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* Swayze Falls Trail *
Old Trees
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This has got to be the strangest tree I have ever seen. The bark is gnarly and twisty yet very strong. The trunk on this tree is a good 3 feet in diameter.
A lands and forestry expert suggested to me, after seeing this picture, that this is a shagbark hickory tree probably over 200 years old. Amazing!!
Apparently the tree trunk expands and contracts to the water table and twists the bark similar to human hands getting wrinkly after a long bath.
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* Central Kiosk *
Trail Intersection
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At the center of the provincial park is a kiosk with a map of the area. All the marked trails intersect or start from this point. As you can see, the ground is wet. We chose not to ride this day because it's just bad bike etiquette when it's soft and muddy.
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* Discovery Trail *
Hiking Foot Path
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Short Hills has a number of narrow spur trails designated for hiking only. The paths are ecologically fragile and not all that well-travelled, making it an enjoyable adventure. As you can see, the wild flowers are everywhere and in bloom.
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* Black Walnut Trail *
Single Track
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Black Walnut Trail winds along the bottom of the valley of the park with a killer climb at either end.
The terrain constantly changes along this trail going from hard pack to root sections to twisty loose rock sections to log-bridged mud bogs.
Unlike other areas, this park does need at least 2-3 days to dry-out after a steady rain. Some sections are very marshy and tend to pool water.
The riding here is very different and worth the drive. I will leave it at that for you to discover.
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Short Hills Provincial Park, St. Catherines
