WWOOFING AT SCALES NATURE PARK

Last updated: September 21, 2023

“Ouch!” I’m holding Rusty, a young Eastern Fox Snake, while my coworker cleans his cage, when it happens. I cringe and see him biting my left index finger, out of nowhere, and it draws a bit of blood.

Within seconds, another coworker arrives, hands Rusty to my colleague, and puts my finger under cold water, to wash it off. Although he’s not venomous, I’m shocked, and ask my coworker if I hurt him by accident. She shakes her head and says “No, he’s got brain damage, so you didn’t do anything wrong.”

Soon after, I find out that he’s in this condition because a freezing damage happened in his hibernation room in the past, and since he was closest to the vent, he was affected the most. So now I feel sorry for Rusty!

Introduction

Before this happened, it’s been a normal day at Scales Nature Park, in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada, where I’ve been WWOOFing* for a while. Scales Nature Park is a nature preserve, and first opened its doors to the public in December 2009. This is where you can see “Canada’s largest collection of native amphibians and reptiles”, as shown on their website, as well as some exotic animals.

Scales Nature Park has an indoor nature centre, where the snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs, and salamanders live, a gift shop, and a classroom.

There’s also a 21-hectar outdoor nature park with 4 km of walking trails, where you can find natural wetlands and upland habitat, hardwood forests, ponds, and hemlock groves. If it’s your lucky day, you might even see local wildlife, like garter snakes, toads, chipmunks, and beavers.

Some previous travel companions, who’d WWOOFed at Scales Nature Park before, had told me lots of exciting stories, so now it was my turn to see it for myself!

Three weeks earlier, Jeff Hathaway, the founder and owner of Scales Nature Park, picked me up at the Greyhound bus station in Barrie, and a bunch of friendly staff and WWOOFers greeted me when we arrived. After leaving my luggage in the 4-bed female dorm I was staying at, and a quick tour of the property, I found myself in a car with my new colleagues.

Our destination was nearby Bass Lake Provincial Park, a popular camping spot, where Scales Nature Park hosted a reptile show. Jeff and his experienced staff members had brought some small snakes and turtles, and taught the audience about their characteristics and behaviour.

People were listening intently, but it seemed that everyone, including myself, was most excited about touching or even holding the snakes at the end! For a long time, I’d assumed that their skin is slithery, like a fish’s, but instead, it turned out to be very dry.

A small selection of the animals (photo credit: Scales Nature Park) and stunning Bass Lake beach.

My Tasks at Scales Nature Park

My first task every morning is wiping the outside windows of the animals’ terrariums in the exhibit hall, before the first customers arrive. Later, I clean some containers the animals were in during reptile shows (when they weren’t shown to the audience), and cut vegetables for the turtles to eat with other WWOOFers.

About a week after arriving at Scales Nature Park, a coworker teaches me how to sell admission tickets and gift shop items to customers at the cash desk. Then I refer them to a staff member, who shows them around the exhibit hall, and explains things about each animal.

As time goes on, my list of tasks keeps growing, like sweeping floors inside the exhibit hall, assisting Jeff at a reptile show in Toronto, and translating a WWOOFer’s manual from English to German, as many of them are from Germany.

Besides, everyone, whether staff member or WWOOFer, is expected to help with household tasks outside of work (e.g. cooking, wiping tables, cleaning non-public bathrooms, and washing dishes), on a rotating schedule.

Feeding and cleaning the inside areas of the animals’ homes is mostly reserved to Jeff and experienced staff, who have attended local universities or colleges for biology, reptile care, or something similar. Still, I learn a lot by watching them, and love helping with tasks, like holding a few animals, while a colleague cleans their cages.

A small part of the exhibit hall, fun times behind the cash desk, and a selection of cool stuff at the gift shop! The last one is photo credit of Scales Nature Park.

Free-Time Activities for WWOOFers

There’s lots of room for free-time activities while WWOOFing at Scales Nature Park. For example, one sunny day, a coworker and I borrow bikes from Scales Nature Park, and ride them on a beautiful path towards Orillia, where we hang out next to Lake Simcoe. Another day, we see some local bands playing at a concert in Orillia, then have a few drinks and sing karaoke at a bar.

