Enjoy our
"Hidden Gems of Nature"

Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain..….Henry David Thoreau

Hike all 7 Nature Trails in Lambton Shores & Vicinity and correctly answer each question to receive your FREE badge! 

• Ausable River Cut Conservation Area
• Lambton County Heritage Forest
• Forested Dunes Nature Reserve
• L Lake Management Area
• Ipperwash Dunes and Swales Nature Reserve
• Mystery Falls
• Forest Trails

We are pleased to announce the completion of the trailhead structure in Forest as well as Phase I of its "twin" at the Port Franks Community Centre. We want to thank everyone who helped make this a reality! Come out and enjoy the trails in Forest & Port Franks area.

​Please consider donating to these community beautification projects. For donations over $300, a coloured leaf with your name and a brief comment will be added to the 'Donor Recognition Tree' featured  on the side-panel at either of the trailheads.  ​

An official tax receipt will be issued for donations over $20 

Lambton Shores Nature Trails is proud to have spearheaded the restoration of the "whistle post” along the Grand Trunk Trail in Forest.

Whistle posts along the railways reminded steam locomotive engineers on the Grand Trunk Railway to sound the whistle at upcoming road crossings and other mileposts.

The whistle post was usually a concrete post around 4 feet tall with a large "W" engraved or painted on it.

This style of marker was first used in the mid-to-late 1800s.

A historical plaque and landscaping will be added in the spring.

On a brisk but beautiful day,, 22 hikers attended the annual Nature Appreciation Hike in the Ipperwash Dunes & Swales. With the trees changing colors and the sun peaking through, everyone was treated to a unique 'Forest Bathing' hiking experience with guest hike leader Mary Ann McLaughlin - a World-Wide Hiker & Spiritual Leader. The day concluded with a lunch at the Port Franks Community Centre.

Phase I of the trailhead structure at the Port Franks Community Centre is now complete. Thanks to craftsmen Gary Schmidt and Alvin Jedelhauser of Pine Creek Log Homes Inc and  an LSNT volunteer workcrew, the impressive Trailhead Log-Pavilion is in place

The structure will serve as the focal point of  approximately 20 km of hiking trails in the Port Franks-Northville area. Phase II scheduled for this fall includes applying a protective stain and installing the steel roof donated by Home Hardware of Grand Bend.

Phase III will also commence this fall - included are:  landscaping with large boulders & native plants, a wheelchair-access path, overhead signage, large side-panels featuring native art, a trail map, the local history & natural heritage, as well as a 'Donor Recognition Tree'. Leaves will be added to the tree upon receipt of public and/or private donations.

LSNT participated in the 2018 Ausable Port Franks Optimist Art & Nature Camp. On the first day, the kids had an opportunity to climb the area's biggest  sandhill, pitch tents, identify trees and learn about trail maps. A visit to the Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum at the Lower Thames Longwoods Conservation Area was the highlight of the second day, offering the kids a chance to hike on the grounds and learn about the People of the Longhouse - the Haudenosaunee

Earlier this year LSNT hosted a day-long hike for the Geography/Travel & Tourism students from North Lambton Secondary School. The hike included a trail in the Ipperwash Dunes & Swales Nature Reserve, one in the Lambton County Heritage Forest and the challenging Mystery Falls Trail Loop on ABCA's property in the Ausable River Valley. In total 13 km were covered and everyone survived.

Trail Workdays are planned throughout spring and fall. First time participants will be required to sign a liability waiver.

The 2019 spring work schedule will be published in the new year.

* Additional Workdays will be scheduled as necessary.​​ Details will be posted closer to the scheduled workday.

March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13, September 12, October 10, November 14 @ 7:00 pm , Port Franks Optimist Hall

Public is Welcome!!!​​

We are in need of a dedicated person to utilize our easy-to-use GoDaddy software package to send emails to our contact list. The resposibiltiies include putting the campaign form together based on input received from various board members. If you are interested, please contact Marilyn @ 519.243.0123.

Lambton Shores Nature Trails requires a dedicated person to: 

• Attend regular Executive Committee Meetings (roughly 8 per year)
• Proof-read Executive Committee meeting agenda and send out to Board Members, Landowners, Guests & other specified recipients 
• Record meeting minutes and distribute same as specified for agenda
• File original of forms and make copies available when requested
  

If you have a hard hat sitting around collecting dust, donate it to a good cause. We are in need of hard hats to protect our volunteers on some of our work days. If you would be so kind as to donate one, we will be more than happy to pick it up. Please contact Ross @ 519-786-4956.

LSNT requires 3 or 4 volunteers who are certified chainsaw operators to cut dead ash trees along the Ausable River Valley Trail near Arkona to make the trail safe for hikers. Please contact Klaus @ 519.243.0123

We are looking for motivated individuals who want to help make the trails a safe & enjoyable place to hike. There is lots to be done, not everything involves labour intensive work. Inquire today! Please contact Klaus @ 519.243.0123

LSNT believes in being socially responsible and being part of the larger community "Beyond the Trails":

We are a proud member of the County of Lambton Adopt-A-Road Program; cleaning Bog Line from Northville Rd. to the county boundary.

We initiate other projects to beautify the area for generations to come  (E.G. "Green Tunnel" of 100 native trees planted around the perimeter of the Port Franks Community Centre Grounds)

We are spearheading a 3-year research project to determine if black walnut husks have an impact on controlling the growth of invasive phragmites.

We have partnered with the North Lambton Community Health Centre and lead group hikes on area nature trails .

We have partnered with other like minded groups like the Lakeshore Eco-Network and continue to participate in the Collective Impact - Connected Rural Communities Collaborative Project initiated by the Grand Bend Area Health Centre.