Barnum Creek

There is nothing like the sound of running water to soothe the soul! Listen to the song of Barnum Creek as it dances downward, tumbling over rocks and ledges, on its way to Barnum Lake far below. From here, it eventually drains into Lake Kashagawigamog, a large lake to the west. But this waterway has a split personality. From its Barnum Pond source a few kilometers to the east, this creek flows gently westward. Along the way, it traverses a series of tranquil wetlands before reaching this rocky escarpment. Suddenly, its quiet character changes abruptly, cascading down this rocky defile for the next several hundred meters. As the water tumbles, it becomes saturated with oxygen, creating excellent habitat for a variety of animals including the Speckled Trout. This species was once common in Barnum Creek but disappeared with changing land uses during the past century. Recently, the lower stretches of Barnum Creek, however, have been rehabilitated by the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association with the intention of reintroducing the Speckled Trout back into the watershed. Barnum Creek Nature Reserve’s heavily forested environment plays a pivotal role in not only protecting the headwaters of this stream but ensuring that the temperature remains cool, and the water clear and highly oxygenated. The result is an ecosystem with a rich population of aquatic insects, including some interesting dragonflies such as the Ski-tipped Emerald. These insects in turn provide valuable food for Speckled Trout.