After stopping in Oshawa to indulge at India's Taste and Sweets, we decided to burn off some calories and check out the local trails as well to find a quiet spot to stretch our legs, we decided to found a short trip over to the Harmony Valley Conservation Area (located off Grandview Street North in Oshawa, just a short drive east in the Durham region).
Harmony Valley doubles as an off-leash dog park. As we walked, we encountered several dogs roaming the fields and forest edges. It was funny seeing them trot through the tall trees! It felt less like watching pets on a walk and more like observing a pack of polite, gentle wolves wandering completely free. What struck us most was how impeccably well-behaved they were. It was as if they were just fellow hikers sharing the path. They strolled casually past strangers without a single bark or greeting, simply soaking in their own outdoor freedom.
The trail winds through a surprisingly rich mix of hardwood forests, open fields, and quiet wetlands. Jack pines stood tall and strong providing much needed shade from the sun. We also came across 3 separate wooden structures in the shape of teepees.
Although we didn't see anything wilder than a few family pets and some squirrels, there have been signtings of white-tailed deer in the early morning before the dogs arrive. This area also has cottontial rabbits and red chipmunks gathering seeds under the pines.If you are quiet you can hear the sounds above of hawks over the open meadow. The wetands nearby in the creek beds have green frogs, painted turtles and the occassional signting of the great blue heron if you are patient enough.Overall it was a great 3 km nature trail right in the middle of the suburban landscape fo Richmond Hill.
Feel free to share any ideas you might have of where we should go next!
