Sawmill Trail

Over these next few weeks I’m going to try and get out and go to some of the local hiking trails.  The change of scenery will be nice, and knowing that less lovely weather will be coming with the change of seasons, I’d like to take advantage of our remaining good weather days.

The Sawmill Trail is located just outside the village, on the north side of the Bayfield River.  The trail starts out on the first pioneer path of Lake Huron leading from the first ford, or crossing point, on the Bayfield River.  It is likely that this shallow crossing was used for centuries before European settlers came to this area.  In the early 1840s, a dam for the first pioneer grist mill in the area around Bayfield was built and before it was destroyed by fire it was the most prosperous business in the area.

For part of the trail you walk along the Bayfield River, and the colours make the view even more amazing.

In addition to fishing, canoeing is another popular activity on the Bayfield River

At the end of the trail you walk through a magnificent cedar forest.