A Lasting Legacy
One of the remarkable aspects of creating nature reserves is how often the people involved are motivated by a desire to remember and honour members of their family. The Kris Starr Sanctuary on Monck Road near Sebright is no exception; for Bill and Molly Starr, this 100-acre reserve is a fitting way to remember their late son Kris, who was only in his twenties when cancer tragically carried him away.
By all accounts, Kris was a remarkable young man – a wilderness guide in Algonquin, a rising star in lumberjack competitions, a person of a wide diversity of interests and enthusiasms. So, how fitting that the Kris Starr Sanctuary is a property of great natural diversity and fine ecological qualities; acre for acre, likely the most diverse of any Conservancy reserve.
At its south end, the Sanctuary takes in a small piece of the Carden Alvar, and the steep limestone slope created by the rough caress of the glaciers. At the foot of this slope, the Head River meanders across the reserve, its spring floods nourishing a rich floodplain forest. Beyond that is a band of mixed forest of oak, pine and birch on pockets of drier soils. But the northern half of the Sanctuary, north of Monck Road, is classic granite barrens with scattered trees and a mosaic of beaver ponds and wetlands. All on this one property, the ecological transition known as The Land Between is fully on display.
As might be expected, such diverse habitats shelter a great diversity of species – moose and bear, otters and weasels, even uncommon insects such as the Clear-winged Sphinx Moth that is often mistaken for a hummingbird. At the landscape level, this property provides a vital link between Queen Elizabeth II Provincial Park just to the north, and the Carden Alvar to the south. The Couchiching Conservancy helps protect more than 6,000 acres of significant land within the Carden area.
Location
The Kris Starr Sanctuary is located along County Road 45, also known as Monck Road, between Sebright and Uphill. A management plan has been developed and public access to this property is permitted.
Nature Reserve Etiquette:
• Use at your own risk
• Pedestrian traffic only
• Dogs must be on a leash at all times
• Do not take from the forest
• Leave no trace
Link to trail map: https://couchichingconserv.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/The-Kris-Starr-Sanctuary.pdf
2oldguyswalking website has a short review of this trail, with map and images. Go here to read this review.
The Kris Starr Sanctuary has just one of the many nature trails and hiking trails you can find throughout Ontario by using the search features of OntarioNaturetrails.com
Region(s): Kawartha Lakes | Simcoe CountyNearby towns and cities: Orillia
Kris Starr Sanctuary characteristics
Length: 1.3 km of looped trailsDifficulty: Moderate (Trail classifications)
Trail surface: Natural
Trail use: Hiking
Accessibility Notes: Not wheelchair accessible
Fees: none
Flora & Fauna:
As might be expected, such diverse habitats shelter a great diversity of species – moose and bear, otters and weasels, even uncommon insects such as the Clear-winged Sphinx Moth that is often mistaken for a hummingbird.
Amenities: none
Attractions: none
Contact:
The Couchiching Conservancy 705-326-1620
Find it: 17 Turner Rd, Sebright, ON L0K 1W0
GPS Coordinates (main trailhead):
Latitude: 44.7234630
Longitude: -79.0466560