One evening, the majority of staff and WWOOFers are going on a spontaneous wildlife tour (unfortunately, I don’t remember the location), where we see a few wild animals. We also watch movies at a drive-in movie theatre in Orillia and Scales Nature Park’s classroom, play card games and have lots of fun conversations, swim in the pool, and relax in the whirlpool after a long day.

Last but not least, eating meals together each day makes getting to know each other a lot easier!

From the top left: Path from Scales Nature Park to Orillia and a pond next to the road, Lake Simcoe, and a frog (or toad) we met during the wildlife tour.

Past and Current Events & Projects

Scales Nature Park offered lots of cool events before COVID happened, such as:

Community Turtle Training. This 1-Day workshop happened through the Save Turtles At Risk Today (START) project. It was made for local community members, who couldn’t participate in the Turtle Boot Camp, and wanted to know more about turtles. For example, attendees were taught about distinguishing species and male and female turtles, and how to handle them, taking good observation data, when the Reptile hotline should be phoned, and prepared an injured turtle care kit.

Halloween Flashlight Tours. A few days before Halloween, Scales Nature Park hosted this fun event! It was a great way for kids and adults to find out what the reptiles and amphibians are up to in the dark, which is their favourite time of the day to be active. The indoor nature centre was decorated in the “Halloween spirit”, and some staff and animals were happy to dress in costumes.

Here are some of their current events and projects:

Reptile Camp. Scales Nature Park is proud to host this popular event again in July and August 2023! It’s a day camp program for adventurous kids aged 7-12 years, who are eager to learn about exotic and native reptiles, and how to handle and feed them. Participants also get a chance to explore nearby pond and forest habitats. Last but not least, this program includes games and craft projects, that can be taken home at the end, and I’m sure lots of new friendships are made, too! The cost is C$ 300 per child for 5 days (Monday-Friday).

Leaders in Training Camp. This day camp program is also happening again this summer, for youth from 13-17 years, and although not mandatory, it is recommended to sign up for two weeks. In this program, participants learn how to come up with fun activities as a summer camp counsellor, leadership, and of course, animal care! Besides, first aid and safety training, equipment usage, and planning skills are a part of this program. The cost for five days (Monday-Friday) is C$ 120 per person.

Herpetology Experience and Research Program. This program’s main target group are students or recent graduates from 18-30 years, who are interested in a career in herpetology. It’s a 8 to 12-month residential program, and participants collect experience about various topics related to herpetology and conservation, such as: Identifications, life history, animal handling and husbandry of 70+ species, and outdoor skills.

Scales Nature Park also offers workshops (e.g. Advanced Reptile Workshop and Rattlesnake Workshop), Community Volunteer Training, Certification Courses, and Co-Op’s and Internships. You can also contact them here for their virtual, off-site and on site programs.

Turtle Boot Camp. Scales Nature Park has hosted this event, which, according to their Facebook page, is “the most intensive and thorough reptile focused field training available in Ontario”. This training program was mandatory for their field staff, but other people were welcome to apply as well. Attendees found out how to identify turtles, handling methods, marking techniques, digital data entry, and more!

Georgian Bay Turtle Hospital. This is a non-profit organization founded by Scales Nature Park. Its main focus will be to treat injured turtles, incubate recovered eggs, and taking care of turtle conservation “through public education, population monitoring, and research”, according to their website. The opening date is currently TBA, and it’s planned that staff and volunteers will run these projects in the Georgian Bay/Lake Huron watershed region.

Scales Nature Park has also collaborated with other partner organizations throughout the years, such as the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Ontario Nature, Sciensational Sssnakes, and several universities, e.g. the University of Toronto, Queen’s University, Trent University, and Grand Valley State University in Michigan, USA.

Conservation projects. Within time, Jeff and his team launched several projects to protect reptiles, such as the Saving Turtles At Risk Today (START) project. In cooperation with the Georgian Bay Turtle Hospital, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Laurentian University, and Trent University, Scales Nature Park intends to decrease dangers (e.g. road mortality and habitat loss) to local turtle species. Turtles are collected from wetlands, bodies of water, and along roads, then measured, weighed, shell-notched, and marked, to estimate how many turtles live in a specific area.

