TORRANCE BARRENS - DARK SKY RESERVE

The Torrance Barrens is a Conservation Reserve consisting of 1990 hectares of crown land south-east of Bala, which is administered by the Province of Ontario. The first of its kind in Canada, the Torrance Barrens is now officially recognized as a Dark Sky Reserve.

The dark sky designation was a project was developed by Muskoka Heritage Foundation director Peter Goering in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources, with support from the Muskoka Lakes Association and the Township of Muskoka Lakes. The growing awareness of light pollution of the night sky and the inability of large sectors of the population to experience and enjoy astronomical events has created a demand for an area where the dark sky can be preserved.

The Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve

A combination of ancient rock outcrops, peaceful wilderness and rare plants and wildlife makes Muskoka’s Torrance Barrens a unique Conservation Reserve. In 1999, the Barrens’ nighttime star-filled darkness was designated by the Ontario government as the world’s first permanent Dark Sky Reserve – a move that recognized the region as a protected space free from intrusion by urban light pollution.

Few natural vistas can match the inspirational panorama of the Milky Way-our home galaxy-arching overhead on a cool, clear summer or early-autumn evening. At the Torrance Barrens, the ancient constellation and planets shine forth in majestic profusion. On occasion, the northern lights (aurora borealis) are visible – often as greenish wisps but sometimes as spectacular curtains of colour. In binoculars, rivers of stars that are completely invisible to the naked eye flow into view. Rich star clusters, wispy nebulas, the cloud banks of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn are all visible with a beginner’s telescope.

Geography

The Dark Sky Reserve is a designation added to the Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve – an area of some 1900 hectares of crown land, south-east of Bala, which is administered by the Province of Ontario. It is relatively open with modest tree-growth – which gives a clear view of the sky from horizon to horizon. The Torrance Barrens are characterized by low ridges of Precambrian bedrock separated by wetland and peat-filled hollows. The bedrock provides a sold basis for astronomical instruments such as telescopes.

Background

Once the Conservation Reserve was established, Muskoka Heritage Foundation director Peter Goering realized that the Torrance Barrens was an ideal candidate as a Dark Sky Reserve because of the absence of light pollution at night. He proposed the idea in 1998 as part of the public input into the “Lands for Life” discussions. With co-operation and support from Michael Silver (Muskoka Lakes Association), Russ Black (Muskoka Heritage Foundation), Astronomer Terence Dickinson, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Muskoka Heritage Foundation and various politicians, there was wide acceptance of the idea. In 1999, the Ontario government acknowledges night-sky viewing as an important use of the Torrance Barrens including the concept in its Statement of Conservation Interest and adding the designation of Dark Sky Reserve to its title. The Township of Muskoka Lakes has already passed a resolution to encourage the use of night lighting that directs all light towards the ground and hence decreases the pollution of the skies.

Recreational Opportunities

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The Township of Muskoka Lakes Recreational Trails Committee has created several trails suitable for educations and interpretive hikes as well as family exploring. The trails are accessible from the parking area at Highland Pond off District Road 13. There is excellent blueberry picking in the summer, and a main snowmobile trails runs through the area in the winter.

Directions

Access to the Torrance Barrens is off District Road 13 (Southwood Road). If you are coming north on Highway 11, turn west onto District Road 13
(between Gravenhurst and Washago), then drive about 20 minutes until you see the brown Torrance Barrens sign on your right. Parking is in the area to the left of the sign. An alternate route is to turn south onto District Road 13 from the village of Torrance on Highway 169. Drive on District Road 13 until you see the sign and parking area.

A full-colour brochure is available at the Muskoka Heritage Foundation Resource Centre or the Ministry of Natural Resources in Bracebridge.