Hike Schedule

Beaver Valley End to End in 8 - Guest hike leader Jacquie Van Dyke, Toronto Bruce Trail CLub

Hike open to BTC Members only.

Hosting Club: Beaver Valley

Location (Google Maps): The first hike will meet at km13.7 on the West side of 6th Line, North of Grey 119. Do not block driveways/laneways! We will shuttle to km 00.0 at Maple Lane.
Map 24 Edition 30

Hike Leader(s): Beaver Valley Hike Moderator Click here to contact the hike leader.

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Moderate, Some rocky footing, Some steep sections, Strenuous
Length of Hike: 13.7 km

Description

Participants will earn this badge by hiking all 8 hikes in this series. As life sometimes can be interrupted you may need to miss a hike. You can make up two hikes on your own and still qualify for the badge on the final day. Please keep a log of the made up hikes and email it to the hike leader by the last day.

The fee includes the badge and as a fundraiser, also goes towards supporting the Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Club, which in turn supports the mission of the Bruce Trail Conservancy, which is: “Preserving a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever.”  Thank you for your support!  Please note there are no refunds!

For the time being, registration for the Beaver Valley E2E in 8  will be limited to members of the Bruce Trail Conservancy.  Hikers can belong to any section.

This particular set of 8 hikes is intended to be MEDIUM (3 km to 4 km/hour) Before registering, please be honest with yourself about your ability to complete these approximately 15 km, sometimes rugged, hilly, technical hikes.

All hikes in this series will include a car shuttle and everyone should be prepared take a turn as a shuttle driver. Hikers will wear masks in shuttle cars. Trails will be wet at this time of year so please be prepared with extra socks and gaiters. Ideally we will hike from km 0 to km 119.9 over the series of 8 hikes but as conditions change and parking issues arise we ask that you be flexible with changes in the routes and parking. You will receive an e-mail outlining meeting location and start location for each hike as well as any other information needed, closer to the start of the hike event.

We will have a clothing adjustment break, and 2 snack/lunch breaks of 10 min each. Please have your water accessible while hiking. There will be plenty of opportunity for quick photos. We recommend having your camera/phone accessible to get all those great shots.

Please read the hike guidelines below.

Guidelines

1. Arrive 15 minutes before the start of the hike.
2. Wear sturdy footwear and appropriate attire for the weather and the terrain.
   Hiking poles are a good idea in any season, especially if the terrain is rocky or slippery. In winter, snowshoes or icers/crampons are needed when conditions dictate.
   Wearing appropriate clothing and footwear prevents injuries and shows consideration for a safe and positive group hiking experience.
3. Always carry I.D. and your health card.
4. Bring sufficient water and snacks (or lunch if indicated). A minimum of 1L of water is recommended on all hikes, and 3L is recommended for long, challenging hikes in the heat of the summer.
5. Bring sunscreen and insect repellent (for spring and summer hikes).
6. Bring your own first aid kit.
7. Please leave dogs at home.

COVID-19 Precautions before and during the hike

Each hiker joining a Bruce Trail Club organized hike must perform a self-screening

before the hike.  Find Ontario’s self-assessment tool here:

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/   If you are experiencing COVID-19

symptoms, stay home.

Personal Protective Equipment: Hikers may choose to wear masks.

9:15 Brock Daffodil Hunt

Hosting Club: Niagara
Category: Loop
Location (Google Maps): Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site, off St. David’s Rd and east of Glenridge Ave.

Hike Leader(s): Karen Couch Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Moderate
Distance: 7.5 kms

Description

Hike around the Glenridge Quarry site to join the main trail around Brock University. Hopefully the daffodils will be in bloom and we can see how the cherry blossoms are progressing on the university grounds.  The attached image is from 2017 so we’ll see how and/or if things have changed.  Please note: Come prepared for mud on some of the trail.

Biodiversity Spring Nature Walk: 2nd Annual Pools, Ponds & Peepers

Hosting Club: Caledon Hills
Category: Nature Walks
Location (Google Maps): Location: Meet at roadside parking at the dead end of Boston Mills Rd., about 400 m west of Mississauga Rd.

