Ken Reid Conservation Area is a wonderful place for a winter outing. Many come for Howlers Corners off-leash dog park and as many for the network of trails. Though the trails are not groomed, they are popular enough that there is no issue with getting bogged down in snow. The community interest at Ken Reid is evident, and there is always life, even on a winter day. On both boardwalks, the chickadees are so friendly that you can feed them out of your hand (it is evident that many people do!) Following the trails through the woods, there are a lot of interesting things to see along the way, including a great chance of seeing a white-tailed deer.

A beautiful day for a walk on McLaren’s Creek. Many snowmobilers venture from the rail trail out onto Sturgeon Lake.

Is that a cedar knot, or a crocodile’s eye?

A chickadee pauses for a moment on a cedar spray…

Before long it is time to take off, chickadees do not pause for long.

The chickadees are so friendly, they often come right up to visit. A chickadee taking off from its perch atop of ski-poles.

A cedar trunk that looks rather like a gargoyle.

Doesn’t it look like a fairy might live in this cedar stump?

On a cold winter’s day, the pine needles along the way look almost blueish…

And the sap oozing from this pine knot looks almost like the tree is weeping.

Paper birch bark is always unique.

We see them every day, but rarely stop to appreciate the intricacy of sumac drupes. In some countries they are used to produce spices and dyes.

Sun setting over McLaren’s Creek, means we’ll have to come back another day.