The Sora Trail and Bittern Trail wind through a variety of forest and wetland habitats to viewing platforms. Here some of the waters of Bullmoose Creek pause in their journey to the cold Arctic Ocean, in backwaters, beaver dams and meadows.

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The area was once a glaciofluvial meltwater channel. It now shows many erosional and depositional features such as oxbow lakes and abandoned channels, which have been changed by beaver action.

Mature spruce forest was logged in 1971. Debris and snags were piled and burned – remains of this can still be seen in places. The area was replanted in 1974. In 1990 an excavator created the mounds and depressions that now characterize parts of the marshes, so that spruce seedlings could be planted on the mounds to help regenerate the forest. The area to the north of the trailheads was a camp in 1981 during the North East Coal development. 

Mammals include Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, Moose, White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer, Wolf, Coyote, Woodchuck, Red Squirrel, Red-backed Vole, Beaver, and Muskrat. There are many signs of beaver activity including dams, trails, felled trees and lodges.

A total of 93 bird species have been identified. Nesting boxes and bird feeders have been put up alongside the trails.

All four northeastern BC frog species occur here: Western Toad, Columbia Spotted Frog, Wood Frog and Boreal Chorus Frog. One harmless species of reptile, the Common Garter Snake, can sometimes be seen sunning itself beside the water. The marshes are breeding grounds for some of the fish species from Bullmoose Creek.

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There is a wide variety of habitats, depending on soil type, moisture content, and elevation: from dry pine to moist spruce forest, balsam poplar groves, alder and willow thickets, grass and sedge meadows, seasonally inundated marshes, and permanent water.

Flowering plants of the moist meadows like Tall Bluebell, Tall Larkspur, Grass of Parnassus and Fireweed contrast with the typical forest understory flowers of Bunchberry, Dry Ground Cranberry and Kinnikinnick.

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Sora Trail (500 m return)

The short Sora Trail leads through willow and balsam poplar thickets, young spruce forests and meadows, with lots of warblers (Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Waterthrush). 

It ends with a short boardwalk section and viewing platform with benches, and a good view of an expanse of water. Look for Wilson’s Snipe and Solitary Sandpiper which nest near the boardwalk. Tree Swallows nest in the snags across the water. Barrow’s Goldeneye, Mallard, American Wigeon and Bufflehead are often seen, frequently with ducklings.

Sora are common in the marshes to the left of the trail, and are more often heard than seen – listen for a horse-like whinnying sound. Red-winged Blackbirds are everywhere, and nest in the tufts of vegetation above the water.

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Bittern Trail (1.3 km return)

Ten metres along the Bittern Trail is a pine tree on the left, with holes carved in its base by a Pileated Woodpecker. After 50 m the trail traverses a Red Squirrel midden, then comes out on the edge of a gravel terrace in dry pine forest, with beautiful views of the marshes, past some strategically placed benches. 

It then enters a more moist spruce forest (listen for Blackpoll Warbler), crosses a small seasonal stream, and then passes through rich seasonally wet meadows. It climbs briefly up the side of a hill, then levels out to give expansive views of the marshes and Bullmoose Mountain in the distance.

The trail then descends via a staircase to the final 50 m of boardwalk, which leads above iron-rich springs to another viewing platform. This site has provided one of the few American Bittern records for the region.

The Marshes are situated beside Hwy 29, 24 km north of Tumbler Ridge and 67 km south of Chetwynd.

• These routes are in bear country; travel in groups and make noise
• Please pack out what you packed in

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