Snowshoe Trail D3

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

There is lots of parking space and a fully serviced chalet is open during ski season. Off season, there is no fee for trail use but donations are appreciated.

The entire trail would be difficult for running with exposed rocks and roots along most of the path.

Start on Snowshoe Trail D1 just past the Rabbit Run/Games Trail connector by the storage shed. The trail goes through a wonderful birch forest. Cross Games Trail and follow the narrow trail along the base of the cliff. It is a steady climb right to the intersection with Snowshoe Trail D6. Turn to follow D3 across Birches Run into a mature spruce forest. The wind seems to cause a lot of blow downs in this area so there may be detours. Follow the flagging tape.

Just beyond the intersection with Snowshoe Trail D7, enter a completely wide open area that was ravaged by fire thirty years ago. Regrowth of trees has been very slow in this area of shallow soil and bare rock and there are not many substantial trees to host signs and markers. Watch carefully for flagging tape. Previous tracks become quickly obliterated by drifting snow in this exposed area so watch for faint impressions if there is not a clear path. Not everyone follows the exact same route. On the knoll where D3 meets B1, the route is not always obvious, but turn at the large boulder back into a good spruce forest. The trail is narrow and winding as it descends to intersect with D2.

For people doing the route from this direction instead, the narrow winding bit is the most significant uphill climb and then the end of the trail is a nice down hill trek.

Usually only the portion of D3 by the cliff adjacent to Birches Run is used for summer running.

There's a birch forest complete with ferns and wildflowers, a shady mixed forest of birch, spruce, willows and alders with a mossy carpet, a previously burnt area with struggling, birch and spruce underlain with caribou moss or Labrador tea, depending on the dampness and then back into a shady forest with large spruce. It's hard to picture this under the snow!