Grand River Country | Trails Take Flight

Luther Marsh Bootlegger Trail - Grand Valley

Latitude/Longitude: 43° 57' 45" N , 80° 23' 59" W

Luther Marsh is a 4,000 hectare inland marsh of incredible diversity, with a huge interior body of open water surrounded by forest, bogs, and fields. A large parking lot is located at the official entrance at the Luther Dam. The area is open all year and a small admission fee applies. It is also a feature stop along the Wellington North Birding Trail.

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Bootlegger Trail is marked as a BIKE TRAIL but is suitable for walking as well. The trail runs 9 km from the dam parking area to Bootlegger Bay, and an additional 6 km to the south end of the marsh. Note that it is a linear trail, so the way out is the way in – 30 km if you do the entire length.

It’s a good idea to visit the observation tower located right at the parking lot, as well as a kiosk with an area map. The trail is level and easily traveled, but note that it is a roadway for maintenance access that is seasonally open to motor vehicles. It is not maintained in winter and in a few places, water runs across the road in season and you may get wet feet.

Here there are many different trees such as willow, burr oak, sugar maple, white ash, hackberry, tamarack, white elm, and poplar. Swampland and field species include iris, riverbank grape, bittersweet nightshade, red-osier dogwood, and raspberry. Soon after, the black maple is found, as well as black walnut, basswood and oak, and common buckthorn and hawthorn.

Trail users need to be aware that Luther Marsh is open to hunting from Sept to March seasonally for deer, waterfowl and upland game. Gun hunting is allowed Mon., Wed., Fri. and Sat, and daily during controlled deer hunting seasons. Archery hunting for deer is popular from Oct to the end of Dec. Some sensitive areas are closed to the public, and are signed accordingly. Planning the best time to visit is important, as is wearing bright colored clothing during hunting season, and insect proofing in all seasons but winter. Watercraft use is prohibited before Aug. 1st, paddlers are welcome after that, small motors after Sept. 1st.

The trail passes through a variety of habitats, beginning with a mature spruce plantation – pleasant and cool on a hot summer day. Next is an open meadow with beautiful purples and yellows in the fall. Next are swamps, beaver ponds, and mixed forest. Trees include poplar, tamarack, maple and birch. Agricultural crop fields also skirt the trail, which ends at the lake’s edge.

Birds are abundant in Luther Marsh. Autumn sightings will likely include Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, Blue Jay, American Goldfinch, Belted Kingfisher, Ruffed Grouse, Canada Goose, Black-capped Chickadee, Mourning Dove, Mallard, Black and Wood Ducks, Trumpeter Swan, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Widgeon, Gadwall, and Blue-winged Teal.

Of course during other seasons, many other species may be seen including Sandhill Crane, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-necked Pheasant, Red-headed Woodpecker, Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, various swallows, warblers (Black-throated Green, Pine), blackbirds, sparrows, and Purple Finch. Spring migration can also produce many migrant species including Blackpoll and Blackburnian Warblers, Hermit, Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, Least Bittern, Black Tern, Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalarope.

Trail Owner: Grand River Conservation Authority
Trail Affiliation: Wellington North Birding Trail Map