Kearney Lake Entrance to BMBCL Trails

Trailhead:

This trailhead is closed! Saskatoon Dr.  GPS N 44° 41.509'  W 063° 41.616'

Use the entrance on Colins Road

Terrain and Surface:
A rugged 2.5-km woodland path, with steep ridges, borders the lake in places; no winter maintenance.

Parking/Bus Route:
Parking is no longer available at Maskwa Aquatic Club and there is no pakring along Saskatoon drive where signs indicate; Bus Routes: Visit the Halifax Transit Website for up-to-date routes and schedules.

Rating:
This trail rated  Moderate Plus.

Description:

This woodland trail splits into two. The right trail follows the southern shore of Kearney Lake. Straight ahead, the trail meanders up a series of granite ridges to Charlies Lake. The two trails connect several 100m’s from the trailhead. This is a public access point to the Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area (since 2009).

Kearney Lake Trails offers hikers the choices of walking Maskwa Loop or Popcorn Island Loop that feature the beauty of Kearney Lake and its woodlands. Kearney Lake is the home of Maskwa Aquatic Club; the lake is in active use about 10 months of the year and hikers often see International and Canadian champions training.

A longer hike with more challenging terrain, hikers can enjoy the trail to Charlies Lake Loop, enjoy the Charlie’s Lake Look off or climb Paddlers Ridge with the reward of seeing Charlies’ and Kearney lakes at your feet from the top. In the spring hikers enjoy the many wildflowers in bloom including Lady's Slipper, Mayflower, Trillium, Pitcher Plant and native orchids. With a wide variety of birds, this series of trails is great for eager bird watchers who don’t mind the climb up the steep slopes.

In the summer many hikers cool off in the waters of either lake. In the fall the leaves change colour on Paddlers Ridge. In the winter Maskwa’s Loop and Popcorn Island Loop trails continue to be well traveled and hikers and snowshoers share the wider trails.

Park in the Maskwa parking lot, 91 Saskatoon Drive, the trail head is found just to the left of the driveway to the Club House. For more information regarding Maskwa Aquatic Club go to www.maskwa.ca.

This series of well traveled unmarked looped, intersecting and linear trails are all rated Moderate Plus, experience in back country hiking and safety is a must for all hikers. The trail begins on provincial land leased by Maskwa Aquatic Club from DNR and enters into the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area about .7 km from the trail head.

There are many other unofficial trails in the area, and we commonly lead hikes in the area. Though HNWTA does not steward this trail, we have been supporting the creation of a regional park in this area. Show your support for this park by becoming a member of the Friends of Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Society at www.bluemountainfriends.ca.

Trail Map

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Google Map

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