Bullmoose Marsh
Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
(birdwatching, hiking trail, wildlife viewing, wetlands, viewpoints)

Bullmoose Marsh is a birdwatching destination complete with viewing platforms, birdhouses, viewing benches and boardwalk bridges located only 24 kilometres northwest of the community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. Once a glaciofluvial meltwater channel, the wetland eco system today is covered with oxbow lakes, grass meadows and died up waterways from beaver dams.

The Bullmoose Marsh trail system consists of two one-way walking paths leading to different viewpoints located on the marsh. The Sora Trail is a short 500 metre easy grade walking path crossing 2 raised boardwalk bridges leading to a viewing platform. The second one-way trail, the Bittern Trail, is over 1300 metres long with many raised boardwalk sections leading to another viewpoint further into the marsh.

The Sora Trail explores among some spruce, willow and balsam poplar trees to a floating viewpoint. The viewing platform bench is a good spot to view the marsh lake, the birdhouses and the many bird species. Birds such as the Solitary Sandpiper, Sora, Tree Swallow, Barrow's Goldeneye and Bufflehead tend to be some of the more popular birds from the trail.

The Bittern Trail is a longer trail exploring through tall brush and pine forest. 2 minutes into the hike is a tree with holes in it made by the local Pileated Woodpeckers. A few minutes later the trail opens up and sitting benches appear providing the first views of the marsh. The trail continues into the forest again and crosses a creek exposing a wetland meadow. From the meadow the trail climbs to a plateau with more views of the marsh and of Buillmoose Mountain. From here the trail continues along a boardwalk path, down some steps, to the final viewing platform.

The marsh region is a popular destination for many birds including waterfowl, predators and songbirds. Some of the birds to view include the American Bittern, Green-winged Teal, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Great Horned Owl, Blue-headed Vireo, Red- breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Bluebird, Bohemian Waxwing, Dark-eyed Junco, etc.

The region is a wildlife mecca because of the many different eco systems that make up the marsh. Not only do the birds visit the marsh but so do Coyote, Wolf, Mooose, Mule Deer, Squirrels, Grizzly and Black Bears. Be aware , be preapred and make sounds.

How to Get to Bullmoose Marsh: Travel northwest from the community of Tumbler Ridge, BC, Canada on Highway 29 for approximately 25 kilometres. The entrance to the marsh is on Highway 29 on your right. Park and go.