Frank Tract - Halton Regional Forest

The Region of Halton owns and manages 14 forest tracts totaling 665 hectares. The Frank tract is the most northerly tract and is 42 hectares in size.

The main trail starts fairly flat traveling along a fire access road. There is an 'S' turn where the road crosses an earth dam with swamps on the left and right. Re-entering the forest for another 200m before crossing a small bridge. There is a very nice lookout here, to the south, of a wetland.

The wetland

From the parking area to the end of the fire access road is about 600m (1.2km for the round trip). Should you choose there is a small dirt trail that continues from here. It has some climbs and it is much narrower than the main trail, but it takes you through a pleasant mixed deciduous forest. This will add another 500m onto your walk.

The Frank Tract is located on 1st Line just south of 25th Sideroad.




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Conley Tract - Halton Regional Forest

The Conley Tract, one of Halton Region's 14 forest tracts, is located off 1st Line just north of Sideroad 20 near the village of Brookville.

There are several trails in the tract of varying length and difficulty. The main trail (red) travels from the parking area in a NE direction  before becoming washed out by a swamp in the northern corner (this area might be passable in the drier months). The red path is 650m in length, or 1.3km for a return trip. It is fairly level and passes several swampy areas and one small pond.

Should you want something longer you can complete the orange loop across the northern section of the property which passes through and around a pine plantation. This will add another 620m to your hike but is very easy with few elevation changes.

The only other developed path is the blue trail which, according the the Conley Tract map, is supposed to join with the orange trail. When I hiked this area, however, the blue trail ends at a swamp with no evidence of it ever meeting the orange trail.

There are 2 other trails, the yellow and purple, which are narrow and rocky and have many trees across their paths. Both trails quickly fade out and are lost in the undergrowth.

* Please note, the colour of the trails that I mention are simply to identify on the GPS tracklog (the 1st image). The trails are not marked with any blazes or markings.



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Elliott Tract - Halton Regional Forest

The Region of Halton owns 14 forest tracts totaling 665 hectares (1645 acres) that are managed for public use. The Elliott Tract is the 5th smallest measuring 31 hectares (77 acres). Considering the amount of wetland in the Elliott Tract I was surprised to learn that it is one of the Halton Regional Forests that is not located within an Environmentally Significant Area.

After a short 150m walk from the parking the trail enters a grassy clearing. From here there are three options: the path to your right and the one straight ahead form a loop. The path to your left skirts the edge of the property and eventually comes to a dead end.

The loop path circles a dense swamp with numerous wet and muddy area to cross. The flora varies from deciduous near the northern part of the loop to a pine plantation in the NW and a thick cedar forest where the path gets close to the wetland. Elevation changes are minimal.

The clearing where all the paths converge.

The swamp on the loop trail.

The dead end path is much drier and follows the southern edge of the property. There is a hill on this section that must be climbed (both directions) that might cause some distress, but there are some pleasant views of the surrounding forest. The trail borders some backyards for part of the route.

The loop section is almost exactly 1.0km, the dead end trail is 570m (1.4km return). If all paths are walked the total will be approximately 2.5km.





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Acton Tract - Halton Regional Forest

Halton Region owns 665 hectares (1645 acres) of forest in 14 tracts. The Acton Tract is located in Nassagaweya-Esquesing Townline north of Milton.

This tract is predominantly a pine plantation with extensive spruce growth. Judging by the damage to the bark of some of the trees there appear to be a plethora of porcupines in the proximity of the populous pines in the tract (Porcupines have a passion for pines). There is also much evidence of deer in the area ... to see these I recommend hiking in the early morning or late evening , when they are more active.

The trail is short, only 800m, and is very easy with are only mild elevation changes. The path is isolated to the NW side of the property. The SE section appears to be predominantly a cedar swamp so I'd bring bug spray if I were to do this route in the spring or early summer.

I visited this area to find a geocache that is hidden in the north side of the property. It wasn't in very good shape, it had gotten wet, so I'm not sure if it will be repaired or removed.

For history buffs there is evidence of prior human usage on the property. Rock walls and rock piles are scattered about ... perhaps the area was farmed at some point. The rocky soil and swampy conditions must have made that difficult.

Click here for pictures of the Acton Tract.





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Cox Tract - Halton Regional Forest

The Cox Tract, just north of Milton, is one of 14 forest tracts owned and operated by the Region of Halton. The fact this tract is caught betwixt two quarry pits (try saying that ten times fast) means noise from the machinery might be a problem should one visit during working hours. Weekends, though, should be quieter. I was there on a Sunday and the only sounds were my footsteps in the snow, and the occasional hullabaloo of scurrying squirrels.

Tall pines.

As of March 2012 there is no parking area for the Cox Tract ... I had to park at the Britton Tract (about 350m north on 6th Line). Once on the trail proper the walk is very light with few elevation changes. The path starts at the southern edge of the property and weaves to the (almost) northern edge. An access road has been built through the property to unite the two quarry pits, as a result passage to the extreme northern end of the forest is not available from this entrance.

The entire path is 1.45km and is one way. You must retrace your path to get back to the parking area making the entire route 2.9km.




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