Hike Schedule

Limehouse Loop

Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: General Hike
Location (Google Maps): Main parking lot at Limehouse Conservation Area

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 around the historic Limehouse park and then up the road and into another forest, following the main and side trails and looping back to go up the Hole in the Wall. Expect to see spring wildflowers and hear the birds, as spring is in full view.

Dufferin Hi-Land 60th Anniversary Badge End-to-End Hike #4

Hosting Club: Dufferin Hi-Land
Category: Special Events
Location (Google Maps): Mono Community Centre, 200m south of Mono Centre (County Road 8). Park in gravel lot.

Hike Leader(s): Stuart Law Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Moderate, Slippery Sections Likely
Distance: 15.3 kms

Description

Join us on the fourth of four hikes to cover the necessary 60 kms of the Dufferin Section in 2025 to earn the coveted Dufferin Hi-Land 60th Anniversary Badge.  This is a shuttle hike from 30 Sideroad to Mono Centre.  Please be prepared to use your vehicle to transport hikers and please bring a garbage bag for your dirty boots and clean footwear to change into for the ride back to the start.  We will leave those things in the cars at the start so you don’t have to carry them on the hike.  Please make sure you are wearing comfortable boots and layers for the weather.  Please pack bug spray and sunblock.  Please bring two litres of water, a snack, a lunch and a smile.  Please arrive at 9:30 to be ready to shuttle at 9:45 sharp.

Urban Walk - Toronto Urban Badge Hike - 1 of 7

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

Hike Leader(s): Brian Rideout Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Flat
Distance: 11 km

Description

Please join me at the south west corner of Finch and Weston by 10 AM.  We will hike south on the Humber Recreational Trail to Scarlet and Eglinton (km 30.2 to km 19.2).  Here is an online map with km markings of our route for all 7 hikes for the Toronto Urban Badge: https://onthegomap.com/s/c2c1hf3n

Please make sure you bring at least 2 liters of water, a lunch, bug spray and sunscreen.

10:00 a.m. Tawse Winery Hike and Private Tasting Experience

Hike open to BTC Members only.

Hosting Club: Niagara
Category: In and Out
Location (Google Maps): Park at Tawse Winery 3955 Cherry Avenue Vineland

Hike Leader(s): Sam Rutherford Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Moderate
Distance: 6k

Description

We will hike on the main trail from Tawse Winery to the Margaret Reed Side Trail located in Cave Springs Conservation Area and return back to Tawse Winery by 11:30. Upon return we will enjoy a private structured tasting led by one of the knowledgeable and friendly winery staff from 11:30 to 12:00 noon. The cost for the tasting experience is $15.00 per person. You will also enjoy a 20% discount on bottle purchases that day. Please bring your $15.00 with you as I will collect it prior to the tasting to simplify the payment to Tawse Winery. Thank you.

Birding Hike: Colonel Sam Smith Park to the Arsenal Lands

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Urban Walk
Location (Google Maps): Power House Recreation Centre, Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr. Coming by transit you can take TTC bus# 44 from Kipling Station at 9:21 (scheduled every 9 minutes) to the end. Look for the tall Powerhouse Smokestack. It is about 50 metres from the stop. Coming by car follow Kipling Avenue to Lake Shore Blvd and keep straight. Kipling Avenue becomes Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive. Follow to the end parking lot which has free parking. On the way you will pass the Powerhouse smokestack on the left. After parking your car walk back to the Powerhouse meetup spot. Please arrive 15 minutes early.

Hike Leader(s): Andrew Proczek Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely (2-3 km/hr), Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Flat
Distance: 10-11 km

Description

Please join me and foremost local birder, Peter Sproule, for our second annual birding hike through Colonel Sam Smith Park and westward to Marie Curtis Park and the former Arsenal Lands. As promised last year this event is taking place two weeks earlier so that we can get better views of the birds in the yet undeveloped foliage. Peter won’t know exactly what birds are arriving or migrating through until the day before, but we can expect Warblers, Swallows and a variety of shore birds. You can see the birds with the naked eye but a pair of binoculars will certainly enhance your experience.

In case you cannot do a lot of walking and you will have your car, you can chose to return to your car when we will be leaving Colonel Sam Smith Park with the option of dropping out or meeting the group at Marie Curtis Park. There is one small park in between but most of the birding will take place at Sam Smith and Marie Curtis Parks including the former Arsenal Lands.

Public washrooms: Ken Cox Community Centre (open from 9 am) opposite the #44 Bus Loop stop; The Powerhouse Recreation Centre will likely be open and there is also a Porta Potty in front; Marie Curtis Park by the boardwalk.

Car Hike: Spring Birding Silver Creek

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Car Hike
Location (Google Maps): Silver Creek

Hike Leader(s): Janet Patterson Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely (2-3 km/hr)
Terrain: Variable
Distance: approx 3 – 4 km

Description

Join BTC ecologist Mara McHaffie and members of the Toronto Bruce Trail Club’s Biodiversity Team on a hike to learn about birds along the Bruce Trail. This will be a leisurely walk with plenty of stops to observe and listen to the birds we find. This hike will be geared towards beginner birders (no experience necessary) but all are welcome. The BTC’s Silver Creek property boasts a variety of habitats, including meadows, forests, ponds and streams, so we expect to see a good diversity of birds. Some will be just passing through during migration, while others will be staying for the breeding season.

During the hike, we will discuss how you can use apps like iNaturalist, Merlin Bird ID and eBird to enhance your birding experience. If you’d like to try them out for yourself, please download them ahead of time, as cell service can be spotty at this location.

Besides water and snacks, bring binoculars if you have them, and please dress for the weather. Note that due to the slow pace and frequent stops, you may want to dress more warmly than you would for a faster-paced hike.

While there is no regular public parking at this location, we will have the gate open to allow parking on site. Parking is available just inside the farm gate off Highway 7, just west of where Trafalgar side trail enters the property (just west of the intersection of Highway 7 and Trafalgar Rd). A sign will be placed at the entrance and PLEASE NOTE that due to the divided road, you can only turn right into the property while travelling southwest on Highway 7 (no left turn). Refer to the map for more details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-GvFUz_TAnTi9iqKkJSyRwYNxZM3xxX3/view?usp=drive_link

Halton Agreement Forest

Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: General Hike
Location (Google Maps): Meet roadside on 4th Line at 9:15 am. Up Guelph Line from the 401, turn right on 10 Side Road and follow the curve as it becomes 4th Line.

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 around the bike trails in this lovely Forest, including The Den and The Pines.  Expect to see lots of wildflowers and hear the busy birds.

Good Companions - Dundas Valley from Sanctuary Park

Hike open to BTC Members only.

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

Parking lot for Sanctuary Park – See map and address below (if parking lot is full, park on adjacent side streets)

Hike Leader(s): Ted Bossence Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hr
Terrain: Strenuous – Hilly with steep climbs and some poor footing
Distance: 8 km

Description

From Sanctuary Park we will hike the Spring Creek trail and parts of the Sawmill trail to the Trail Centre.  After a break, (washrooms “should” be available at the trail centre) we will walk to the south side of the rail trail and take the Main Loop, Sulphur Creek, local access trails and rail trail back to the parking lot.

Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time.  I will be leaving at 10:00 am sharp.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, a first aid kit and a snack.  Poles are highly recommended due to the number of hills and some hills may be slippery if it has rained recently.  I will cancel the hike in case of rain.  Please check your email the evening before the hike in case of a cancellation.  If you must cancel after the 4:00 pm Tuesday cut-off time I will be sending contact info on the Tuesday.