Also, staff and volunteers put up nest cages to protect eggs from predators, like foxes, skunks, and racoons, or eggs are excavated at the Georgian Bay Turtle Hospital. After the turtles hatch, they are released into wetlands, if possible near the nest location where they were found.

Then there’s the Georgian Bay Conservation Action, Research and Education about Snakes (C.A.R.E.S) project, launched in 2020, which centers around the conservation of endangered and threatened snakes of the Georgian Bay watershed, such as the Massasauga rattlesnake, Eastern Hog-nosed snake, and Eastern Fox snake. For example, by reducing natural threats and teaching people why snakes are crucial to people and the ecosystem, Jeff and his team hope to convince some people to change their negative opinion about snakes.

Some of these animals are taken from their home for additional data collection, including digital images, measurements and mass, and blood samples may be taken for DNA analysis. Scales Nature Park also keeps an eye on roads around the region “to monitor road mortality and inform mitigation efforts such as snake exclusion fencing”. For more information about Scales Nature Park’s many conservation efforts, please see this link.

From the top left: Giant Madagascar Day Gecko, Snapping Turtle, Northern ring-necked Snake, the classroom used for workshops and trainings, and the outdoor area behind Scales Nature Park. All except the last one are photo credit of Scales Nature Park.

Scales Nature Park’s Current Hours

This summer (June until Labour Day), Scales Nature Park is open from Friday to Sunday only, from 11 am to 4 pm (by appointment only). Walk-in visits are not possible right now, and the classroom, walking trails, and outdoor facilities are still closed until further notice. But staff are available to answer questions via email or phone from 9 am to 5 pm most days.

The lower level of the Nature Centre and Gift shop at Scales Nature Park are open for guided tours by appointment only. Please find more details, as well as Admission rates on their Visitor Information page. Tours can be booked here.

For the most up to date information, please visit their website or social media pages.

Most of Scales Nature Park’s facilities can be accessed by wheelchair, depending on weather. Guests in a wheelchair need to travel over grass for a short time, to use the wheelchair entrance, and staff is always eager to help. In winter, it might not be possible to use this entrance because of snow. But Jeff and his team are happy to assist guests booked on a private tour unable to use stairs, if informed about this prior to arrival.

Directions to Scales Nature Park

Scales Nature Park is right next to Highway 11 in the township of Oro-Medonte, about an hour north of Toronto, and a 20-minute drive from Barrie. If using a GPS, make sure that it says Oro-Medonte, not Orillia, and their entrance is on Line 15 South, not Line 15 North. Watch out for the entrance sign next to the road. Here’s their contact information:

82 Line 15 South

Oro-Medonte, ON

L3V 8H9

Phone: +1 705-327-2808

The map is photo credit of Scales Nature Park.

My Opinion on WWOOFing at Scales Nature Park

WWOOFing at Scales Nature Park was one of the best decisions I made during my first year in Canada, for lots of reasons. Thanks to the liberal and easy going atmosphere, I felt welcome immediately, and Jeff, his team, and I had several things in common, like listening to a Rock music radio station all day, lol!

Many of us were within a similar age group, and it was inspiring to see that everyone seemed to enjoy his/her job. Although we worked hard every day, to ensure visitors of all ages were having the best time, I never felt overwhelmed. I’m grateful to Jeff and everyone else for teaching me a bunch of cool stuff about snakes, turtles, lizards, and amphibians.

Soon after leaving this place, I was able to apply what I’d learnt by helping a turtle across a highway road, so exciting! I’m very impressed by Jeff’s passion to keep Scales Nature Park (and its partner organizations) growing over the years, which I’m sure helped to gain a good reputation in Ontario, still, it must haven taken a lot of time, effort, and money.

I also appreciated that the animals at Scales Nature Park are very well cared for, thanks to Jeff and his team’s many years of experience. Some animals, including snakes and other reptiles, are often falsely judged, so I like that they explain to people why these fascinating creatures are beneficial to us and the environment, and offering to touch or hold them.

Speaking of the environment, I also liked that staff and WWOOFers were asked to not flush toilet paper, to save water; instead, it was collected and burnt regularly inside Scales Nature Park’s outside area.

Lastly, I think that working at a cash desk and improving my English skills by talking to lots of people every day made it easier to get my first paid job in Canada a few months later.

I WWOOFed at Scales Nature Park in August 2012, so some things may have changed with time.

