Hike Schedule

Duncan Caves/Metcalf Rock Loop

Hosting Club: Dufferin Hi-Land
Category: Tuesday Hike
Location (Google Maps): (Google Maps): Beaver Valley Section Map 25. We will meet at the SuperBurger parking lot (north-west corner of Hwy 89/Hwy 10 intersection) for carpooling at 8:30 am. Otherwise meet at the parking area at km 27.9, 100 meters south of where the Main Trail crosses the 10th Line on the east side for a 9:30 start.

Hike Leader(s): Tony Evangelista, Les Babbage, Inge Eckerich, Julie Daley Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Moderate
Distance: Long Hike 10 km Short Hike 5 km

Description

We will hike through the Duncan Cave Provincial Nature Reserve and the Chuck Grant Side Trail/Main Trail Loop. The short hike will end at the parking area at km 33.3 and car shuttle back to Metcalfe Rock parking.

Bring lunch, water and snacks. Sunscreen, insect repellant and hiking poles are recommended.

Hendrie Valley and Sheelah Dunn Dooley

Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: Good Companions
Location (Google Maps): Park on the Spring Garden Road lay by’s across from the Royal Botanical Gardens main building or use your RBG pass to park in the parking lot.

Hike Leader(s): Paul Toffoletti Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hr
Terrain: Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing
Distance: 8km

Description

The hike will start at the RBG, go through the Woodland Cemetery and down into Hendrie Valley. We will then take a small side trail and visit the recently acquired Sheelah Dunn Dooley Nature Reserve that the Hamilton Naturalist Club now owns. Find out what the eco-goats were about.  Return via Cherry Hill gate. There will be a little bit of road walking. Overall, a pleasant hike on established trails except Sheelah Dunn Dooley could be muddy depending on the weather the days before. At the end, there will be an optional apres hike at the Rose Garden Cafe near by. Call my cell 289-230-2038 or email paulbrucetrail@gmail.com if you have to cancell that morning or need help finding the meeting place. We will be out in the open at times, so bring a hat and water.

Metcalfe Rock - Chuck Grant ST Loop

Hosting Club: Beaver Valley

Location (Google Maps): Meet in the Metcalfe Rock parking lot on the 10th line. Km 27.9 (Guidebook Edition 30)

Hike Leader(s): Margaret Yaraskavitch Click here to contact the hike leader.

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Moderate, Some rocky footing, Some steep sections
Length of Hike: 9 km

Description

Enjoy a varied route. Along a field, crossing creeks, deciduous forest. There will be several great viewpoints and there will be an optional short trip through the impressive Metcalfe Rock Side Trail.

The Amazing Diversity of Insects

Hosting Club: Caledon Hills
Category: Nature Walks
Location (Google Maps): Whitetail Refuge Nature Reserve. Meet at the Mono Centre Community Centre, 754483 Mono Centre Road.

Hike Leader(s): Gary Hall 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 – 4 km

Description

Discover the amazing diversity of insects on the Bruce Trail with entomologist Jim Chaput and learn about these sentinels of our fragile environment. Learn what you can do to help these amazing species.

Toronto, Toronto Islands

Hosting Club: Toronto

Location (Google Maps): Meet inside the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, foot of Bay Street, beyond the cashiers selling the ferry tickets, in the open area with the benches and Muskoka chairs. From Union Station take the LRT one stop to “Ferry Docks” or take bus number #19 or #72 on Bay Street southbound to the Queens Quay. Walk across Queen Quay south through the park to the ferry terminal.

Hike Leader(s): Miriam Stevens, Tom Swales Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely
Terrain: Flat
Distance: 8-12 km

Description

After a day’s work, come and “cool off” on the Toronto Islands free of fumes and traffic to enjoy the view of the city skyline and Toronto’s own beautiful island parkland oasis away from the city. Pack a dinner for a sit-down picnic. Note that food is not available for purchase on the islands early in the season. Bring a warm jacket and flashlight. Return ticket for the ferry is approximately $8.70, $5.60 for seniors. The hike will take place rain or shine. Toronto Island Evening Hikes will take place every Thursday in May and June, same time and meeting place. The route and time we return to the city may vary depending if the ferries are running on the Spring or Summer (starts in May) schedule.  Contact Hike Leaders via the Contact form for further information or to confirm the current ferry schedule that will be in place the week of the hike. Registration is not required for this hike – just meet the Hike Leader at the above location.

9:00 am Niagara on the Lake Tour & Some Yoga

Hosting Club: Niagara
Category: Urban
Location (Google Maps):

Veteran’s Memorial Park, park just outside the park on King St.

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

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Easy
Distance: 6 km

Description

Enjoy the benefits of pausing for a yoga practice as we tour through the trails, parkland and Historic Niagara-on-the-Lake. No mat required. Movement will focus on a flow of standing poses designed especially for hikers. Plan to stay for conversation and a warm cup of coffee or tea at Sweets & Swirls, Community Centre, Niagara Stone Road, NOTL.

Spring Orchid Adventure

Hosting Club: Peninsula

Location (Google Maps): Bruce Peninsula National Park Visitor Centre at 120 Chi sin tib dek Rd, Tobermory, ON N0H 2R0. Meet at Front Entrance of the Visitor’s Centre

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

Pace: Leisurely
Terrain: Easy
Distance: ~5 KM

Description

Join Tony Edwards, a local orchid expert and much loved nature guide on our quest to find some of the first orchids of the season along with an array of other beautiful wildflowers that are unique to the area.  Meet at the Bruce Peninsula National Park Visitor Centre located at 120 Chi sin tib dek Rd, Tobermory, ON N0H 2R0. This hike will be a car-hike with short distance walking at each stop.  Car pooling will be coordinated at the meet up location,  to three different locations on the northern Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula. Total duration of the hike is about 4 hours.   Learn about what defines an orchid, as well as environmental ethics, conservation considerations and the interconnectedness of the natural world. Although this hike will not include Bruce Trail locations, it will help you to learn more about orchids found on the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula and how to identify them.  For those who would like to stay a little longer,   upon returning to the Bruce Peninsula National Park Visitor’s Centre at the end of our hike, you are welcome to join us for a half hour hike extension along the Bruce Trail to the Burnt Loop Side Trail Lookout in the hopes of spotting another elusive orchid species here.

Please wear sun protective clothing, sturdy walking shoes, and a hat. Bring camera, binoculars, lunch/snack , water bottles, insect repellent and sunscreen. Masks are strongly recommended for carpooling.

Bruce Peninsula National Park Admission Fee and Parking Fees are required. If you do not have a Park Discovery Pass, purchase your day pass and parking pass at the Bruce Peninsula National Park Visitor’s Centre prior to 10 a.m.

Rain Date: June 10, 2023