Hike Schedule

Avon Trail End to End (+ the Side Trails)

Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: Special Event
Location (Google Maps): Conestogo to St. Mary’s

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: Dependent on Conditions, Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing
Distance: Varies 20-24km per day

Description

Occasionally hikes are offered outside of the Bruce Trail as a way to reach our members that live in other areas. It is also a way to highlight other hiking trails in Ontario and to promote/support them.

Please join us for an end to end hike on the Avon Trail from March 10 until March 16. We will start in Conestogo and make our way to St. Mary’s and hike the side trails along the way (with the exception of the Wildwood South Trail). The total distance over the 7 days is about 153km. Please do not overestimate your ability for this series of hikes. It is a group hike but everyone is expected to keep pace with the person in front of them. Please do not register for this hike unless you can commit to all 7 days.

Please bring ample water and enough food for a full day hike. There will be a short morning break and lunch break. Everyone is expected to participate in the car shuttle in a fair manner – please ensure you have a minimum of 4 seatbelts available.

Membership with the Avon Trail is strongly encouraged. https://avontrail.ca/membership-levels/

If you are looking to complete other trails for the Hike Ontario badges, this one will fit in nicely. https://hikeontario.com/programs/long-distance-hiker-awards/

Completion of this series will qualify you for 2 badges plus the 50th anniversary badge (optional). Please note, if you have not completed the Wildwood Challenge club fundraiser held in October each year, you can complete the Wildwood South Trail 11.5km during this week and I will provide a shuttle for you.

Sweetwater Series - Hike 1 - Terra Cotta

Hosting Club: Caledon Hills
Category: General
Location (Google Maps): P1 – At Terra Cotta Conservation Area (entry fee – $8 per person at the gate)

14452 Winston Churchill Blvd, Halton Hills

Hike Leader(s): Jennie Greenfield; Elizabeth Ganong Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

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

Description

This series of five hikes celebrates the glorious sugar maple as we move from winter towards spring.  The trails are all in or near the Caledon section of the Bruce Trail and range from 7 to 10 km in length.

Register individually for one, a few, or all of the Sweetwater Badge Hikes taking place on Mondays.

Participants who complete the five hikes will be eligible to receive a Sweetwater badge.   (Note:  If you wish to purchase a badge, the cost is $10.00 for BTC members and $15.00 for non-members.)

Hike 1 is a loop hike on the Terra Cotta Conservation Area trails past some tap lines and a sugar shack.

Moderate – difficult under winter conditions

Bring your choice of hydration and snacks. Hiking boots and icers/crampons are required.

Participants will be notified the night before if a hike must be cancelled due to inclement weather.

Caledon Hills Fandango Pentango (9 hikes, 5 badges)

Hike open to BTC Members only.

Hosting Club: Caledon Hills
Category: End-to-End
Location (Google Maps): Mono Community Centre (County Rd. 8)

Hike Leader(s): Heather Murch Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Brisk – 4 to 5 km/hour
Terrain: Strenuous – hilly with steep climbs and some poor footing
Distance: 21.1 km

Description

It’s been 5 years since the Quadrango Fandango and so it seems fitting the hike series be renamed to celebrate those 5 years! There will be 5 badges awarded to those who complete 9 hikes over 4 weeks; mostly on Tuesday/Wednesday.

March 11/12/13, 18/19/25/26 and April 1 & 2 with the 3rd held in reserve should we need to cancel a hike due to inclement weather.

The hikes are no more than 22 km.

The registration fee includes 5 badges.
Exciting new badges:
1. Badlands Stained Glass series (fundraiser E2E) $30
2. Redside Dace, a little at-risk fish (independent E2E) $10
3. Sideways (40 km of side trails) $10
We will also meet the requirements for:
4. Frosty-Five badge (5 hikes by Mar 20) $10
5. Discovery badge (learn along the way!) $10

Participants must be BTC members and pay for all badges ($70) when registering; as a fundraiser for the Caledon Hills Club of the BTC.  The badges will be awarded on the final hike of the series.

There will be no shuttling; all hikes are in & out so you can make up a hike on your own if needed. Carpooling is encouraged to minimize parking requirements. We’ll start in the north at the Mono Community Centre. The hikes range from 17.9 to 21.6 km. I’ll send out the full itinerary a few days before we start.

Expect winter conditions – icers are required and snow shoes are recommended. You’ll need layered clothing, boots & poles and a raincoat. Bring lots of water, a snack and lunch. You’ll want to arrive by 8:00 am as the hikes start at 8:15 sharp.

Also expect to have fun! We will be challenged by Caledon Hills in the winter and we will also do some learning along the way.  I’m looking forward to this adventure!

