| General Hikes | Tuesday Hikes | Getting Started |
Hike Schedules |
||
Hike PacingI - 3 km/hr - 12 km or less |
Terrain and trail conditions play a part in determining speed and level. Choose a hike that suits your capabilities and comfort levels. |
Note: Always carry lots of water. Hiking boots are recommended, sturdy shoes will do on Level I hikes. A change of socks is recommended, as well as an extra pair of shoes for the trip home. |
Out of consideration for your fellow hikers, we request that you leave your dogs at home. Free running dogs on the trails are a source of concern to many hikers and even leashed dogs may interfere with the enjoyment of others on the hike.
Saturday, July 12th - Blue Mountains, Pretty River (Map 23/24)
Level II Car Hike 21 km Hilly, Variable Terrain
No dropouts, Hiking boots, Pub stop after
Depart 9:30 am, Parking lot near km 44.3.
Take Reg Rd 124 north from Shelburne through Singhampton and Duntroon. Turn left at Sideroad 33-34. Go 5 km to the parking area.
Rick McCoy, (519) 829-4143.
The Best of the Bruce continues. This hike will have little pieces of road between great parts of the Trail - Swiss Meadows, Osler Bluff and Pretty River.
Saturday July 12th – Caledon, Alton Side Trail.
Level II Car Hike, 8 km. 9:00 AM Start
This will be a hike through interesting terrain, mainly forest and, if I remember correctly, without serious hills, except the Pinnacle in Alton. In anticipation of hot weather an early start and moderate distance have been chosen. We will meet at the parking place indicated on Map 15 on the north side of Charleston Sideroad at McLaren Road. This is just west of Caledon village. A carpool to Alton will take us to the starting point. Bring water and bug spray. Well behaved dogs are most welcome. For information, call Bob Slack at 905-584-2360 or bslack14@yahoo.ca
Saturday, August 2nd Caledon Hills, Forks of the Credit (Map 15)
Level II Loop Hike 12km Variable Terrain. No dogs please.
Depart 10:30 am at the main parking lot.
Go North on Hurontario St (Hwy 10) from Brampton. You will pass Mayfield, King St, Old Baseline, next is Forks of the Credit Road. Turn left (West). Follow until McLaren Rd (turn Right, North). Main Parking lot is on left side of McLaren a few minutes down the road.
Tessa Shelvey (905) 850-1507 before 9 p.m.
Enjoy a loop hike in this very pretty Provincial Park. Lots to see including rivers and waterfalls, meadows and fields. Joint outing with the Dufferin Club. Parking fee applies.
Saturday, August 9th - Caledon Hills, Hockley Valley (Map 18)
Level II Car hike 14 km Variable Terrain
No dropouts, Beginners, Hiking boots, Pub stop after
Depart 9 am, Bruce Trail parking lot east of the Trail on Hockley Rd.
Take Hwy 10 north from Orangeville to Hockley Rd and turn right. The parking area is on the left 5 km down the road.
Rick McCoy, (519) 829-4143 or rickpmccoy@sympatico.ca.
Best of the Bruce #3. Today we will roam around the Hockley Valley Main and Side Trails.
Sunday August 10th - Hike and Swim at Hardy Lake Provincial Park
Hike 8 km on mostly flat terrain around the gorgeous and pristine waters of Hardy Lake. Weather permitting, at least one swimming opportunity. Bring bathing suit, lunch and lots of drinking water. (There are no change rooms... but lots of bush!).
Meet at 11 AM at the parking lot of Hardy Lake Provincial Park, on Muskoka District Road 169, west of Gravenhurst and east of Torrance. Look for the P (parking) signs at the north side of the road. Car pool available from Barrie at the Essa Road carpool lot at 9:30 AM. For more information, contact Frieda Baldwin at info@simcoecountytrails.net or 705-458-4037.
Friday August 22d – Sunday August 24th.
Independent Outting – fees apply
You are invited to join John Riley and Tessa Shelvey at Unicamp. The property includes a pond with clothing-required and clothing-optional beaches and surrounding pathways through woodland and flower-strewn meadows. There is a dining hall with deck, campsites, dorm or cottage accommodations. The full weekend program includes six meals (Friday supper to Sunday lunch, including a packed lunch for Saturday). You will have a choice of either a level II or level III hike on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday morning will also include a nature walk by Kendrew Pape, knowledgeable with regard to the local fauna and flora.
