Split Rock Narrow Nature Reserve

I knew someone who volunteered by helping maintain the Bruce Trail. His role was helping to maintain the trail system. He had just left Split Rock Narrows Nature Reserve after he removed a tree that fell. He recommended this site and the very next day I brought Charlene to it. We were very impressed. We came during the blooming season of the trilliums and there had to be thousands. The white flower could be seen in almost every part of this nature reserve. It is called Split Rock after the natural features of the area but it could have easily rivaled Trillium Woods Provincial Park (LINK TO OTHER POST) with the sheer volume of the white provincial flowers.

From the parking lot, there is a climb up a long, moderately sloped hill. It took us about 15 minutes before we reached the area that we came to see. We are presented with an amazing view of the countryside and the first of the crevices. The trilliums and other spring flowers where so apparent. We were impressed immediately and wondered why we had not been here sooner. It has been on the list of places to visit and is relatively close to home.

Charlene and I discovered the joy of hiking only a couple of years ago. It is hard to believe that something that is so simple and so readily available took us so long to do it. We live in an area of so much natural beauty that we took it for granted and never considered it. Hiking with a purpose – what we call a hike to some destination, be it a falls, cave or view or something, are our favourite hikes; we do want to see something spectacular after trekking through the woods. What was the destination for us here was the view and the crevices and the bonus was the flowers.

Split Rock Narrows is along the Niagara Escarpment is the reason why it is splitting is because erosion is trying to make it fall off the cliff. It seems to be an exceedingly slow process and does create these interesting fissures that are easy enough to get down into thanks to thousands of previous visitors and years of debris. CAUTION still needs to be exercised since this is a natural setting and it is all too easy to get hurt with a careless step.

As we went from one crevice to another, each with its own character, we were constantly being distracted by the trilliums. Having been to Trillium Woods Provincial Park the week earlier, we did try to find ones that had the unique green colouring but this was absent in this area. There also seemed to be almost no red trilliums either. Still, beautiful be it the view, the crevices, the trees or the flowers.

***Sr 7 and 8****

There was one ugly moment – snake! I hate snakes. (LINK TO ARTICLE) I have hated snakes since my childhood where I live in the snake capital of the world. Whenever I see one, it really ruins my trip. Fortunately, Charlene was ahead of me since I was taking pictures, she scared up a monstrous garter snake that was at least two feet long! I was able to stay safely away but did not enjoy being it is presence. I should have guessed there would have been snakes. This is an area filled with cracked rocks which is perfect for snakes to shelter in the winter. Being springtime, it is only natural that these creatures would come out of the rock and cross my path. We are, in fact, invading their home.

There would be another snake encounter when some young boy was trying to figure out how to pick one up. Picking up garter snakes, or any snake is not a good idea. It is a very terrifying moment for them and it is thought that if you handle a snake too long, it dramatically shortens its life. Garter snakes are considered the most benign snake to encounter but they will bite. Their bite is mild and not considered to be dangerous but you don't know if you are allergic or not. And if they pee on you, it is like getting sprayed by a skunk. Gross.

Having passed the snake, I quickly forgot of the encounter and found even more crevices to go into and more flowers to see. It really is a beautiful location and one that is worth the time and effort to drive to and explore.

As we were coming to the end, I was able to take a picture of Charlene behind a huge patch of trilliums, and Charlene, ever vigilant on the shape of the heart, found one in a tree. I really do appreciate when she finds these shapes because it means she is enjoying the trip and our time together.

This place is very popular and we got a parking spot just in time. Even though the lot has doubled in size recently, it did fill up by the time we returned to the car. We intend to return during the fall colours. Places like these are great in that they are always different throughout the year and throughout the years.

Located just north of Mono Cliffs Provincial Park. Some use this parking lot to access Mono Cliff when their lot is full. Google Maps search: Split Rock Narrows. Roads to it are dirt but wide and well maintained.