Guided Hike Through Northumberland's Hidden Nature Reserves
Two nature sanctuaries. One day. Zero public access (until now)
Here's something most Torontonians don't know: about 90 minutes east of the city, tucked into the rolling hills of Northumberland County, there are 91-acre forests with mature hemlock and white pine that you literally cannot visit without special permission. The Haddon Nature Reserve, donated to the Northumberland Land Trust in 2025, is closed to drop-in visitors entirely. You need to email ahead, get approval, and somehow find your way to a gravel road outside the hamlet of Castleton.
Parkbus is partnering with the Northumberland Land Trust to open the gates to two of their reserves for a day of hiking and restorative time in nature, accompanied by three of the Trust's own naturalist guides.
Your morning starts at Lone Pine Marsh, a 138-acre provincially significant wetland near Colborne. This isn't a manicured boardwalk loop through a city park. It's a working conservation landscape where Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark (both threatened species in Ontario, with populations declining by a third in just ten years) still nest in the surrounding grasslands each summer. An active beaver dam anchors this classic Canadian landscape, and a large viewing deck overlooks the marsh itself, with walking trails winding through meadows and milkweed. Tree swallows loop overhead. Grey treefrogs call. There's a sheltered picnic area by the trailhead, which is where you'll eat the lunch you packed (more on that below).
After lunch, the bus carries you north into the Northumberland Hills to Haddon Nature Reserve, near Castleton. This is where the day gets quieter and wilder. Haddon is mostly older forest, threaded with small streams. The Little Cold Creek, a tributary of Cold Creek and an important brook trout stream, runs right through the property. Tall eastern hemlock and white pine filter light through their canopy into something that feels almost cathedral-like. The property sits in the glacially shaped drumlin landscape that gives this part of Ontario its distinctive rolling terrain. In contrast to our morning at the marsh, the Haddon reserve is reverent time with trees, in a rich and wild forest centred on wildlife and wildflowers, with humans as only occasional guests.
What the day looks like
- You'll hike through a marsh that protects some of Ontario's most vulnerable birds. Lone Pine Marsh was donated in 1991 by Murial Braham specifically to preserve this wetland and its surrounding habitat. Your guides from the Northumberland Land Trust give you the inside insights into the creatures that call this marsh home, and the land’s important role in conservation. Early May is spring migration time, and many different bird species may be observed. Water-loving birds paddle on the marsh, while iridescent tree swallows fly by.
- You'll eat lunch at a picnic shelter surrounded by meadow. Bring your own food, your own chair or blanket to sit on, and settle in. There's something genuinely restorative about eating outside in a place this quiet, with no parking lot hum, no highway drone. Just grass and wind and the occasional overhead raptor.
- You'll walk through a forest that almost nobody gets to see. Haddon Nature Reserve is not on any hiking app. It is open to the public only by reservation, and with advance permission from the Land Trust. You’ll get a guided tour of this special forest, teeming with diverse plant life and supporting an abundant variety of birds and mammals. You'll learn things about this landscape that you can't Google, because the information lives in the people who protect it.
- You'll be back in Toronto by evening. The bus picks up from Haddon at 4:30 PM and returns you to 34 Asquith Ave. You'll smell like forest and have birdsong in your ears. Your phone will be full of photos of trees you can't name yet (your guides will fix that). And you'll have spent an entire day in places that most Ontarians don't even know exist.
Your Guides
Leslie Abram
An avid birder and insect lover, Leslie Abram has been the property steward of Lone Pine Marsh since 2017. Spending as much time outside as she can, Leslie loves sharing the wonders of nature with others and coordinates and leads many of Northumberland Land Trust’s outings.
Doug McRae
A field biologist and founding member of the Ontario Field Ornithologists, Doug has worked extensively locally and internationally as a senior guide and field biologist. He currently teaches ornithology and wildlife observation skills at Fleming College.
Kate Hayday
Moving from the heart of downtown to a log cabin in the woods, Kate is a Toronto transplant and former Parkbus rider. She now leads walks, talks and workshops on everything from fungi and foraging for wild inks to reading animal tracks and sign.
Pickup Locations
Getting There
Where does the bus depart from?
The bus departs at 8:30 AM from 34 Asquith Ave, Toronto (near Bloor-Yonge station). This is Parkbus's standard downtown Toronto pickup point.
What time will I be back in Toronto?