Awesome times holding an albino Burmese python. 😀

*WWOOFing is short for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, and people can stay and help out on a farm (or other operation) for a limited time. Workers don’t get paid, but accommodation and meals are included, so it’s a sweet way to collect experience, meet new people, and save money. It’s similar to volunteer work.

Before starting a WWOOFing adventure in Canada, you need to sign up on their website for a one-year membership, which is CAD 55.00 for a single, and CAD 80.00 for a joint membership.

So if you’re in the area and interested in learning about reptiles and amphibians, I highly recommend checking out Scales Nature Park. Cheers!

If you’re in Ontario for a while, check out this blog post as well:

The Best Toronto Travel Guide

March 15, 2021 2

HOW TO SPEND THREE DAYS ON GRAND MANAN ISLAND

Last updated: September 21, 2023

It’s a beautiful summer day, so we decide to spend some time on Grand Manan Island, in New Brunswick, Canada. It’s the largest island in the Bay of Fundy, where the tides rise and fall more than 16 meters (52 feet) each day, higher than anywhere else in the world!

The island’s size is 655 km² (253 sq miles), and 2,595 residents lived here in 2021. In addition, Reader’s Digest Canada voted Grand Manan Island as one of World’s 7 Best Small Islands in 2018.

Grand Manan Island has a lot of great things to do for everyone! From watching the sunset at a cliff, hiking, looking for sea glass, visiting museums and art galleries, and so much more, it never gets boring here! So here’s the ultimate guide on how to spend three days on Grand Manan Island. 😀

Day 1: Ferry ride, Anchorage Provincial Park, and a Cliff Sunset

We take the ferry in Blacks Harbour, and hope to see some wildlife, so we walk right up to the deck. Some animals who call this area home are puffins and other seabirds, porpoises, minkes, humpbacks, and the rare North Atlantic Right Whale. Although we don’t see any nearby, we love the picturesque ocean scenery, and even spot a bunch of little islands.

So our trip is off to a great start, and suddenly, some fishing weirs and a lighthouse, the gateways to Grand Manan Island’s North Head village, appear in the distance.

Our first stop is the Surfside Motel (123 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A4), where we’re staying tonight. It’s been around for more than 40 years, and has 22 nice, standard rooms, with one or two beds. I love hanging out on the lawn with picnic chairs in the back of the building, and admire the view of Stanley’s Beach, Long Island, and Flagg’s Cove.

Then we relax at Anchorage Provincial Park (136 Anchorage Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 2H4) for a bit. This spot has a scenic sand beach, and offers tons of hiking and cycling trails, picnic areas, and is home to the Grand Manan Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

It’s also a popular camping spot, and provides “picturesque campground vistas”, according to the Official 2019 Explore New Brunswick Travel Guide.

Soon the brisk and clean marine air makes us hungry, so we head to the Compass Rose Heritage Inn (65 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A2) for dinner. It was established in the early 20th century as a post and telegraph office. Their dining room is equipped with antique furniture, and guests can watch the Bay of Fundy and the buzzing North Head fishing harbour from their table.

Like many restaurants on the Canadian east coast, their specialty dish is lobster. But tonight my travel buddies are in the mood for haddock, and I order a vegetarian curry pasta dish. Everything’s super yummy, and we’re very happy with the service!

It’s getting late now, but that doesn’t stop us from driving to Southwest Head Lighthouse (2571 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4H4) on the opposite end of the island.

According to the Official 2019 New Brunswick Travel Guide, this is the “best sunset spot” for Instagrammers, and guess what, they know their stuff!

Day 2: Farmers Market, Swallow Tail Lighthouse, and Grand Manan Art Gallery

In the morning, we check out Grand Manan’s Farmers Market (1021 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4E5) at the old North Head Hall. This event has been around since 1984, and happens every Saturday from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm from Canada Day (July 1) until Labour Day weekend in September.

There’s a variety of awesome handmade goodies to find, like jewelry, beauty products, arts, crafts, books, and baked foods. As a local economy supporter, I can’t resist buying some earrings for my mom, and cat nip for Lemmy, my friend Steffi’s cat.

Our next stop is Swallow Tail Lighthouse (50 Lighthouse Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 2A3), one of Grand Manan’s most popular tourist attractions. It was completed in 1860 on an isolated peninsula in North Head, and is operated by the Swallow Tail Keepers Society, a non-profit organization.

