The Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve in Winter

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With an expansive collection of well-maintained trails, many of them graveled and smooth, the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve offers an easy place to still enjoy the outdoors, even in inclement weather.  We spent a rainy afternoon exploring the Vedder Rotary Trail East Loop, and managed to still come home with our toes dry! 

To take the East Loop trail, follow the Centre Trail to the end and take a left. This new trail takes you through the woods, past our “forest friends” (see photos), under the train tracks and along the Vedder River.  There is a small, woodland trail that runs along the Vedder Rotary Trail at some point, but for the sake of dry feet, we stayed on the Rotary Trail.  To get back to the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve  (GBHNR) you can cut through the parking lot and take the North Dyke Trail back, or turn around and head back along the same route.  This loop is about 3.6 km and took us about an hour to complete.

Explore the nature reserve through their map online or download it before you head out on the trail!

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The GBHNR has an Interpretive Centre, gift shop and washroom run by volunteers. There are also outhouses available along the Rotary Trail, in case you’ve missed the hours they are open. The GBHNR also runs education programs, tours and has no admission fees.

Though home to over 95 nests, the Great Blue Herons don’t nest until the end of February/early March (GBHNR, 2015).

With a lookout tower and various blinds, the nature reserve a great place to see herons, ducks, birds, frogs and other wildlife, as well as a popular place for photographers and for family photos!  The GBHNR Society also runs some fantastic educational programs that we have experienced first-hand.  

Be sure to visit their website to view their hours, programs, trail maps and blue heron info.