Directions: From Hwy 10 take Boston Mills Rd. 6 km west to the dead end just west of Mississauga Rd. An alternative is to take Mississauga Rd. north from King St. about 3 kms, turn left on Boston Mills Rd. for about 400 m

Hike Leader(s): Richard Smythe Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely – 3 km/hour or less
Terrain: Moderate – some hills and/or some poor footing
Distance: 3.8 kilometres

Description

There and back on both the Main Trail and the Rockside Side Trail, about 3.8 kms, with some hills and rugged sections. Hiking poles can be a great help. The pace will be slow at times with numerous stops to observe the spring ephemerals, listen to bird song and take photos. Bring your binoculars, camera and cellphone. Apps like Merlin, Seek, and iNaturalist will help identify flora and fauna along the route.

9:00 am Niagara-on-the-Lake Tour

Hosting Club: Niagara

Location (Google Maps):

Veterans Memorial Park, park just outside the park on King Street

Hike Leader(s): Robin Garrett Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Easy
Distance: 6-7 km

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

Fletcher Creek Preserve, Puslinch, HCA Property

Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: General Hike
Location (Google Maps): Park at Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve on Concession 7 just north of Gore Rd , Puslinch
HCA passes can be used or 7.50 per vehicle

Hike Leader(s): Cathie Green Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hr
Terrain: Easy – Mostly flat and usually good footing
Distance: Approx. 10 kms

Description

 

Fletcher’s Creek Preserve is an abandoned quarry site that has been rehabilitated and is located at the headwaters of the Spencer Creek watershed

We will  loop hike through the preserve as well as an adjacent trail that also was part of the quarry back in the day-lots of local history- it was the area swimming hole and some still use it.

Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the weather-could be wet. Bring water, snack, hiking poles, cell

Please feel free to call or text me if you have any concerns or questions Cathie 416-931-2095 cathiekygreen@gmail.com

9:00 Niagara Glen Hike

Hosting Club: Niagara
Category: Loop
Location (Google Maps): Meet at the Niagara Glen Nature Centre parking lot, 3050 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls. There is a parking fee. Parking passes recommended.

Hike Leader(s): Dan Wilson Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Strenuous
Distance: 11km

Description

Hike deep in the Niagara Gorge, along stairways cut into the rock and rugged paths that wind through this pristine pocket of Carolinian Forest. View ancient geological formations and fossils dating back millions of years, while hiking along the turbulent rapids of the Niagara River. This is a strenuous hike and there is a good chance hikers will get wet! Bring water, gaiters and hiking poles, if necessary. Dress appropriately.

Wetlands in Focus - Windermere Basin

Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: Education Hike
Location (Google Maps): Windermere Basin Park,
105 Eastport Dr,
Hamilton, ON L8H 7S4

Hike Leader(s): Bronwen Tregunno Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely – 3km/hr or less
Terrain: Easy – Mostly flat and usually good footing
Distance: 2 km

Description

Come and learn about waterfowl and other migrants with Chris Motherwell, Past President Hamilton Naturalists Club, West End Lake Ontario(WELO) bird count coordinator and shore bird expert.  Chris will talk about how this restored wetlands provides an important stopover for birds migrating to their northern nesting grounds. He’ll discuss the range of species seen here from Snowy Owls to various species of willets, snipes and sandpipers. We may even see some terns starting to nest in this birding hotspot.  More about birds seen here on eBird https://ebird.org/hotspot/L602320 Bring binoculars if you have them.  There is a short loop walk where we may view tree swallows checking out the boxes. May be low spots so wear hikers that can take some damp.  Parking lot is small but you may park along Eastport Drive.  This is a short leisurely walk with no facilities so bring your own snack and water.  Contact IBTC Hike Leader Bron for more information brontreg@cogeco.ca

Biodiversity Nature Walk - Native Species Scavenger Hunt

Hosting Club: Caledon Hills
Category: Nature Walks
Location (Google Maps): Mono Community Centre, 754483 Mono Centre Road on the east side of 2nd Line EHS, 200 metres south of Mono Centre

Meet at the northeast corner of the main parking lot.
44.026195, -80.071516

Hike Leader(s): Gary Hall and Richard Smythe Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely – 3 km/hour or less
Terrain: Easy – mostly flat and usually good footing
Distance: 3.5 kilometres

Description

Celebrate Earth Day with our Biodiversity Team on this guaranteed to be fun Native Species Scavenger Hunt. To enhance your experience, download the What3Words, Merlin, Seek or iNaturalist apps, but not a necessity.

You are invited to come early, between 10:00 – 12:00 to learn more about the nature apps and join in the “Let’s Make Mono Shine” Community Event festivities.