If you’ve ever wondered what goes into caring for a wilderness trail, sometimes the answer is quite literally a lot of rocks.

Five Bridges Wilderness Heritage Trust recently supported rock-hardening work on sections of the Bluff Wilderness Hiking Trail. Rock hardening, also known as rock armouring, is a trail-building technique that uses rock to reinforce the trail surface, creating a more durable and stable route in areas where the natural surface isn’t sufficient.

The completed project included 140 feet of rock hardening across 11 locations on the Bluff Trail, carried out through the St. Margaret’s Bay Stewardship Association.

It’s a behind-the-scenes kind of trail work that many trail users may never think about, but it’s a great example of local organizations working together to care for the natural spaces our community enjoys.