The bus departs Haddon Nature Reserve at 4:30 PM. Expect to arrive back at 34 Asquith Ave by approximately 6:30 PM, depending on traffic.
What kind of bus is it?
A full-size coach bus with reclining seats, air conditioning, large windows, ample luggage storage, and an onboard washroom.
What's the route for the day?
The bus goes first to Lone Pine Marsh Braham Nature Reserve (237 Maple Grove Road, Colborne), where you'll hike and have lunch. It then takes you to Haddon Nature Reserve (509 Huycke Rd, Castleton) for the afternoon hike. You're picked up from Haddon at 4:30 PM for the return to Toronto.
The Hike
How difficult are the hikes?
These are guided nature walks, not backcountry scrambles. The terrain at Lone Pine Marsh is relatively flat with established trails through meadow and along the marsh edge. Haddon has some gentle hills and stream-side ravines typical of the Northumberland drumlin landscape. Expect uneven ground and natural trail surfaces. Comfortable hiking shoes or sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
Who leads the hikes?
Guides from the Northumberland Land Trust, the community-based conservation organization that owns and stewards both reserves. They care for over 2,275 acres of critical wildlife habitat across 19 nature reserves in Northumberland County. These are people who know every trail, every species, and every story behind the land.
How long are we at each reserve?
Approximately 3 hours at Lone Pine Marsh (arriving mid-morning, with time for hiking and lunch) and approximately 3 hours at Haddon Nature Reserve (afternoon hike with guided exploration).
Food & Facilities
Is lunch provided?
No. Bring your own lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. There is a sheltered picnic area at Lone Pine Marsh where you'll eat, but you should also bring something to sit on (a portable chair, sit pad, or blanket) as seating is limited.
Are there washrooms at the nature reserves?
There are no washroom facilities at either nature reserve. However, the coach bus has an onboard washroom that will be accessible during stops.
What to Bring
What should I pack?
- Lunch, snacks, and water (there is nowhere to buy food on this trip)
- A portable chair, sit pad, or blanket for lunch
- Comfortable hiking shoes or sturdy walking shoes (trails are natural surfaces with some uneven ground)
- Layers (early May mornings in Northumberland can be cool, especially near wetlands)
- Rain jacket (just in case)
- Sunscreen and a hat
- Binoculars if you have them (the birding at Lone Pine Marsh is excellent in early May)
- A small daypack to carry everything
Do I need hiking poles or special gear?Not necessary. The trails are moderate and guided. Regular hiking shoes with good tread will serve you well.
Nature & Wildlife
What wildlife might I see?
Early May is prime time for spring migration, so the birding potential is high. Lone Pine Marsh is known for Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark (both threatened species in Ontario), tree swallows, bluebirds, and various raptors. Grey treefrogs are often heard calling from the wetland. At Haddon, the older hemlock and pine forest supports a different community of woodland birds, and the Little Cold Creek is a brook trout stream. Your guides will help you spot and identify what's around.
Is this a good trip for birders?
Very much so. Early May timing means spring migrants are moving through, and the combination of wetland, grassland, and old-growth forest habitats across the two reserves gives you access to a wide range of species in a single day.
Solo Travellers & Accessibility
Is this trip good for solo travellers?
It's one of the best trips for solo travellers. The group is guided and walks together, so there's natural opportunity to meet people and have conversations. Many Parkbus riders come alone and leave with new hiking friends.
What's the group size?
Group size is limited by the bus capacity and guided format. The experience is designed to be intimate enough that your guides can share knowledge with the group and answer questions as you walk.
Do I need any prior hiking experience?
None required. If you can walk comfortably for a couple of hours on uneven natural ground, you'll be fine. The guides set a relaxed pace and stop frequently to point out features, plants, and wildlife.
About the Partnership
What is the Northumberland Land Trust?T
he Northumberland Land Trust is a community-based conservation organization dedicated to protecting natural areas across Northumberland County, east of Toronto. They own and steward 19 nature reserves covering over 2,275 acres of critical wildlife habitat, including wetlands, forests, grasslands, and creek systems. This trip is a rare opportunity to visit reserves that are normally closed or restricted-access, guided by the people who protect them.
Does my ticket support conservation?
By joining this trip, you're supporting Parkbus's mission to provide car-free access to nature and helping raise awareness for the Northumberland Land Trust's conservation work. It's a meaningful way to experience protected land while contributing to the organizations that keep it protected.