It’s still an active lighthouse today, although there’s no light keeper, as it was automated in 1986. We need to walk a bunch of concrete stairs, then across a wooden bridge, before arriving at the lighthouse, but it was 100% worth it!

There’s also a walking path, but be careful, as the entire peninsula is framed by rocky cliffs, that are more than 30 meters (100 feet) high! A bunch of picnic tables and benches are available, if you need a break. Besides, Swallow Tail Lighthouse is supposed to be perfect for watching the sun or moon rise, and lighthouse tours can be booked on request.

As of July 29, 2023, the Swallow Tail Lighthouse Peninsula, which includes the lighthouse and walking path, are currently closed until further notice, because of construction on site.

But the Gift Shop is staying open until the end of the summer, where you can find lots of unique items! Please find more details on their Facebook page.

The front of Swallow Tail Lighthouse, looking at the bay from the top, and items for sale at the Gift Shop. The latter is photo courtesy of Andrea Kelter.

After this exciting morning we have lunch at The Old Well House Café (56 Route 776, Grand Manan NB, E5G 1A1), a quirky local café, and we stuff ourselves with Blueberry muffins, nachos with hummus, and a cuppa Joe, of course! Everything is very good!

You can sit inside or on their outside patio, and they often host live music and comedy nights!

Next, we want to soak up more local culture at the Grand Manan Art Gallery (21 Cedar Street, Grand Manan, NB E5G 2C3), established in 1993, and operated by the Grand Manan Historical Society. It shows artwork by artists from Grand Manan Island, the Bay of Fundy region, or further away.

This tourist attraction is open from June to late September, every day of the week. The admission is C$ 2.00 per person, and it’s also fully wheelchair accessible.

My favourites are Wendy Moore’s “Flowers” painting (it’s similar to Sean’s painting style), and Marie-Paule Paulin’s “Misty Morning” and “Sunset”, as I think it represents the laid-back lifestyle often found in the Maritimes.

Then we check in to Pa’s Place & Beach Front Cottages (70 Red Point Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4J2), our accommodation for the next two nights. It’s further down the island, in Seal Cove. This place was founded in 1912, and guests can either stay in the 2-floor main building, or one of their private cabins.

Our cabin has two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, living room, bathroom, and a porch with BBQ. Another bonus is the private Seal Cove sand beach, only a few foot steps away.

It’s quieter than last night’s accommodation, as it’s further away from the main road, so later, all we can hear while falling asleep is the soothing sound of the ocean.

The cabins from the outside, partial living room and kitchen at our cabin, and Seal Cove sand beach. The first two are photo courtesy of Pa’s Place & Beach Front Cottages.

Day 3: Grand Manan Museum, Southwest Head Cliffs, and Bill’s Beatles Collection

The next day, we tour the Grand Manan Museum (1141 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4E9), another popular attraction. They intend to teach visitors about the 200-year old rich, maritime heritage of Grand Manan Island, especially the fishing industry.

The museum exhibit features various displays of natural and human history, e.g. Fisherman’s Shed Exhibit, Upper and Lower Marine Gallery, and Communications Exhibit, with an old telephone, typewriter, and post office desk.

My favourite is the wall painting of marine creatures though, as it must have taken a long time and talent to put it together! At the entrance of the museum, there’s a gift shop, too, with soap, jewelry, printed and painted artwork, and birthday cards for sale.

Wall painting of marine creatures and vessel replica used around Grand Manan Island in the late 19th century.

You can also check out their outside exhibits, e.g. “A Walk through time”, that shows photos of the early settlement and social and economic development of the island, or the Deep Cove School House. It’s Grand Manan’s longest running one-room school house, from 1889 to 1947.

Lastly, don’t miss the nearby sign post, to learn how far away certain places are from the island!

The Grand Manan Museum is open seasonally (mid June to late September), Monday-Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm. Between October and May, the museum is open by appointment only.

Next, we go to Southwest Head Lighthouse one more time, to enjoy the stunning view off its rock cliffs during the day. If you feel adventurous, several hiking trails can be accessed through here, but be careful, as the cliffs are 60 meters (200 feet) high!

