Blog

Exploring ZEC Dumoine and area around

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Ottawa Valley Chapter (CPAWS-OV) will organize an event in the area of ZEC Dumoine and Grand Chute in southwestern Quebec. This wilderness area, which is managed by local communities, is attractive in any season of the year due to the beauty of natural landscapes and the richness of pristine biodiversity typical for Canadian boreal forests. If you are interested to explore Dumoine, please, contact us for details. The events will take place on Saturday – August 26 and Sunday – August 27.

On Saturday, August 26, we’ll organize a hike from Grand Chute at ZEC Dumoine to Robinson Lake around 1:00 pm. Executive Director of CPAWS-OV – John McDonnell – will talk about forests and conservation. We will talk also about the biodiversity of this wilderness area, including mushrooms. On Sunday, we will organize excursions to various places for nature enthusiasts, including canoe trips on Dumoine from Robertson Lake to Red Pine Rapids and walking along the stream in the Rapids area for nature exploration as well as mushroom identification. This place is very rich in both the variety of mushroom species and their abundance. If you are interested in the trip and would like to join, please communicate with us in advance.

CPAWS-OV will provide dinner in the evening in the area of our camp for all participants of our excursions.

Place and Subject of the Excursions:

The ZEC Dumoine is a controlled harvesting zone (Zone d’exploitation controlee – ZEC). It is located in the administrative region of the Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. You have the opportunity to come for a day on Saturday or for one or two nights as preferred.  We’ll have a number of various excursions including trips to Grand Chute – a picturesque waterfall with exciting rapids, we’ll visit also a place near Robertson Lake, Stevens Pond, and other interesting areas that to see the scenic landscapes and pristine nature.

After arrival to Swisha, you need to register at ZEC Dumoine Visitor Center for ZEC Rapides-des-Joachims Registration fees are 12$ per car. If you want to do the hike at Grande Chute, you will have to pay a second $12.00 car fee for that ZEC. It is better to have a four-wheel drive car to reach the area at Grand Chute and around, so if you plan to visit Robinson Lake, please, register at both ZECs.

There is an opportunity for carpooling from Ottawa on Friday afternoon – August 25 for 2 people.

Dress:

Watch for the weather forecast and be prepared accordingly. For the trip you will need a sleeping bag and a tent, as well as warm clothes, and a pair of changeable shoes – shoes should be good for hiking on the trails. In addition, you need to bring sunscreen and insect repellent. If you are planning to join the canoe trip, it is advisable to bring your own life jacket. We have a few vests there, but not enough. We also need to know the number of people who will join in order to organize food, hiking, and leisure activities. It will be good to have swimming suites. You need also to have headlamps for the evening.

Mushroom Identification Tour in Ottawa Valley

On Sunday, August 20,  we are going to explore some places around Ottawa with our traditional mushroom identification tour.  We learn how to identify mushrooms and know some basic rules related to their search and picking up. Please, confirm your participation. We’ll meet at Hazeldean Mall at 9:00 am near the big board with the address “300 Eagleson Rd.” From the mall, we’ll drive together to the place of our excursion. The exact place of the excursion will be identified to the end of this week.

Place and Subject of the Excursion:

We will stop in several places to explore the area and search for mushrooms. We’ll learn how to identify mushrooms, places where we can pick up mushrooms, and just enjoy the trip to the forest in a beautiful area. We’ll talk also about the diversity of mushrooms in Ottawa Valley and about other forest creatures we’ll be able to spot.

We recommend carpooling from Ottawa. I will be able to take 3 passengers to my car.

Dress:

Watch for the weather forecast and be prepared accordingly. For the trip, you will need a pair of good shoes for hiking along the trails. Do not forget sunscreen and insect repellent. You also need to take water and a light snack.

