H. N. Crossley Nature Reserve
Bruce Pond is a typical “eyed” bog, characterized by a moat-like zone of water around the outer edge; tree and shrub zones; an open sphagnum mat with pitcher plants, sundews and orchids; and open water in the middle. The setting for this is classic Canadian Shield with granite outcroppings and ridges shaping the elongated bog. The ground rises sharply away from the bog, except at the upper end where it drains into an area of mostly drowned larch and beaver meadows.
A sign marking the reserve can be seen on the right (south) side of Burgess Road. A trail into the reserve begins just east of the open wetland area (which can be seen from the road) and leads to an observation platform that gives you a fantastic view of the reserve.
Accessible Trail
H.N. Crossley Nature Reserve now features a 130-metre wheelchair-accessible trail that gives visitors a chance to explore a typical “eyed” bog: a landscape featuring the open-water “pupil” of Bruce Pond surrounded by a sphagnum mat “iris.” Made of crushed gravel, the trail leads to an accessible lookout platform over the bog and the surrounding Provincially Significant Wetland.
The wheelchair-accessible trail is the third such trail at an Ontario Nature reserve, the others being at the Petrel Point and Cawthra Mulock nature reserves.
Establishing the new trail was made possible through the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
Directions: Take Highway 632 south from the town of Rosseau. Approximately eight kilometres south of Rosseau, take a left onto Burgess Road. The reserve is located approximately three kilometres down this road, on the south (right) side just past Walkers Road on the left
We would also direct you to read our DISCLAIMER and our TRAIL USERS CODE.
Region(s): Parry Sound DistrictNearby towns and cities: MacTier | Port Carling | Rosseau
Trail feature tags: Accessible viewing platform | Bog
H. N. Crossley Nature Reserve characteristics
Length: trail length not knownDifficulty: Moderate (Trail classifications)
Trail surface: Natural
Trail use: Hiking
Partially wheelchair accessible
Accessibility Notes: Wheelchair accessible
Fees: none
Flora & Fauna:
Uncommon species found on the property is Virginia meadow-beauty, a plant generally found along the coastal plain of the Atlantic ocean south from Nova Scotia. Plants of this affinity make their limited and peculiar appearances in Ontario in the Muskoka and Parry Sound regions.
An abandoned beaver lodge is heavily overgrown and the beaver meadows themselves are now suitable for moose.
Amenities: none
Attractions: bog, viewing platform, interpretive signage
Contact:
info@ontarionature.org
Ontario Nature 1-800-440-2366, 416-444-8419
Find it: See directions in trail overview section
GPS Coordinates (main trailhead):
Latitude: 45.2250050
Longitude: -79.6458150