As we continue driving back on the main road, we suddenly spot a white and yellow house, that has The Beatles painted on it! It turns out it’s Bill’s Beatles Collection (1844 Route 776, Grand Manan NB E5G 3H2), an impressive selection of Beatles memorabilia from the past 60 years!

Owner Bill Dickinson’s personal Beatles collection includes posters, instruments the band played, mugs, records, t-shirts, pins, movies, action figures, cassettes, guitar picks, toys, pillows, magazines, and more!

Bill’s Beatles Collection is open Thursday to Monday and admission is by donation. Bill will be happy to tell you tons of Beatles stories, including him seeing them live in concert in Montreal in 1964!

Other Things to See and Do on Grand Manan

Unfortunately, three days are not enough to see everything on Grand Manan Island. So here are a few more attractions that sound really awesome:

Sea Watch Whale and Seabird Watching Tours (S C Breakwater Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4H4). This business was founded by Captain Peter Wilcox and his wife Kenda in 1969, and their tours are a great way to meet some marine animals living in this area.

Their 5 ½ hour “Puffin – Machias Seal Island” tour takes guests to a nearby sea bird sanctuary. Often sighted birds on the way and the island are puffins, razorbill auks, common murres, as well as eider ducks and black guillemots.

Their whale watching tour takes 4 to 5 ½ hours, depending on the whales’ location, and can be booked from early July to late September.

The coolest thing is whale sightings are guaranteed, or your tour is free!

Adventure High Sea Kayak Tours (83 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A2). This local business has been known for their guided eco-friendly adventure tours since 1989.

Their tours can be booked for a half, full, or multiple days, and include experiences like a Kayak Tour & Dinner on the beach, island hopping, and enjoying a bonfire by the beach. All tours include basic paddling and safety instructions, and kayak and safety equipment.

The multi-day tours also include accommodation and meals. Adventure High also offers Specialty tours (e.g. painting, photography, and yoga, in addition to sea kayaking, of course!), a paddling school, cabin/cottage accommodation, and bike rentals. These services can be booked from May-October.

You can also book Atlantic tours in Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, Polar Kayaking Adventures in Antarctica, and Tropical Kayaking Adventures in Florida, Honduras, and the Bahamas!

The Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station (24 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A1). This small natural history museum sounds perfect for people eager to know more about the marine conservation of the Bay of Fundy and the animals living in it.

Their displays include whales, seabirds, seals, sharks, and fish, and you can symbolically adopt a North Atlantic Right Whale! You’ll also learn why these amazing creatures are endangered, and the efforts to protect them, as well as the Harbour Porpoise Release Program.

This museum is open daily from late spring to early fall from 9:30 to 5 pm. There’s no admission charge, but donations are always appreciated!

Numerous little islands. An example of an island close to Grand Manan Island is Whitehead Island, the only island with a year-round population. It’s accessible via a free ferry from Ingalls Head, or boat, and is known for its sandy beaches, salt marsh and the Longpoint Lighthouse.

Cheney Island is privately owned and apparently, is haunted by “Old Man Cheney”, the ghost of its first settler.

Ross Island is where the first settlers of the United Empire Loyalists landed in 1784, and the remains of Fish Fluke Point Lighthouse and their stone foundations can still be visited. During low tide, these islands are connected, and so you can enter it by foot!

More details about these and other islands can be found on the Grand Manan Tourism website.

The Grand Manan Island Fest from August 5-7, 2023. Last year, it included an exercise extravaganza with music and drones, car show, food trucks, fireworks, and children’s activities.

Look for sea glass. Lots of beaches within the Bay of Fundy are fantastic spots to find sea glass, which includes Grand Manan Island. Most of these little treasures are formed by pieces of glass bottles that people threw into the ocean many years ago. Over time, their sharp edges become smooth.

The most common colours are white, brown, and green, but you can sometimes find blue, red, purple, turquoise ones as well. The best spot to find sea glass on Grand Manan Island is Pettes Cove in North Head, near the Ferry Terminal and Swallow Tail Lighthouse.

How to Get to Grand Manan Island

From the Canadian side (by car): Drive to Blacks Harbour (35 minutes outside of Saint John), then take the ferry to Grand Manan Island. Please find the most current ferry schedule here.

