Nature Trails & Native Plantlife at Harris Hill Resort in Northwestern Ontario Canada

Explore plantlife and wildlife and birds in their natural surroundings and habitat along the hiking trails that weave through the woods surrounding Harris Hill Resort.

You can even explore some of the nearby islands for shells, driftwood, and all kinds of treasures. A day of fun in the sun is always pleasant on our private sand beaches.

Nature trails are being developed that will be available for interpretive nature trails as well as wildlife viewing, photography and birdwatching vacation packages.

Please bookmark our site and watch for further development of our web-site in regards to eco-tourism packages and day trips.

The Nature Adventures at Harris Hill Resort

Harris Hill Resort is located 27 km. or 18 miles north of the Town of Rainy River on the shores of Windy Bay in the southeast corner of Lake of the Woods. Our Resort is an ideal location from which to explore the local areas of the Rainy River district in Northwestern Ontario to view and photograph birds, native wildflowers and wildlife in their natural surroundings.

Right here we are surrounded by Oak, Ash and Aspen woodlands with some Balsam, Pine and Spruce Trees, plus many outcroppings of rock. “Harris Hill Creek” is at times a full fledged stream which turns into a trickle during dry periods. The soothing sound of flowing water attracts people, animals and birds alike.

From the Resort dock there is a marvelous view of Windy Bay with its shoreline marshes, the long sandy spit of Windy Point and the open waters of Lake of the Woods. The sheltered bay and islands afford waterfowl prime feeding and nesting areas.

In the near vicinity are extensive farmlands, meadows and treed acreages all in low populated areas.

This combination of habitats supports a very large variety and number of birds, plant life and wildlife.

The rock croppings that can be seen at Harris Hill Resort and throughout the area are believed to be some of the oldest rocks in North America, dating back to the formation of the original bedrock of the continent. These rocks, known as the Cambrian Shield, are granite in nature and show the errosional effect of extensive glacial action. Lake of the Woods is a glacial remnant lake, left over from the enormous Lake Agassiz which resulted from the melting of continental-sized sheets of ice.

Please view our “Birding” section of our web-site for the 298+ species of birds common to this area.

The following list of wildflowers and trees are just a sampling of what is available for viewing and photographing at Harris Hill Resort and the surrounding area.

FLOWERS:

Yellow Lady- Slipper Black-eyed Susan

Showy Lady-Slipper Wood Lily

Stemless Lady-Slipper Large-flowered Bellwort

Common False Solomon’s-seal Harebell

Goldenrod Northern Blue Flag

BlueGiant Hyssop Fireweed

Starflower Spotted Coral-Root

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Swamp Milkweed

Hoary Puccoon Large-flowered Trillium

Bunchberry Bloodroot

Red Baneberry Wood Anemone

Indian Pipe Cow-parsnip

Tussock Cotton-grass Wild Calla

Yellow Avens Marsh Marigold

Meadow Rue – several varieties Black medic

Wild Vetch – several varieties Evening Primrose

Indian Paintbrush Pale Corydalis

Western Canada Violet Spreading Dogbane

Asters – many varieties Canada Goldenrod

Common Milkweed Stinging Nettles

Wild Columbine Sweet Clover

Alsike Clover

Medicinal Plants:

Self Heal

Yarrow

Spotted Jewel

Pineapple Plant

Plantain

Salsify

Sarsaparilla

Edible Mushrooms:

Morels

Edible Berries:

Gooseberries

June Berries or Saskatoon Berries

Pin Cherries

Blueberries

Black Currants

Elderberries

Dewberries

Raspberries

Chokecherries

Wild Strawberries

Wild Shrubs:

Plums

Viburnum

Highbush Cranberry

Red Osier Dogwood

Sumac

Wild Rose

Trees:

Ash

Bur Oak

Aspen

White Poplar

Black Poplar

Paper Birch

White Birch

Tamarack

Box Elder

Balsam Fir

American Basswood

White Spruce

Black Spruce

White Pine

Red Pine

Jack Pine

Cheryl and Gary Gauthier, your hosts at Harris Hill Resort, are familiar with the birds, animals and plant species of the Resort area and can assist you by providing checklists, directions, weather details and other helpful information such as books.

In addition, boat rides to such areas as Windy Point can be arranged or you can rent a boat and explore Windy Bay and Lake of the Woods at your leisure. You may also rent one of our cabins at a reduced rate, 10% off the regular price for your eco-tourism adventure.

We hope that your stay at Harris Hill Resort will be rewarding, enjoyable and most of all, memorable.

or e-mail us through our "contact us" section of this web site.