“We are so lucky to live where we do,” is a phrase I have heard many times, and especially through the past two years. While many people are still itching to travel, especially to warmer climates to escape the Huron County winter, most people realize how good we have it here.  With gatherings of all kinds shut down in all parts of the country, having the ability to be outside and enjoy many activities right out our back door is definitely something to be grateful for. 
Huron County is known for its beautiful trails, enjoyed by people using all forms of transportation. Some-times living here, we can become oblivious to the natural beauty around us. Hiking and cross-country skiing have been life-long hobbies that I love, but in spite of that, there are many kilometers of trails here that I’ve never set foot, or skis, on. The Huron County website lists over 30 trails within the county that provide space for people of all ages and skill levels.
The Stevenson Tract is located close to my home and has been a trail that I have enjoyed in all seasons my entire life. As anyone who enjoys nature will tell you, a trail never gets boring because it is different every time you walk it.  The Stevenson Tract is classed as “moderate to difficult” and is located where County Road 16 (Morris Road) and the Clyde Line meet, a few kilometers west of Brussels. It has had improvements over the years, with expanded trails through the 200 acre woods and improved parking areas with access from both Clyde Line and Morris Road. The trail is bi-sected by both the Maitland River and the Sunshine Creek, providing prime fish habitat. The trail is great for cross country skiing, with enough hills to provide challenge and fun, but not too many. 
Trails always make me wonder about the long term history of the landscape. When skiing, one of my favourite parts of the Stephenson Tract is the ridge. I’ve long suspected it could be an esker, given its shape and gravelly composition that is different from other parts of the trail. Looking up a little bit of the geology of Huron County reveals that eskers are common here, with many of the larger ones being used for gravel extraction.  
It has been a long time since high school geography classes where we learned about how the glaciers shaped our landscapes – so a refresher was welcome.” An esker is a long, narrow ridge that snakes across the land. The esker is made of layers of sand and gravel. It marks the location of a tunnel that developed beneath a glacier. The esker is one of the most easily recognized landforms that formed during an ice age, while a glacier covered the land. In flat boggy areas, eskers stand as high ridges and serve as vantage points, dry route ways, and areas for animal dens.” 
Another great place to hike is the Maitland Trail. The Maitland Trail follows the Maitland River from Auburn to Goderich, with lots of interesting land forms. One of the most mysterious is the infamous “Black Hole”. We hiked with a geologist one summer who explained the mysteries of the Black Hole and some of the old stories that went along with it. In “The Power of the Maitland” by John Hazlitt and Ted Turner, they describe the Hole as “a karst feature, formed by the dissolution of the limestone by rainwater.” This feature is interesting because it has never been filled with sediment, so speculation goes, “in order for the Black Hole to stay open, it must be connected to some deeper, more substantial cave system,” “There are stories of cedar rails thrown into the water above the ‘Hole’ to float down stream, only to be sucked into the vortex,” (Hazlitt and Turner, pg 32). According to Wikipedia, the depth has been found by sonar to be six meters, 
The Wawanosh Valley Conservation Area is another favourite of mine. Located on Nature Centre Road south of Belgrave, this Conservation Area features the Maitland River and the Belgrave Creek. The walk along the river is beautiful any time of year, and the towering hemlocks provide a majestic reminder of nature’s splendour. The park provides good trout and salmon fishing and the boardwalks through the boggy areas have recently all been replaced. If you are interested in geocaching, a group of Cubs placed some caches here that are still being found many years later. 
Huron County trails provide a way to escape the challenges of living through a pandemic – opening our minds to the history of how the land was formed, the changes in land use that humans have brought, and the other creatures we share the land with. Finding peace and beauty on the trails is good for your soul and mental health, no matter what the season. ◊