Awenda used to be our ‘go-to’ park for quite a lot of years. The park had good facilities, lots of trails, a dog beach and some interesting local activities we could enjoy while we were up there. On our way home from our epic 2015 camping trip, we decided to make a stop for the night. The park has changed quite a bit. It’s much busier than it used to be, but most parks in southwestern and central Ontario are. Some of the facilities had been upgraded, which was nice, and the trails have changed as well.

One of the trails that has changed a lot is the Robitaille Homestead Trail. At the beginning of the hike, which starts at a parking lot, visitors can read about the history of the family that once owned and worked the land.

The dune area at the end of the trail has been designated an environmentally sensitive area, but it is completely changed from the last time we hiked it. The trees and sumac have grown and the meadow that use to exist is no longer the butterfly habitat it use to be.

Along the trail we spotted a variety of wildflowers, including the ‘doll’s eye’ plant called White Baneberry. The stalks of the plant hadn’t changed to their vibrant red yet.

False Solomon’s Seal, otherwise known as Treacleberry, is a native plant found throughout most of North America.

Wild raspberries weren’t quite in bloom, even though it was later in the season.

We were surprised to find Beardtongue along the path. This is a native plant we have in our own gardens but we haven’t seen it much on hikes.

Black-eyed Susans were thriving along the trail, especially near the old homestead.

Sumac had completely taken over the meadow at the top of the trail. It completely transformed the area. What was once an open, sunny meadow filled with butterflies was now a shaded, overgrown young forest.

A fallen and decaying log was covered with old, greening Turkey Tail Mushrooms.

The trail was still enjoyable, even though we were disappointed not to find the meadow at the top. The trail does have a fairly steep incline at the beginning, and since it is not a looped trail, hikers will also have to walk back down the hill.

We have so many good memories of Awenda but we probably won’t be visiting again for some time.