Halton Agreement Forest

Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: General Hike
Location (Google Maps): Meet at the corner of 10 Side Road and 4th Line at 9:15 am.

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

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

Description

We will hike the bike trails around a big loop.  Bring icers.  Hike is dependent on weather.

Winter Badge Wednesdays: Riverside Woods Nature Reserve

Hike open to BTC Members only.

Hosting Club: Caledon Hills
Category: General
Location (Google Maps): Meet at 10 am at the BTC parking lot, 713377 1st Line EHS, Mono. Go north on 1st Line from Side Road 5. Access is closed going south on 1st Line from Hockley Road during the winter. It is best to aim for arriving around 9:45, so we can start hiking as close to 10 am as possible. Thanks!

Hike Leader(s): Elizabeth Ganong Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hour
Terrain: Easy – mostly flat and usually good footing, Moderate – some hills and/or some poor footing
Distance: Between 4 and 5 km

Description

Update on trail conditions: As of March 8th, the trails remain snow-covered at Riverside Woods. Half of the Saturday Shorts hikers snowshoed the route. You may wish to bring your snowshoes along on Wednesday!

Looking to get outside and enjoy nature in another season? You may wish to join in on one Wednesday hike in this winter series or all five! Complete all five as part of the series or do a combination of hikes within the series and your own winter hikes, and you will be eligible to receive the Caledon Winter Hiking Badge (further details below and on the CHBTC website under Club Badges).

This Wednesday’s hike explores Riverside Woods on side trails and gentler nature reserve trails on a 4 or 5 km route. Be prepared for winter conditions by bringing warm gear, poles, and icers. You are encouraged to bring water and a snack. No dogs please.

The hike leader for this hike is Elizabeth Ganong. Registrants can expect a reminder/update message one or two days before the hike.

If desired, this hike may be used towards the Caledon Winter Hiking Badge (5 winter hikes in the Caledon section that are 1 ½ hours or longer in length). Please keep a log of your hikes and follow the directions on the CHBTC website under Club Badges to receive your badge.

Dundas Valley West

Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: Good Companions
Location (Google Maps): Western Dundas Valley

Hike Leader(s): Anne Armstrong Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely – 3km/hr or less
Terrain: Easy – Mostly flat and usually good footing, Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing
Distance: Approx. 8 – 9 km.

Description

Please join this hike for lovely views in the western end of Dundas Valley including some lovely waterfalls. Please meet in the parking lot of the baseball playing fields, across from Lion’s Club Swimming Pool, 263 Jerseyville Rd. W in Ancaster. Meet at 9:45 for a 10:00 am. start. Bring water, a snack, icers and poles if using.

Welland Canal Series: Hikes #2 Woodend to Museum return and #3 Sobey's to Richard Pierpoint Park return

Hosting Club: Niagara, Sydenham
Category: Historical Hike
Location (Google Maps):

Woodend Conservation, Taylor Rd. 43.143377, -79.167212

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

Pace: Medium: 3 to 4 km/h
Terrain: Easy: Mostly flat and good footing., There might be muddy sections.
Distance: 8.5 km for first hike, 9 km for second hike

Description

Day 2: Woodend to Museum and back (8.5 km return), then drive to Sobeys off Glendale Ave and walk along Canal 2 to Richard Pierpoint Park and back (9 km return).

The first hike will take you past both the Third and the Present Welland Canal. We will also visit the Welland Canal Museum for a more complete picture of the history of the canal system. This is Hike #2 of the Welland Canal Badge.

The second hike will take you along parts of the Merritt Trail where the first Welland Canal followed. Unfortunately, there is little left of the first canal but many sections of the Second Welland Canal are quite visible here because it followed much the same route as the first one. This is Hike #3 of the Welland Canal Badge.

Mono Cliffs - Bottom loops

Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: General Hike
Location (Google Maps): Meet in the parking lot in the village of Mono Centre on Mono Centre Rd.

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

Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hr
Terrain: Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing
Distance: 9 kms

Description

We will hike the bottom three loops of Mono Cliffs Provincial Park and end along the Laidlaw Side Trail to the parking lot. These trails are fairly easy, with some rocks and roots and a few hills.  Bring icers for your boots. Hike is dependent on weather conditions.

7:00 pm Moonlight Night Hike in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Hosting Club: Niagara
Category: Night
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: 6-7 km

Description

Moonlight Night Hike – Take in the magic of the rising moon over Lake Ontario and the Niagara River. This hike includes a stop to connect with your senses – sights, sounds, smells and the rhythm of your breath. Counts towards your night hike badge (5 night hikes).