Guided mushroom identification tour to Gatineau area

This is a guided tour for mushroom enthusiasts on Sunday, August 13. We’ll explore several places in the Gatineau area (crown land) that to see a diversity of mushrooms at this time of the year.  We learn how to identify mushrooms and know some basic rules related to their search and picking up. Please, confirm your participation. We’ll meet at Parking 17 in Gatineau Park at 9:30 am (this is the exit to Wakefield from Highway 5). From there, we’ll drive together to the places of our excursion.

Place and Subject of the Excursion:

We will stop in several places to explore the area and search for mushrooms. We’ll learn how to identify mushrooms, places where we can pick up mushrooms, and just enjoy the trip to the forest in a beautiful area. We’ll talk also about the diversity of mushrooms in Ottawa Valley and about other forest creatures we’ll be able to spot.

We recommend carpooling from Ottawa because the area is at a distance of more than 100 km. I will be able to take 3 passengers to my car.

Dress:

Watch for the weather forecast and be prepared accordingly. For the trip, you will need a pair of good shoes for hiking along the trails. Do not forget sunscreen and insect repellent. You also need to take water and a light snack.

Guided Mushroom Identification Tour to Madawaska Area

On Saturday, August 19,  we are going to explore several places in Madawaska Highlands with our traditional mushroom identification tour.  We learn how to identify mushrooms and know some basic rules related to their search and picking up. Please, confirm your participation. We’ll meet at Hazeldean Mall at 9:00 am near the big board with the address “300 Eagleson Rd.” From the mall, we’ll drive together to the place of our excursion.

The area of Madawaska Highlands in Central Ontario can be characterized by rolling hills and forests with streams, lakes, and small waterfalls, typical for Canadian Shield. This area was explored by Samuel de Champlain, the first European explorer. He visited the area in 1615 with the assistance of local indigenous communities – Huron Indigenous People.

Place and Subject of the Excursion:

We will stop in several places to explore the area and search for mushrooms. We’ll learn how to identify mushrooms, places where we can pick up mushrooms, and just enjoy the trip to the forest in a beautiful area. We’ll talk also about the diversity of mushrooms in Ottawa Valley and about other forest creatures we’ll be able to spot.

We recommend carpooling from Ottawa because the area is at a distance of more than 100 km. I will be able to take 3 passengers to my car.

Dress:

Watch for the weather forecast and be prepared accordingly. For the trip, you will need a pair of good shoes for hiking along the trails. Do not forget sunscreen and insect repellent. You also need to take water and a light snack.

Camping in Dumoine Area

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Ottawa Valley Chapter (CPAWS-OV) has organized an art camp in the area of ZEC Dumoine and Grand Chute in southwestern Quebec. This wilderness area, which is managed by local communities, is attractive in any season of the year due to the beauty of natural landscapes and the richness of pristine biodiversity typical for Canadian boreal forests. If you are interested to explore Dumoine, please, contact us for details. The event will take place between August 2 and 8, but you can come for a day or several days to know more about CPAWS-OV activities and visit several amazing places.

We will organize excursions to various places for nature enthusiasts, including canoe trips, birdwatching and nature exploration excursions as well as mushroom identification tours. This place is very rich in both the variety of mushroom species and their abundance. If you are interested in the trip and would like to join, please communicate with us in advance.

Place and Subject of the Excursion:

The ZEC Dumoine is a controlled harvesting zone (Zone d’exploitation controlee – ZEC). It is located in the administrative region of the Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. You have the opportunity to come for a week or just for one or two nights as preferred.  We’ll have a number of various excursions including trips to Grand Chute – a picturesque waterfall with exciting rapids, we’ll visit also a place near Robertson Lake, Stevens Pond, and other interesting areas that to see the scenic landscapes and pristine nature.

After arrival to Swisha, you need to register at ZEC Dumoine Visitor Center for ZEC Rapides-des-Joachims Registration fees are 12$ per car. If you want to do the hike at Grande Chute, you will have to pay a second $12.00 car fee for that ZEC, but we can take you up there in the truck on Saturday or Sunday, so perhaps just have one of the cars capable of driving that road (to Robinson Lake) register at both ZECs.

