Hike Schedule

9:00 Niagara-on-the-lake Tour

Hosting Club: Niagara
Category: Urban
Location (Google Maps): Meet on King St near Centre St, just outside of Veteran’s Memorial Park

Hike Leader(s): Margaret Northfield Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Easy
Distance: 5-6km

Description

Each Friday we will explore different neighbourhoods, trails and parkland throughout Historic Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Moderate pace with some weeks entirely on sidewalks and roads while others may include a mix of trails and paved pathways. Great way to build up endurance for longer more strenuous hikes.

Prepare for cooler windy conditions on open parkland and along Lake Ontario and Niagara River trails.

Plan to stay for conversation and a warm cup of coffee or tea at Sweets & Swirls, Community Centre, Niagara Stone Road, NOTL

Easy Hike - John Appleton Sidetrail and the Palmer Property Hike

Hosting Club: Peninsula

Location (Google Maps): Meet at Bruce County 9 with access via the parking lot which is across from the old Barrow Bay general store.

Hike Leader(s): Marg Glendon Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely
Terrain: Easy, Moderate
Distance: ~ 3 1/2 KM

Description

Join Brian Popelier, BTC Ecologist on this hike as we learn about the restoration of this lovely BTC Nature Reserve. We will take a stroll here to see nature’s bounty  and imagine how birds and animals depend on it for nourishment and nest building. Then – a hop, skip and jump away is the John Appleton Sidetrail and Hawthorne Sidetrail which creates  a loop with the main trail , in total ~3 km. This well protected walk in the woods path meanders through the property crossing crevices and a few very short “up and down” sections.

Map #:38

Urban Walk: Rattray Marsh Evening Hike

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Urban Walk
Location (Google Maps):

Clarkson GO Station

Hike Leader(s): Ginny Giraudi Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate
Terrain: Flat
Distance: 12 km

Description

We will meet inside the Clarkson GO Station near the bathrooms at 6:30 pm and walk along the lake through Rattray Marsh to Port Credit (see route here.) Head lamps or flashlights are required as the sun will have set. The after hike stop is the Archtop Coffee Bar and Market in Port Credit. Hikers can take the 23 Lakeshore Westbound Miway bus back to the Clarkson GO (Presto is accepted) or they can use the nearby Port Credit GO Station to return home.

Car Hike: A March and a Market

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Car Hike
Location (Google Maps): We will meet at the parking lot of Spirit Tree Estate Cidery located at 1137 Boston Mills Rd, Caledon. (Map 14 of the Bruce Trail Reference Guide, Edition 30)

Hike Leader(s): Monica Pasquali Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely
Terrain: Flat, Variable
Distance: 5.8 km

Description

Celebrate the upcoming holidays with a march along the Bruce Trail and a visit to a local artisan market!

First, we’ll do an out-and-back march along the main trail of the Bruce Trail as it flows out of the Toronto section and into the Caledon Hills section.  We will begin our hike at the Spirit Tree Estate Cidery parking lot and then follow the main trail on Boston Mills Road and Creditview Road in order to reach the Cheltenham Badlands.  We will continue our hike along the main trail that runs through the Badlands, as well as walk along Olde Baseline Road for a short distance in order to see the Badlands in all their glory!  We will then retrace our steps to return to Spirit Tree Estate Cidery.

After our hike, we’ll visit the “Handcrafted with Love” artisan market at Spirit Tree Estate Cidery to do a little holiday shopping, and we’ll follow that up with a delicious pizza lunch enjoyed outdoors at the cidery.

For the main Bruce Trail in the Toronto section: Children under 13 years of age who participate in this hike will be eligible for the Toronto Bruce Trail Club’s Youth Badge (https://torontobrucetrailclub.org/the-trail/badges) – all family members who are planning on joining us should register for the hike, including children.  

For the main Bruce Trail in the Caledon section: While on our hike within the Cheltenham Badlands, I will provide assistance to hikers of all ages who are interested in earning the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club’s Nature Hunter Badge (http://caledonbrucetrail.ca/hiking/club-badges/nature-hunt-badge/).  I will point out and identify trees and wildflowers as we hike, as well as explain plant life cycles.  You should bring enough water and food for a 2-hour hike, comfortable hiking shoes, appropriate clothing for the weather, a camera if you want to work on the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club’s Nature Hunter Badge, and money if you intend to join us for shopping and lunch at Spirit Tree Estate Cidery (https://spirittreecider.com/) after the hike.

International Hike

Hosting Club: Niagara
Category: Urban
Location (Google Maps): Meet in the parking lot of the Floral Showhouse, 7145 Niagara River Pkwy, Niagara Falls

Hike Leader(s): Margaret Northfield Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Easy
Distance: 10km

Description

See the majestic Falls from several vantage  points.  We will hike both sides of the Niagara River, crossing the Rainbow Bridge and going to Goat Island.

