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KA L O N G A WE T L A N D TR A I L

The Kalonga Wetland Trail passes through the secluded Kalonga Valley which is an important breeding and feeding area for a variety of wildlife. The trail ascends gradually up the Kalonga Creek from Lake Solitaire to its source near Helve Lake.

Kalonga Creek (#3)

The Kalonga Valley has twelve or more active beaver dams, in addition to large beaver meadows. These and the accom-panying wetlands provide ample food and plenty of fresh water to attract moose, deer, wolves and a wide variety of bird life.Abandoned Wolf Den (#4)

Edge of Beaver Meadow (#8)

Access to Trail Start your hike from Lake Solitaire near the Kalonga Creek bridge and head eastward up the Kalonga Valley.

Trail Links The trail links up with the Ascension Trail which leads to the Ski Hill, as well as with the Helve Trail which leads to Buck Lake.

Distance 11 km (including returning on Helve Link Trail)

Number of Steps 13,800

Diffi culty Easy to moderate

Trail Description The rugged nature of the trail along parts of the route makes it best suited for more adventurous hikers.

1. Tree Top Parking Area2. Waters Edge Parking Area3. Kalonga River and Bridge4. Abandoned Wolf Den5. Intense Beaver Activity6. Attractive Winter Ice Cliffs7. Evidence of

Mineral Prospecting8. Large Beaver Meadow

9. Road to Long Lake10. Helve Fishing Lodge11. Helve Rock Cliffs12. Large Flat Rock near

Helve Portage13. Portage to Buck Lake14. Buck Lake Trail15. Buck Lake Lookout

Parking Area

16. Start of Ascension Trail17. Black Cherry Forest18. Pointe Trail19. Backwoods Trail20. Top of the Ski Hill21. Solitaire Link Trail22. Buck Lake Lodge23. Old Logging Roads

POINTS OF INTEREST

Kalonga Wetland Trail Country RoadsHelve Loop Trail Link Trails

LAKE SOLITAIRE

21

20

1

2

3

4

5 611

12

1314

15

19

8 9

17

16

7

23 23

18

POVERTY LAKE

BUCK LAKE

HELVELAKE

22

10

Deer Wintering Yard

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Many visitors prefer to divide their exploration of the Kalonga Valley into two separate hikes by using the Ascension and Helve Trails to complete different loops which have their own starting and ending points.

The Ascension Loop can be start-ed by descending to the Solitaire Trail from the Tree Top parking area. The Kalonga Creek runs into Lake Solitaire two thirds of the way down the lake. The Kalonga Trail heads up a hill before returning to the valley fl oor, which it follows closely for most of the balance of the trail. A rough logging road intercepts the trail where it turns sharply south for a short distance. This logging road connects with the Ascension Trail which climbs steeply up the back of the Ski Hill. Halfway down the front of the Ski Hill, turn left to return to the Tree Tops parking area.

The Helve Loop can be started from the Buck Lookout parking area. Leave the Buck Lake Trail at the southwest corner of the lake to join the Kalonga Trail via the previously mentioned logging road.

The Kalonga Trail crosses the Kalonga Creek twice over sturdy wooden bridges. After the second

Beaver pond along trail (#5)

Large beaver meadow (#8)

KALONGA WETLAND TRAIL – continued

crossing, visitors will pass through the most intense beaver activity on the re-serve, where dams can be seen from above and below each tier. At any one time twelve or more dams are usually active.

The largest beaver dam is near a second logging road which can be used to shorten the hike by proceeding directly to Long Lake Road and returning to the starting point for the hike.

When the large beaver dam at the top of the valley is breached, the meadow behind it becomes a favourite feeding ground for moose, deer and bird life.

At the end of the valley, the trail turns north to emerge near the Helve Lake Fishing Lodge. A rough trail follows the west shore of Helve Lake and the stream which fl ows out of the lake into Buck Lake. It is then an easy hike along the southern and west-

ern shores of Buck Lake back to the Buck Lookout parking area.

The principal attraction of the Kalonga Valley is the opportunity it provides to photograph a variety of animal and bird species found in the valley. It also provides at-tractive scenes for artists to sketch or paint.Looking out from the Helve Fishing Lodge (#10)

Intense beaver activity (#5)

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Safety is the Highest Priority

KALONGA WETLAND TRAIL – continued

Points of Interest GPS Co-ordinates

Trail StartFrom Solitaire Trail N45° 23.173 W79° 00.163

From Ascension Trail Link N45° 23.226 W79° 00.768

Top of hill before descending to Valley N45° 23.165 W79° 00.112

Beginning of Valley Floor N45° 23.144 W79° 00.083

Link Trail to Ascension and Buck Trails N45° 23.173 W79° 00.836

First Bridge crossing the Kalonga Creek N45° 23.148 W79° 00.814

Second Bridge crossing the Kalonga Creek N45° 23.069 W79° 00.705

Beginning of series of Beaver Dams N45° 23.051 W79° 00.655

Logging Road north to Long Lake Road N45° 23.027 W79° 00.462

Large Beaver Dam / Meadow N45° 23.009 W79° 00.476

Trail Exit to Helve Lodge N45° 23.090 W79° 00.053

Start of outflow from Helve Lake N45° 23.112 W79° 00.094

Helve Creek at Buck Lake N45° 23.221 W79° 00.179

Trail Sections KM Rating

Tree Top Designated Parking Area to Kalonga Creek 1.5 8

Kalonga Creek to Top of Hill 0.5 10

Top of Hill to Logging Road link to Ascension / Buck Trails 1.0 10

Logging Road to Second Bridge 1.0 7

Second Bridge to Large Beaver Dam / Meadow 1.0 6

Large Beaver Dam to Helve Lodge 1.5 5

Helve Lodge to Helve Portage on Buck Lake 1.0 5

Portage to Ascension Trail Turn-off 1.5 10

Ascension Trail Turn-off to Ski Hill 1.5 7

Ski Hill to Tree Top Designated Parking Area 0.5 6

11.0

Ratings: 1 = very rough, 10 = high quality

Grades: 60% = level, 15% = slight grade, 25% = 20®+ grade