YRF Hall & Eldred King (McCowan Rd)

COORDINATES:
Terrain:
Difficulty:

YRF Hall & Eldred King (McCowan Rd)

Situated in the Oak Ridge Moraine, much of the surface consists of low hills interspersed with hollows or kettles.

Hall Tract: Located to the east off of the 7th Concession, the tract is 84.6 ha in size. The tract contains a variety of conifer plantations and natural forest with some open areas and young plantation on the eastern edge. This tract also has some interesting and steep terrain in portions. The conifer plantations were established in 1934, 1949, and 1951.

Situated in the Oak Ridge moraine, much of the Eldred King Woodland surface consists of hummocky hills along with hollows or kettles. The hills are made up of sandy and gravelly materials with underlying clay which protrudes to form high ridges. There are very few surface streams as any water moves under the surface. Hawks and scarlet tanagers are among the many birds that can be seen in the wooland where sugar maples and beech trees make up most of the hardwood forest while white pines are dominant in sandy areas. Red Oaks are also common in some areas while white birch thrive in some of the newer forests. The moraine is situated just north of the Carolinian life zone.

The Black River in York Regional Municipality, Ontario originates in the Oak Ridges Moraine and flows north to empty into Lake Simcoe. Agriculture is the most important use of the land in this river’s watershed. In the spring, the water levels are high enough to allow pleasant canoeing and kayaking trips from Sutton. Bird viewing is excellent in April. However in the Eldred King Woodlands, the Black River (one of 6 rivers with this name in Ontario) is very small and intermittent. 

Trail Map

Meeting Place/Parking:
Meet at parking lot 1 km north of Aurora Rd on the east side of McCowan Rd.