The journey takes about 1.5 hours, and the cost per car is C$ 39.25 for non residents, excluding the driver, per trip. Passengers and other modes of transportation are welcome as well. There’s a cafeteria on board, which is famous for their seafood chowder! You can find more details on the ferry service here.

From the US side (by car): First, take I-95 to Bangor, Maine, then head East on Rte. 9 to Calais, to enter Canada. Then go East on Highway 1 for about 35 minutes, and take exit 60 to Blacks Harbour. From there, take the same ferry to Grand Manan Island.

During the summer, reservations are highly recommended, and passengers need to check in at Blacks Harbour maximum 45 minutes before the ferry departs.

As there’s no public transportation on Grand Manan Island, it’s recommended to have your own mode of transportation, like a (rental) car, motorcycle, or bicycle.

If you need to fly to New Brunswick first, the closest commercial airport is Saint John (YSJ), which is reachable via Toronto Pearson International Airport and Montreal International Airport.

Grand Manan Island is also accessible via private vessel, as long as you arrive at one of the commercial wharves (North Head, Ingalls Head, Seal Cove, and White Head).

Grand Manan Island also has a 1,000 meter (3,280 ft) long airstrip for private plane landings.

My Opinion on Grand Manan Island

As everyone knows, vacations always end too soon, but the memories stay with you for a long time. So we don’t know whether to be happy or sad when leaving Grand Manan Island the next day. What made this getaway special?

I especially liked learning about Swallow Tail Lighthouse, witnessing the spectacular sunset at Southwest Head, walking on Seal Cove sand beach, and the great shopping! The locals we met made us feel welcome, such as by offering their help if needed.

Although Grand Manan Island is a popular destination, the roads weren’t crowded, and it’s obvious that authorities care about keeping the island clean.

Another reason to travel to this island is to appreciate its unspoiled nature, e.g. by looking at the water, collecting sea glass, hiking, cycling, kayaking, or whale watching. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a history and culture enthusiast, beach fan, outdoorsy traveler, or interested in wildlife.

In addition, Grand Manan Island offers a great variety of places to stay and eat. Also, it’s a perfect spot to relax and recharge from city life, but it’s got everything you need to have a great vacation.

Spending time in the Maritimes for a bit longer? Then check out these posts:

The 16 Best Things to Do in Fredericton, NB

Is Halifax, Nova Scotia Worth Visiting in 2024? (Guest Post for Veggies Abroad)

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks.

January 9, 2021 2

FUN TIMES AT MUKTUK ADVENTURES

Last updated: September 21, 2023

It’s a peaceful night in June, and although it’s very late, the sky outside couldn’t be brighter. Suddenly, the silence is interrupted by a few dogs starting to howl, and then the rest follows their lead, one after the other.

We’re at Muktuk Adventures, a guest ranch in the Ibex Valley, about 25 minutes outside of Whitehorse, Canada. More than 100 Alaskan and Siberian huskies live here, and many hang out in or by their kennels in front of the lodge entrance.

Muktuk Adventures has been specializing in raising, training and caring for their dogs for more than 30 years.

Our Stay at Muktuk Adventures

The Muktuk Guest Ranch and partial kennel area.

All guest rooms are on the second floor of the Muktuk Lodge. We love our room called “Klukshu”, as it has all we need, despite its small size: Two twin beds, walk-in closet, chair, and two night stands. The other guest rooms have one or two Queen or double beds, and the shared bathroom is only a few steps away.

Further down the hallway, there’s a lovely common room, with couches, chairs, two coffee tables, magazines, and most importantly (at least to us), two acoustic guitars! If guests want more privacy, they can book one of the log cabins near the main building.

Klukshu room, and a part of the common room. Both photo credit of Muktuk Adventures.

Every morning, we stuff our faces with the tasty continental breakfast that is served downstairs (coffee, tea, boiled eggs, yoghurt, blueberries, bread, sliced cheese, cold cuts, etc.). And two sweet doggies hanging out with and entertaining us during our meal makes this experience super special!

We also chat with Manuela and Jeff, our hosts, and it turns out she’s from Germany, too, and Jeff and Sean went to the same high school in New Brunswick. What a small world we live in! 😀

Great times during breakfast!