John Riley (905) 271-3889 or john755@sympatico.ca
Tessa Shelvey (905) 850-1507
Costs: i) All-inclusive cost for the entire weekend $117-142 depending on accommodation; ii) $10 for those using the beach and attending happy-hour on deck at Unicamp after the Saturday hike + $13 for those who stay for dinner Saturday evening. For reservations ranging from Saturday dinner to entire weekend, call (519) 925-6432 or e-mail unicampofontario@hotmail.com Website www.unicampofontario.ca
Notes: 1. Reservations not required for the Saturday hike or for the use of the Unicamp beach and deck on Saturday afternoon/evening 2. Bring any alcoholic refreshments needed for Saturday happy-hour, or at any other time over the weekend (glass bottles not permitted on beaches). 3. Those not staying at Unicamp Friday evening should bring their own lunch for the hike on Saturday.
Saturday September 6th - Hike 8 of 9 Sydenham End 2 End 90.4Km to 110.0 Km Level III 20Km
A little bit of road work, a good section of trail today, walking around the poetic "Slough of Despond" Contact Carol Foley for start time and location cafoley@sympatico.ca
519-925-0580
Dufferin Hi-Land 2 Day End to End
Saturday & Sunday September 13-14, 2008
8:00 am start each day.
Meet both days at the parking lot on the 1st line EHS (km. 25.0, map 20, ed.24). Please register by September 1st. Send a $20.00 cheque payable to the Dufferin Hi-Lands BTC c/o Rick McCoy 305-8 Speedvale Ave. West. Guelph, ON N1H-1J4. For further information please contact Rick McCoy at 519 829 4143 or rickpmccoy@sympatico.ca
Saturday September 13 - Caledon Hills, Hockley Valley (Map 18)
Level I/II (11km) Level II/III (14 km) Car hike, Hilly
No dropouts, Hiking boots, No dogs, Pub stop after.
Depart 9:30 am, Hockley Rd. parking lot , north side of Hockley Rd., 250m east of main trail access.
Take Hwy 10 north from Orangeville, turn right on Hockley Rd (Rgnl Hwy #7) 5km to parking area, or go north on Airport Rd, cross Hwy 9 and proceed to Hockley Rd (Rgnl Hwy #7). Turn left for 6km to parking area.
John Riley, (905) 271-3889 5-9 pm or john755@sympatico.ca.
Tessa Shelvey, (905) 850-1507 before 9 pm.
This is a loop hike associated with a shorter loop hike leaving from the same point on the same day (see level I/II hike). The terrain is hilly and mostly through pleasant wooded areas with some spectacular lookout points. There will be an apre-hike pub stop at the Hockley Resort.
Saturday September 20th - Nine Mile Portage Heritage Festival Hike
Hike the historic Nine Mile Portage Trail (approx. 15 km), which re-connects Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie to Fort Willow in Springwater Township. The trail goes through ravines, forests, park land, quiet residential streets, estates, unopened road allowances, etc. At Fort Willow, re-enactors will entertain and educate visitors about the role Fort Willow played in the War of 1812. BBQ, corn roast and refreshments available at the Fort. Bring lots of drinking water and a snack for the walk. Meeting time TBA (likely mid morning) at the kiddie fountain at Heritage Park, in downtown Barrie by the waterfront. Transportation back to Barrie will be arranged. For more information, confirm start times and register, contact Frieda Baldwin at info@simcoecountytrails.net or 705-458-4037.
Sunday September 21st - Hike 9 of 9 Sydenham End 2 End Km 110Km to Km 126.7 Level II 16.7Km
Today we finish the over 160 km of the the Sydenham! Those who have been with us all along will earn their badges, but all are welcome on this not too difficult hike along the edge of the escarpment. We will finish up at the base of Wiarton Willie. Contact Carol Foley for start time and location.
cafoley@sympatico.ca
519-925-0580
Tuesday Hike Schedules
Ralph Tremills 519-941-8843 - Glennis Williams 519-925-5406
James Griffen 705-434-9316 - Gryps@sympatico.ca
Note: Always bring a snack and plenty of water especially in the warmer months.
Please No dogs.
