March Break in Turkey Point, Ontario

If you had asked me last week what I thought of when you said “Turkey Point”, I would have said boats, motorcycles and parties on the beach. After last week however, I have a new appreciation of the area and am looking forward to returning often.
Taking advantage of an unseasonably warm and sunny March break and a very generous sister and brother-in-law, we travelled to Turkey Point for a few days of R & R. It felt like we had the town to ourselves and when not catching up on my reading or strolling the beach, I was able to take advantage of some incredible hiking and experience seeing a large amount of wildlife, especially for this time of year. The birds around our cottage were plentiful and we woke daily to the sound of woodpeckers and a variety of songbirds as they too were starting their day. The beach area was very quiet and with beautiful sunrises coming up over the water made for a perfect spot for my morning coffee.

Stopping in at Long Point Eco-Adventures, I was impressed with the interesting hiking trails that they had and the unbelievable volume of birds that inhabit the area. This destination is a popular one in the summer and features zip-lining and kayaking as well as other activities. In the offseason it is closed with the exception of the trails, which can be visited free of charge. Leaving the parking lot and walking past the pond, there was lots of activity with turtles and leopard frogs sunning themselves and red-wing blackbird flying overhead. Entering the woods at the top of the Acorus Boardwalk trail, the trees were so full of blackbirds, it sounded like we were approaching a waterfall. The boardwalk itself is really nice and provides a spectacular view of the Turkey Point Marsh. This area is rich with waterfowl, herons and even bald eagles that can be spotted here. The property of Long Point Eco-Adventures borders the St Williams Conservation Reserve and walking along the Carolinian Trail, you get a pretty neat perspective of this beautiful area. Trails also enter this reserve from Front Road as well as from Turkey Point Road. I hiked a number of these trails and found each of them to be very worthwhile. Environmentally, The St. Williams Conservation Reserve is an important area in that its forests, oak savannah, sand dunes, ravines, wetlands, and streams are home to 23 species at risk, which includes 7 plant, 1 insect, 1 amphibian, 12 bird and 2 mammal species.I spent hours exploring this area and have already planned a return visit this summer. With the prospect of adding zip lining and kayaking to the experience, I have a family that is sharing my enthusiasm and a new appreciation for Turkey Point.