Here is another edition of a review for local conservation areas in the Quinte Region. My entire crew was with me again on this adventure to Vanderwater. The map in the link is currently the older map as this conservation area is up for some trail re-routing. Please note that this is a hike at your own risk until the trails are updated. We have been here many times, so we are very familiar with the trail system.
This conservation is 257 hectare (635 acre) and is located 3 km east of Thomasburg off Highway 37, at 512 Vanderwater Road. There is plenty of parking and at any point you may see one car, or many cars. Today there were lots of vehicles when we arrived. This area also hosts a scout camp and multiple cabins, so you may even see youth groups entering or exiting the conservation area on your travels. That was the case today when we arrived. There was a group just leaving and packing up their vehicles from a weekend spent on the property.
Today we took the blue trail until we hit the intersection by the scout camp, walked through the scout camp to the lower side of the green trail, then the lower part of the red trail until you get to the road. Then we took the road back to the parking lot.
We have hiked the entire outer and inner loops of this conservation area at different times. There is actually about 15km of trails to hike. This area is a great for biking, which we have done in the summer, and Dan has biked here in the winter on his new fat bike.
At the start of the hike, the parking lot was really icy from all the rain and warm weather we have had. It was important to make sure that we had the proper gear for today. In my most recent Explore Gear Box, I received a pair of ice crampons. They were heavy duty with some major spikes! I was in love. I really do not like walking on ice that much as I have fallen a few times as a kid and broken my arms, so I was happy to have another pair, and one that was so awesome.
Dan had bought a pair at Costco, which we realize with his big feet they were a bit of a challenge to get on his boots! Hayden was then using my pair of Yaktrax. We were glad that we all had these on our feet. As you can see in the pictures, the trails were super icy. I don’t know how the other people on these trails were walking, probably very carefully!
The section of the green trail we took brought us along a little pond. Unfortunately with no rocks, Hayden didn’t get a chance to throw any to try to break the ice. Another one of his favorite things to do when we hike and find a body of water (or ice in this case).
These trails go up and down, and on this major up section I was happy to have the crampons. I was able to easily scale the ice surface. My boys however, had to try to walk on the side where there was some soft snow.
This is where our adventure got interesting. There was where we saw a guy carrying a snowboard up the hill. Now, normally on a nice winter day, where there is lots of snow, I wouldn’t think any of this. The trails are great for going down on some sort of a device like a snowboard, sled, your butt, whatever… But with this ice, it surely wasn’t the best idea right?
Well he tried, and almost succeeded. I did stay to watch his attempt because he was not wearing a helmet, and since I do have first aid training, I figured better safe than sorry for this guy. He made it part way down before he had to resort to his butt to slide the remainder of the way. I think his ideal plans of boarding for the day were foiled.
As I mentioned before that this area has a scout camp, below is a shelter that was made by a group at some point. Good survival skills to learn.
We passed many people on the trails, lots of lovely “hello” “nice day” etc comments. It is nice to see so many people getting outside and enjoying what this area has to offer. Not only are there views of the valley where the Moira river flows, but there are neat rock formations like the one below. I wonder what creatures hide in here?
If you do get a chance to visit this area, I recommend a stop at Vanderwater Conservation Area. Again, this is a place we visit at all times of the year. The river is beautiful in the summer to wade and swim in the small pools that form, the fall offers beautiful colors, the winter, as you see just as magical!!
Thank you for reading!