No scheduled hikes in July and August
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Dufferin Hi-Land , Level 1, approx. 7 km
We will hike the new trail in Mono Cliffs from km 0.0 to 1st Line E. Meet at Superburger 9:30 am or km 0 in Mono Centre County Rd. 8 and 3rd Line EHS at 9:45 am Map 19, Ed 24
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 Beaver Valley, Level 1, approx. 7 km
We will hike the re-route from Hogg’s Falls, north on the west side of the Beaver Valley Meet at Superburger 9 am or at Hogg’s Falls parking lot at 10 am Approx. 4 km north-east of Flesherton, take Hwy. 4 east to E. Back Line, North to Lower Valley Rd., Turn right (watch for Hogg’s Falls signs) Map 26, ed. 24. Bring a lunch.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 Caledon , Level 1, approx. 10 km
We will hike the Tom East and Glen Cross side trails. Meet at parking lot at 9:30 at Hockley Valley Rd., just east of 2nd Line EHS. Map 18, Ed 24 Bring a lunch
Tuesday, September 23-Wednesday 24, 2008 Peninsula Section- Flower Pot Island and Cypress Lake
This will be an overnight excursion , we will stay in Tobermory On Tuesday night. Please contact one of the leaders for more details
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 Toronto Section, Level 1, 9.3 km,
We will hike the Hilton Falls side trail Bring lunch, meet at Dairy Queen in Orangeville, Hwy. 10, 8:30 am Or Hilton Falls Conservation Area, north side of Cambellville Rd, (Halton Rd. 9, west of Hwy. 25) at 9:30 am Map 11, Ed 24 (Bring Bruce Trail membership card for free parking)
Tuesday, October, 7, 2008 Blue Mountain, Level 1, approx. 8 km
Hike to be led by Norm Wingrove. Meet at Superburger 9 am or Km 59.5, 10 am Map 24, Ed 24 Bring lunch Tuesday , October 14, 2008 Dufferin Hi-land , Level 1, approx. 7 km. We will hike the South Outlier and other trails Meet at 3rd Line parking lot, east side of Mono Cliffs, north of County Rd , 9:30 am Map 19, Ed 24, (bring Bruce Trail membership card for free parking)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 Toronto Section , Level 1, 10 km
We will hike the Limehouse area. Meet at either Dairy Queen in Orangeville, HWY 10 at 9 am or at Limehouse side trail parking , Side Road 22 and 5th Line AT 9:45. bring lunch. Map 12, Ed 24
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Caledon Section, Level 2, 5.5 km
Devil’s Pulpit Challenge. Meet at Dairy Queen, Hwy. 10 in Orangeville at 9 am or at Km 7.8 Grange & Creditview Rd. 4 Km W. of Hwy. 10. 9:30 am Map 14, ED 24
return to top
How to get started
Of all recreational pursuits involving physical exertion, hiking is probably the easiest and cheapest to get into, requiring little more than an outlay of $100 or less for a sturdy pair of waterproof boots. Running shoes are poor substitutes, offering minimal ankle support and limited traction. In addition, a small backpack or belt will be required to carry water and a snack. A wide variety of suitable equipment is available at any outdoor store and a visit to one of those listed on the Links page is strongly recommended.
So with boots firmly laced, the next step is to find somewhere to start. The simplest way is to join one of the easier organized hikes listed in the club newsletter and on this site. However, some prefer to take their initial hiking steps on their own, with friends or with family members. Fortunately, located at the southern extremity of the Dufferin Hi-Land section is the magnificent Mono Cliffs Provincial Park which within its boundaries, offers a fine range of hiking opportunities suitable for beginners and intermediates.
A six-kilometre portion of the Bruce Trail cuts through the centre of the Park, on either side of which are a variety of scenic loop trails. The main feature of the southern end of the Park is the glacial spillway which, together with the Bruce Trail, runs parallel to the giant cliffs of the main escarpment. On the opposite side of the Trail is the Southern Outlier, one of two islands of hard rock left standing after the last ice age. The resulting spillway with cliffs on each side provides a canyon-like environment for the hiker. At its northern end, a choice of trails provide some of the best views in the area and McCarston Lake, a kettle lake formed by the melting of a huge block of ice left by the receding glacier, is a unique feature of one of the woodland sections.
To reach the Park, take Dufferin County Road #8 west from Airport Road (north of the Hockley Valley) or east from Camilla on Highway 10 (north of Orangeville). Turn north onto 3rd line EHS (on the bend) about 2 km northeast of Mono Centre. The entrance and car park is on the left, about 1 km from the turnoff.
Detailed Trail Guides are usually available from the box adjacent to the car park toll machine. Also conveniently adjacent, the splendid new Park toilets, amongst the finest of their kind, are well worth a visit before hitting the trails! Details of the various trails are also shown in the BTC Reference Guide (Edition 21). The scenery and Trail system (the latter clearly defined by signposts), are so outstanding that a series of visits is recommended to explore them in their entirety.
Leaving the car park via the Carriage Trail, the main Bruce Trail is reached after about 1 km. Prior to reaching this point however, approximately 600 metres in, a turn off to the left leads to the Southern Outlier Trail. This 4 kilometre loop around the rim of the Outlier although commencing with a steep climb, provides a perfect initiation for the beginner. On the second visit, continue 300 metres past the turn off to the Outlier to intersect the Bruce Trail proper. Then, by reference to the Trail Guide, mixing and matching of the various trail options enables a series of scenic loop hikes of between 4 and 13 km in length to be constructed to suit individual requirements.
At the conclusion of each hiking excursion, and before heading for home, plans for the next visit may be plotted in the hiker-friendly confines of the historic Mono Cliffs Inn in Mono Centre!
Roy Bird: March 2002.
return to top