At first, I thought Google was wrong. It rarely happens, but was my trusty Google Maps leading me to the wrong location?
There have been three times when I wondered what Google was thinking. I would find myself down a “road” that was barely a snowmobile trail or to places that no longer exist or ever existed. I thought this was another time when Google was more lost than I was.
I was wrong, not Google. It just was an odd setting for a natural area.
We had entered North Bay and were about to make our second stop on our trip to Alaska and back. Initially, I had planned on visiting a waterfall at this time, but since I had done it with my wife and mother a few weeks before, we might as well visit someplace new today.
The route I was on toward Laurier Woods Conservation Area was through the industrial area of North Bay. It felt so out-of-place for a hiking area, but Google was right in leading me here. We would learn that one of the key perks of Laurier Woods Conservation Area was that it was preserved because it was in an industrial area and it was too valuable to be filled in for more industry.
I appreciated that.
The wildlife that we encountered also appreciated that.
Laurier Woods Conservation Area is an easy-to-hike location. The trails are maintained, and there are interesting geological features to look for. I was interested in the glacial erratic and glacial striations; everything else was an added bonus.
We arrived still very early. It was July 1, Canada Day and a holiday for most people. The city had few people moving about, and much of the industry was closed. This made it peaceful when we visited the large pond. The video is of the sounds of nature while we stood there. Neither of us could ever spot the frogs making the noise, but listening to the chorus was a wonderful experience. After all, travel is supposed to be about the experiences made.
We would walk on the longest of the trails, making a complete circuit to the parking lot. Other than the few features to find, it doesn’t offer much in unique sights. What is unique is that it is a forested area in the middle of a large city that looks and feels like something that is hundreds of kilometres away. For those who dwell there, it is an easy place to reconnect with nature and escape the human trappings that grip our lives. If I was in North Bay, I could see myself walking it regularly.
- Laurier Woods Conservation Area is a free site to visit.
- There is ample parking
- There are a few trails to follow.
- To find this and all the other locations we have visited, check out Featured Map for directions on how to get here.
- We spent about an hour here. This would make a perfect exercise break on a larger trip like our trip to Alaska (Map here).
