Wainfleet Bog Trail

Hike along the established, unmarked trails in the Wainfleet Bog. But be sure to wear hightop shoes and bring a compass and map! This site is a provincially significant wetland known as a bog. This bog wetland contains partially decomposed plant material. Near the centre of the site, sphagnum moss is covered by low shrubs and plants. At the edge is an upland forest bog. This bog ecosystem was much larger and began as an open water area over 12,000 years ago. Water ponded in the low flat land behind the adjacent Onondaga Escarpment, which prevented surface water from draining south to Lake Erie.

Over time this open water area filled in, as plants died and more plants grew. Due to the underlying saturated conditions the bog remains an acidic environment with low nutrients. The result is a domed bog with unique plants able to withstand the acidic and low nutrient site conditions. This Conservation Area also helps to protect habitat of national, provincial and local significance. A number of unique plants and animals flourish here, as does a large forested area and shrub areas to house deer and migrating birds and butterflies. Historical information on climate trends and plant communities are also described through the site's peat layers. Today, the Wainfleet Bog Conservation protects and enhances these features, with past peat extractive areas being rehabilitated to more natural conditions.

Directions: From Toronto take the QEW towards Niagara. Exit 57 at Victoria Ave/ Regional Road 24 in Vineland Turn right onto the service road and left onto Victoria Ave at the traffic lights Follow Victoria Ave to Chambers Corners where Victoria Ave turns into Hwy #3 Continue South along Hwy #3 At the "tee" intersection turn left and continue along Hwy #3 Turn Left (North) onto Erie Peat Road. Follow Erie Peat Road to the Bog entrance. Information provided by the Niagara Conservation website.

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