Bring passport or Nexus to cross the border.  Bring $1 for the bridge fee.

A drink and snack are recommended.  This hike will take 3-4 hours depending upon the ease/difficulty of border crossings.  Please allow extra time.

Car Hike; Crawford Lake Loop

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Car Hike
Location (Google Maps): 10 a.m. from Crawford Lake Conservation Area – 3115 Conservation Rd. Milton ON L9T 2X3, Canada (map)
Meeting point is at the parking lot next to the Visitor Centre

Hike Leader(s): Jeanette Vincent Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Variable
Distance: 8km

Description

We will hike around Crawford Lake, a rare example of a meromictic lake and the Bruce Trail on our way to the Nassagaweya Canyon with great views and looping back to the Longhouse Village. Crawford Lake is also an important site for global scientific research. Click here to learn more about these studies and how our rare meromictic lake may help scientists define a new proposed epoch: the Anthropocene.

Additional Notes:

• Reservations are not required but are recommended. If you book online, you can reserve your spot and save money on gate fees. 
• Click to reserve.  https://www.conservationhalton.ca/parks/crawford-lake/

For the hike
What to bring: water and snacks/lunch
What to wear: Wear hiking boots or good walking shoes. Be prepared for the weather forecast of the day.

Urban Walk: Credit River Ravine

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Urban Walk
Location (Google Maps): Erindale Park Mississauga

Hike Leader(s): Ginny Giraudi Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate
Terrain: Flat
Distance: 10 km

Description

The Credit River ravine park system is beautiful in any season. Join me for this 10 km Sunday morning loop along the Credit River from Dundas to the 403 and back again through the U of T nature trail. The walk will start at the heated bathroom building in the first parking lot north of Dundas in Erindale Park and it will end at the very popular Apricot Tree Cafe on Dundas just west of Mississauga Road. Erindale park is easily accessible by Mississauga Miway buses leaving both Islington and Kipling subway stations.

Sunday Rambles - McCormack Loop

Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: General Hike
Location (Google Maps): De Lottinville Park

Hike Leader(s): Colleen Mabalay Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hr
Terrain: Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing
Distance: 6km

Description

Arrive 15mins before 10am start.

Meet at Delottinville Park on Newcombe Rd, Dundas

Bring water. Be prepared for weather conditions (icers).

If you need to cancel on day of hike please text me at (905) 815-7100

Toronto End to End in 2

Hosting Club: Iroquoia, Toronto
Category: General Hike
Location (Google Maps): Meeting place and trailhead coordinates will be emailed to registered hikers the week before

Hike Leader(s): Steven White Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Brisk – 4 to 5 km/hr
Terrain: Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing
Distance: 24-27 km per day

Description

This series of hikes will entitle the successful hiker to obtain the new stained glass badge – a beautiful and unique badge. This series of hikes is for the experienced hiker due to pace (Brisk) , strenuous sections of Toronto trail and length of hike each day. Hikers should anticipate fall and winter conditions – boots, icers, poles, gators, layered clothing and come water, snacks, lunch, first aid kit. We will take turns shuttling from meeting place to trailhead each day and a driver will need to take the shuttle drivers back to their car at the end of the hike. We will meet each day at 7:45 and shuttle to trailhead – hikers should arrive 15 minutes early to ensure ready to leave at 7:45. Anticipate most hikes will take approx 6-7 hours including lunch and snack breaks. Please ensure you are physically able to manage the pace of this hike, potential wintry conditions and daily distance before registering. Refunds are not permitted. Your fee includes the badge.

Welland Canals Hikes

Hosting Club: Niagara, Iroquoia
Category: General Hike
Location (Google Maps): Nov 20, 2023 – Meet in the parking lot by Allanburg Bridge 18.9km
Nov 21, 2023 – Pt 1 – Meet at Woodend Conservation, Taylor Rd 8.5km Pt 2 – Meet in Sobeys Parking lot by Johannsson’s Bar 9km
Nov 23, 2023 – Meet in the public parking lot in Port Dalhousie

Hike Leader(s): Ruth Moffatt Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Brisk – 4 to 5 km/hr, Medium – 3 to 4 km/hr
Terrain: Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing
Distance: Day 1 18.9km, Day 2 17.5km Day 3 7km

Description

This is a special 4 part series of hikes to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Welland Canal. I will try to have the badges available on the last day of the hike. $10 members/$15 non-members.

Please bring enough food and water for a lengthy day hike on the first two days. Our third day is a quick 7km. Dress for the expected and forecasted weather. Bring icers just in case. Please pack a first aid kit, and all the other items required for a day hike. No dogs, please.