There is an opportunity for carpooling from Ottawa on August 3 (evening) or 4 -morning (2 places).

Dress:

Watch for the weather forecast and be prepared accordingly. For the trip you will need a sleeping bag and a tent, as well as warm clothes, and a pair of changeable shoes – shoes should be good for hiking on the trails. In addition, you need to bring sunscreen and insect repellent. If you are planning to join the canoe trip, it is advisable to bring your own life jacket. We have a few vests there, but not enough. We also need to know the number of people who will join in order to organize food, hiking, and leisure activities. It will be good to have swimming suites. You need also to have headlamps for the evening.

Guided Tour to Purdon Conservation Area

Did you see the most stunning Lady’s Slipper in Ottawa Valley? If not, join us for the nature-guided tour to Purdon Conservation Area. At the end of June, the time of blooming for one of the most beautiful and attractive orchids starts. This is a Snowy Lady Slipper orchid. In Ottawa Valley, the species may be found in several places, but the most expressive is a colony of the Purdon Conservation Area. According to a recent assessment around 16,000 plants grow in this Conservation Area. The orchids were discovered in the 1930s by the local farmer Joe Purdon, who protected the natural habitat and literally ensured the conservation of this rare orchid in Ontario. Besides, there are many other interesting plants and animals inhabiting this unique bog, surrounded by upland forests. We’ll be able to explore the area on the trail with a length of about 2 km and stop in several places: on the boardwalk with a colony of orchids, near a wetland, and in the upland forest to observe and recognize animals and plants inhabiting different ecosystems.

We have two meeting options: in the parking lot of the Hazeldean Mall in front of Eagleson Road at 8 am (drive to Purdon Conservation Area is about one hour) or at the lower parking near the boardwalk to the colony at Purdon Conservation Area at 9:00 – 9:15 am. Please let us know if you intend to join the tour and at what location.

After the visit to the area, we’ll be able to see several more interesting places located close to Middleville and Almonte.

How to dress?

Please, watch the weather forecast to be prepared for a trip. You will need comfortable clothes and good light sportive shoes for the trip.

What else might be needed?

It will be great to have your cameras and binoculars for nature observation. Please, take water and light snacks: there are several picnic areas where we can stop to rest. There are many mosquitoes at the bog at any time of the day: you need to have a bug spray. Also, it is good to have sunscreen.

Geology & Fossil Trail, Eganville Area

We are planning a trip to one of the most interesting places in the Ottawa River Valley. This place is called a Geoheritage Trail Walk (where you can see not only geological but also fossil artifacts of the Ordovician period). We will start our hike at the Bonnechere Museum, in the town of Eganville, where we’ll have a chance to know about the geological history of Ottawa Valley. During our walk along the Geoheritage Trail, we’ll pay attention not only to geology and fossils but also to the environment: birds, insects, and plants in the area. 

We have two meeting options: in the parking lot of the Hazeldean Mall in front of Eagleson Road at 8 am (drive to Eganville about 2 hours) or near the Bonnechere Museum in Eganville at 10 am. Please let us know if you intend to join the tour and at what location. We’ll visit first the Museum (admission fees are 5.00$ per adult and 2.5$ per kid). After hiking along the trail, those who wish can visit the famous Bonnechere caves that are located nearby. The one-hour tour to the caves costs from 14$ (children) to 22$ (adults). Excursions are organized by the staff of the caves every 20-30 minutes.

Place and Subject of the Excursion:

This is a new area to explore in Ottawa Valley. Please, register in advance.  We’ll have an opportunity to move into the geological history of Ottawa Valley and know about marine creatures that inhabited this area 430-510 million years ago. We’ll talk about evolution and the current challenges of nature conservation in Canada and in the World.

There is an opportunity for carpooling from Ottawa to Eganville (3-4 places).

