We enjoy hiking the old tracks above Lac du Bois in every season and we returned to the Homesteads Hike in May this year.

Details on the Homesteads route was posted previously.   Follow the (link) for a detailed map and description.The route is becoming more grown over now that access is limited to vehicles by the Nature Conservancy of Canada.   The old buildings are collapsing slowly as the land returns to its natural state.   Nevertheless, we were pleased to see water in the creek, wildflowers and shrubs in bloom, animal signs (bear, moose, deer, and marmot), and activity in the ponds (toads, insect hatches, and ducks), and lots of birds.

The route goes in and out of the forest and finishes in the grasslands.   Around each turn are subtle changes in vegetation and microsystems, the changes varying with aspect, slope, tree cover, and soil type.   We stopped to examine fairyslippers, larkspur, morels, death camas, coltsfoot, wild rhubarb, arnica, clematis, chocolate lilies, lemonweed, desert parsley, bumblebees, blue butterflies, sedges, and flowering shrubs.

We saw nor heard anyone and are unlikely to, except perhaps on a sunny weekend in summer.   Choose a time to enjoy the quiet forest and its many surprises.

clematis	at the Dumont Homestead
chocolate lilies	lemonweed
	desert parsley
chocoloate lily