Muktuk’s Adventure Packages

Muktuk Adventures is proud to offer their fun packages as well:

In Summer, you can book Canoe Tours, e.g. on the nearby Takhini and Yukon river, or all the way to Carmacks or Dawson City. Accommodation will either be at the Muktuk Guest Ranch, or by the shore of a river. They also offer Hiking Tours at Kluane National Park, Tombstone Territorial Park, or inside the Ibex Valley.

Coming Fall, Muktuk Adventures offers Bikejoring (1 or 2 dogs pulling a fat bike) and Canoe Tours, Yukon Fall Colour Tour, and the Northern Lights and Huskies Package, which include admiring the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) from their deck or by the Takhini River.

Some packages include a visit to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, where you can see animals living in Northern Canada (e.g. moose, lynx, bison, and caribou) in their natural environment.

In Winter, it’s all about Dog Sledding, as this area gets tons of snow each year. Some of the highlights include touring on the Yukon Quest Trail (where the annual race occurs) and the Dawson Overland Trail, which became famous during the Klondike Gold Rush at the end of the 19th century, and winter camping in Yukon’s backcountry!

If you book one of these packages, you’ll also learn how to care for and harness the dogs, and you’ll be your own musher! Also, warm winter clothing will be provided by Muktuk Adventures. Some packages also include Ice Fishing, Snowmobiling, watching the Northern Lights, and visiting the Takhini Hot Springs.

Muktuk Adventures’ packages can be booked for half, full, or multiple days. Most packages include experienced and certified guides, equipment and gear, transportation from/to Whitehorse Airport or hotel, and to activities outside of or to the Muktuk Guest Ranch. For multi-day packages, accommodation and meals are included, and a lunch for full day packages.

Regardless of the package, you’ll spend lots of time with some adorable dogs, because they join all of the tours!

Northern lights by the Muktuk Guest Ranch. Photo credit: Muktuk Adventures.

The Dogs at Muktuk Adventures

Muktuk Adventures started as a racing kennel, but since 2008, the company has specialized in recreational dog sledding. Soon after, they started adopting dogs, mostly from kennels and shelters in the Yukon or Alaska.

Their gang is divided into working, non-working, and retired dogs, and it’s even possible to sponsor or adopt one (or more) of them! On their website, you can learn about some of the pups and their unique personalities, no matter which group they’re in.

How to Get to Muktuk Adventures

Since there’s no public transit outside of Whitehorse, the only way to travel to Muktuk Adventures independently is by car. Here are driving directions and a map, courtesy of Muktuk Adventures:

Travel north along the Alaska Hwy (Hwy 1) towards Haines Junction, passing by the Dawson City turn-off (Hwy 2). Continue along and you will see the Muktuk billboard sign on the right side of the road.
Drive one mile further until you see a blue sign with flags on top and a green street sign that says Husky Trail (Km 1442.5).
Turn right and follow Husky Trail at a reduced speed for about 4 kms. This road will lead you directly to the Muktuk Guest Ranch.

Here’s their exact contact information:

Muktuk Adventures, Km 1142.5 Alaska Highway, Km 4 Husky Trail, Whitehorse YT, Y1A 7A2, Canada Telephone: +1 867-668-3647 Email: info@muktuk.com

Muktuk Adventures is currently open daily from 9 am to 5 pm (except Sundays).

My Opinion about Muktuk Adventures

I think it’s obvious by now that we enjoyed our stay at Muktuk Adventures very much! Why? First of all, we loved the uniqueness of this place, as it’s very rare that you’re greeted by a bunch of dogs when entering a hotel!

When visiting a facility that handles animals, it’s crucial to me that they are loved and well taken care of, which undoubtedly, is the case at Muktuk Adventures. The staff are genuine and experienced dog owners, and the pups are living their best life, regardless of their “group status”.

It was also clear that the staff is doing the best they can to provide an awesome experience to their guests, no matter if you booked a room or cabin, or one of their tour packages. Although the rooms and facilities can be considered basic, everything we needed was available, and it shows that it took a lot of effort and passion to put this place together, and everything was spotless.

I hope to return to Muktuk Adventures someday, and then, I’ll join one of their tour packages for sure!

So if you’re looking for a cozy, fun, and unique place to stay while in the Yukon (and love dogs, of course!), I highly recommend Muktuk Adventures!

October 26, 2020 0