Points of Interest

Whether hiking, biking, or cross-country skiing the trail, a brochure has been designed by the EYC team that can be picked up at the three major access points. For your convenience, we have reproduced the points of interest from the brochure on this page. Each kilometre on the trail is marked with a post numbered on both sides. In the brochure, the first number represents kilometres from Simcoe and the second represents kilometres from Port Dover. Kilometres are also marked this way on the map.

Post 0/8

If you are near the Memorial Park entrance and you are looking for a little variety you have two options to look forward to. One, you can fork off onto the Simcoe walkway that will take you through Simcoe all the way to Highway 3. Two, you can check out the nature trails at Brook Conservation Area where you will find several picnic tables for a quick lunch and a bridge that lets you cross over the dam. For the history buff, there are the remnants of the Brook Woolen Mill which operated on this site from 1868 until 1885 when the business relocated to Victoria Street. The mill was powered by the Lynn river, a watershed stretching 27 kilometres from east of Windham Centre to the Port Dover harbour with an elevation drop of 69 metres.

Post 1/7

Take a seat on the bench between post 1/7 and 2/6 and let your imagination wander to a time when these trails were the property of the Lake Erie Northern Railway. This was an era when steam engines traveled this route, stopping to collect water from the hydrostatic water tower that once occupied the spot behind you. The water came from natural springs, by Decou Road, and although the tower is gone the spring that fed it is still flowing as you can see across from you. Stories are told of children climbing the tower to swim in the refreshing water until it was torn down in the mid-1950's. In the springtime the banks surrounding this area are covered with trilliums of white, pink, burgundy and red.

Post 2/6

As you cross the Robinson bridge, on one side stands a great weeping willow tree and on the other a large Manitoba maple. This species differs from other Canadian maples because it's leaves are divided, usually into three or seven leaflets to a stem. However, the clusters of maple keys make it easy to identify as a member of this family of trees. Some refer to the Manitoba maple as a "dirty tree" because of it's constant shedding of yellow leaves.

Post 3/5

Mother Nature knows that travelers on the Lynn Valley Trail can work up quite an appetite. To compensate for this she has provided a wide variety of wild berries for you to feast on. If you have been looking you may have noticed, wild raspberries, blackberries, elderberries, mulberries, strawberries, as well as crabapples and vines of grapes. Amongst these pleasant berries you may also spot honey suckles. These are small red berries that are found three or four to a stem. Although these berries are not poisonous, they are very bitter tasting .

Do not get honeysuckle confused with bane berries which are red berries found in clusters of twenty or more. These are the most poisonous berries in the area and should not be eaten. In contrast to bane berries, the clusters of white berries that you will find hanging on the red dogwood trees were once used by local natives for medicinal purposes and are not poisonous.

Post 4/4

Pausing at the fourth kilometre marker you will find yourself surrounded by tall, green, bamboo-like grass known as scouring rush or horsetail. Historically, this plant was used for scrubbing and polishing because of its silica content as well as its availability. This evergreen plant has underground stems that spread quickly, making it difficult to eradicate once established. The horsetail is poisonous to livestock, especially horses and cattle, causing the disease equisetosis. It is also deadly to overshadowing plant life, which it smothers and finally eradicates.

Post 5/3

Approaching Post 5/3 you will enter a canopy of Sumac for as far as the eye can see. Sumac is generally found in thickets and covered with velvet coniferous cones. The cones are a reddish colour on top in the spring and turn a bright scarlet with shades of crimson in the fall. The leaves of the sumac also turn beautiful colours in the autumn, making this a great place to pass through this time of year. Sumac cones can be crushed up and used as a dye, or mixed with sugar and water to make a delightful drink in the warm summer days.

If you are looking for refreshment while on the trail, a previous EYC team has contributed something for you: Stag horn Sumac-ade.

Post 6/2

All along the trail whether hovering overhead or perched on a branch, there are many different species of birds. If there is a small bright yellow bird with a black cap, wings, and tail dipping between the trees singing "tee-dee-di-di" you are looking at an American Goldfinch. The "happiest of birds" feeds on dandelions and thistle seeds and remains in the area throughout the winter. The unmistakable Red-winged Blackbird is pure black with red and yellow shoulders. In the spring and early summer it can be found feeding on insects making it very beneficial to humans. It can be easily identified by it's gurgling "konk-la-ree" as it raises its wings. Also be on the lookout for the Scarlet Tanager, Cardinal, Canada Geese, various ducks and many more.

Post 7/1

Whether you are finishing your journey or just beginning, you are near a prime example of local wetland. Here, the croaking bullfrogs sit on lily pads among the prominent display of cattails. Were you aware that these common weeds were once invaluable to native people? The young shoots were gathered in the spring and eaten the way we eat asparagus today. Later, the flower buds were picked, cooked and eaten like corn on the cob. Finally, when the seed heads were mature, they were opened and the down was collected to line sleeping bags.