R.W.Starratt Wildlife Refuge Trail Network #2
Description:
An interesting walk along dikes and through a large marsh and adjacent woodlands. Two wildlife-viewing platforms are provided, adjacent to the trails. From the first viewing platform, the trail follows a dike built in 1983 as part of a Ducks Unlimited project to enhance waterfowl habitat in the marsh. At the end of the dike, trails lead to the right via another dike and back to the highway, or left to a second viewing platform (stay left) or to circle the entire marsh. Interpretive signs explain aspects of the life of the marsh.
To walk all the way around the marsh, return a short distance from the second viewing tower to a trail junction and take the alternate branch. After crossing Selkirk Creek on a fottbridge, you will pass the three alernate parking areas mentioned under "Getting there". At the McKirdy Road parking lot, keep straight ahead. You will shortly encounter a wide path leading to the Aspen Road parking area. Keep left here. Follow boardwalks and sections of trail to the Ash Street parking area. Enter the parking lot and look for a path to the left that will lead yo back to the Highway 5 parking area.
In spring, the trail west from Ash Street is a good place to try calling a Virginia Rail: hold two small rounded stones loosely in the palm of your hand and tap them together twice with your fingers so that they rebound slighty and make a "keck-keck" sound. Repeat this several times at intervals of a half-second or so. If you are lucky, you will hear a similar sound coming from the marsh - the answering call of a rail.
Getting There - Highway 5 Access:
The main entrance to the trail system is on Highway 5 at the Best Western Cranberry Lodge hotel, just south of Valemount. The above trail description uses this parking area as the start point. To enter the trail parking lot, first enter the Best Western driveway, then immediately turn right and loop around the Best Western sign into the trailhead parking area.
Getting there - McKirdy Road Access:
Alternate access and parking exists at a viewpoint along McKirdy Road. To get there from downtown Valemount, turn south off 5th Avenue onto Ash Street. Pass the Valemount Secondary School, turn left on 13th Avenue and proceed to the east end of 13th. Turn right on Aspen Road and then left on McKirdy Road. The parking area is on your right a short distance along McKirdy Road with the trail directly adjacent to it.
Getting there - Aspen Road Access:
This parking area provides quick access to the boardwalk sections of the trail. As for the McKirdy Road access, turn south off 5th Avenue onto Ash Street. Pass the Valemount Secondary School and turn left on 13th Avenue. At the end of 13th, turn right on Aspen Road and proceed to the south end of Aspen at 17th Avenue. There is room for two or three cars to park at Aspen and 17th. A short path leads to the marsh loop trail. At the marsh trail, turn left to do a clockwise loop around the marsh, or right for a counterclockwise loop or to enter the boardwalks, of which there are two a short distance apart.
Getting there - Ash Street access:
From 5th Avenue in Valemount, turn south on Ash Street and proceed to the south end of the street where a paved area provides for both parking and making u-turns. Several cars can park here but please leave room for vehicles to turn around, as the street dead-ends here. The marsh loop trail passes through the parking area. To access the boardwalks or hike around the marsh clockwise, take the trail straight ahead (south). For a counterclockwise loop, hike west from the parking area along the outside of the Valemount wastewater treatment plant fence. Turn left at the dike just beyond the first viewing tower.
Hiking Time:
Allow 30 minutes round trip to the second viewing platform from the Highway 5 parking lot, or 1 to 2 hours to walk around the marsh from/to any access point.