Dress:

Watch for the weather forecast and be prepared accordingly: you need to have sports shoes to walk on the trails. If you plan to visit caves, you need to have a headlamp. Prepare sunscreen and mosquito spray. Take your sandwiches and water.

 

Guided Excursion to Lusk Cave in Gatineau Park

We invite families with kids for a guided tour of a Lusk Cave and the surrounding area in Gatineau Park. We’ll meet on Sunday, July 23, at the Parent Beach of the Philippe Lake section of the Park at 9:30 am. We’ll explore environmental things on the way to Lusk Cave. We’ll stop on our way to listen to birds and watch animal tracks. We’ll learn about the history of Gatineau Park, its biodiversity, animals, and plants that can be found here.  We’ll explore how to identify plants and listen to birds inhabiting Park in the breeding season. We’ll follow trails 50 and 54 to reach the Lusk Cave and explore the forest around. The total length of our hike is around 5-6 km.

Place and Subject of the Excursion:

Gatineau Park is an amazing place to explore at any time of the year.  We select well-known trails for our excursion, which should be interesting for kids and parents. Its length is about 5-6 km from the Parent Beach. We’ll stop many times to explore trees and flowers, listen to birds, and watch for animals. We’ll talk about animals and plants inhabiting Gatineau Park. Kids will have a chance to play ecological games.

There is an opportunity for carpooling from Ottawa (3-4 places). You have to pay for the parking in Gatineau Park. Parking fees are 13 CAD.

Dress:

Watch for the weather forecast and be prepared accordingly. It is expected a sunny day. It will be good to have swimming suites and rubber shoes to walk in the cave and swim in the lake after the excursion. You need also to have a headlamp to walk in the cave. Prepare sunscreen and mosquito spray. Take your sandwiches and water with you.

 

Guided Hike in the area around Almonte, Ottawa Valley

We invite nature enthusiasts to join us to explore several natural areas around Almonte. We hope to visit several types of habitats, including forest, agricultural and open ecosystems. We’ll be able to observe the unique alvar that to see a diversity of plant and animal species, many of which are provincially or regionally rare. Spring is one of the most interesting seasons for observation of natural life in the diversity of habitats. If you are interested to explore the new area, join us for a guided nature tour on Saturday, May 13. We’ll meet at the parking near Hazeldene Mall (at the entrance from Eagleson Rd.) at 9:00 am, where we’ll be able to carpool and leave our cars and continue our trip to several exciting places near Almonte.

How to dress?

Please, watch the weather forecast to be prepared for a trip. It is expected that it will be warm weather on Saturday, good for hiking. Perhaps, first mosquitoes will be already active. You will need comfortable clothes and good shoes for the trip.

What else might be needed?

It will be great to have your cameras and binoculars for nature observation. It is good also to take water and light snacks.

Guided hike to Dewberry Trail and Mer Bleue Bog

Mid of May is the most exciting time in Ottawa Valley. Most spring flowers are starting to bloom. Birds come back to nesting sites and occupy their individual territories. We organize a guided tour to Dewberry Trail and Mer Bleue area to observe spring flowers and other plants, and to see birds and other forest dwellers.  In mid of May, tamarack at Mer Bleue is covered by fresh tender needles, we’ll explore the bog and talk about its history and ecological role. If you are interested to know more about plants and animals in spring, join our hike on Sunday, May 14 at 9 am. We meet at the Parking on Dolman Ridge Rd. of Ottawa Greenbelt. After a hike along Dewberry Trail, we will drive to Mer Bleue – Parking 22 that to explore the bog area.

How to dress?

Please, watch the weather forecast to be prepared for a trip. It is expected that it will be warm weather on Sunday, good for hiking. Perhaps, first mosquitoes will be already active. You will need comfortable clothes and good shoes for hiking.

What else might be needed?

It will be great to have your cameras and binoculars for nature observation. It is good also to take water and light snacks.