All photos © Robin and Arlene Karpan

Boundary Bog Nature Trail has long been one of our favourite short hikes in Saskatchewan’s Prince Albert National Park. It reopened this summer after being closed for a long time while the stretches of boardwalk were being rebuilt through the wet, soggy environment.

Now it is better than ever, with a new walkway, plenty of benches to rest and admire the view, and new signage that provides the lowdown on this special environment.

What Makes This Trail Special

Bogs and fens occur throughout the northern forest but visiting them can be extremely difficult. This easy 2.2-km loop trail solves that problem with long stretches of boardwalk that wind through the wet environment, getting us close to its many secrets.

The name Boundary Bog comes from being near the park’s eastern boundary, and is the first stop almost immediately after entering the park gate on Hwy 264.

The bog lies in a kettle, a term that refers to depressions left behind during the retreat of the glaciers some 10,000 years ago. Blocks of ice broke off the main glacier and soon became surrounded by sediment from meltwater channels. The sediment and remains of decomposing plants eventually became peat. It is this spongy blanket of peat that now supports the plants and trees that grow here.

Different Ecosystems Along the Trail

The first section of trail winds through several different types of upland forest. We start in aspen and white spruce forest where the ground is covered with various mosses forming a thick green carpet. In late summer, watch for bunchberries just above the moss sporting a bright red cluster of berries surrounded by green petals.

As we make our way around to a ridge we notice more jack pine growing on the sandy soil. Black spruce also starts to make an appearance. Signs at one stop describe the tree species and how certain trees such as the paper birch were used by indigenous peoples to make bows and arrows, baskets, and even in art work such as birch bark biting.

Before long, the boardwalk begins, making it possible to explore this special lowland landscape that we could not otherwise appreciate without getting extremely wet or harming the vegetation.

The black spruce wetland is a world of carnivorous plants, dwarf birch, tamarack, and a host of sedges and shrubby plants. There aren’t many nutrients in the wet environment, and trees often struggle to grow very tall or thick. The one plant that absolutely loves these conditions is sphagnum moss. It has the ability to absorb several times its weight in water, and expands by absorbing available nutrients.

In mid-summer we can usually find pitcher plants beside the trail. Their tall red flower attracts insects, while funnel-shaped basal leaves capture unsuspecting prey which the plant then slowly digests and absorbs. Bladderwort and sundews are other meat-eaters found in the bog that use other means to trap their prey.

The variety of unique plant life including mosses and feathery horsetail grasses makes this another top spot for photographing the life on the forest floor, both in the bog and on drier ground. Also watch for the leathery leaves of Labrador tea, a woody shrub that grows up to one metre tall and doesn’t lose its leaves in winter. It’s often used to make a flavourful tea.

The turn-around part of the loop is the “eye of the bog”, a small open water lake in the midst of the boggy basin. Read the signs describing other plants to watch for as you make your way out of the peat bog and back again to drier soil.

Fall Colour Magic

Summer and fall in the bog look completely different. Summer can be intensely green while fall brings more shades of gold than practically anywhere else in the park. Much of this is due to the tamarack trees that dominate this wet terrain, their needles changing to a deep golden colour in the fall. Contrast this with the black spruce that retain their green colour year-round and you have the makings for a spectacular mix of autumn glory for fall photography.

Curious to see more?

Here’s other posts of Prince Albert National Park on Photojourneys:

20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Prince Albert National Park

Best Fall Colour Hike in Prince Albert National Park

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