascent begins through a forest of majestic white birch. Snowshoe trail D2 joins snowshoe trail D4 and then D3 across a previously burnt area, an easy run. Snowshoe trail D3 continues to the base of the knoll and then the climbing begins. Follow snowshoe trail D6 then branch off onto E3.

There's more climbing to reach the summit but a panoramic view rewards the effort. Enjoy a nice downhill, continuing on snowshoe trail E3, cross Chaulk's Connector, and continue right to the intersection of snowshoe trail E2. Turn onto snowshoe trail E4 that requires more climbing to achieve spectacular views. Daredevil Rock is a glacial erratic precariously perched on a knoll above Games Trail.

There are some tricky downhill bits in the descent. Take a shortcut across Games Trail onto Fox Trot, then back onto snowshoe trail E1 all the way back to the old cabin.

Black spruce forest, birch and aspen groves.

The old log cabin is the original Birch Brook chalet and was in use until the modern chalet was built. The open areas of the trail are remnants of a large forest fire in the 1980s.