Dufferin Hi-Land Hike Schedule

Dufferin Hi-Land 60th Anniversary Side Trail Highlights

Hosting Club: Dufferin Hi-Land
Category: General Hike
Location (Google Maps): Meet and park at Mono Community Centre (754483 Mono Centre Rd, Mono, ON L9W 5W9) at 9:15am. 

Hike Leader(s): su Bate, Helen Bailey Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Brisk
Terrain: Dependent on Conditions, Moderate, Slippery Sections Likely
Distance: 8.5km

Description

This is a series of 6 loop hikes; each hike is between 9-12km in length.  If you hike all 6 of the hikes in this series, or otherwise hike 60 km in Dufferin during 2025, you qualify for the 60th Anniversary badge.  Wear appropriate clothing for the day and bring a drink, a snack and icers.  The trail can be icy and slippery and muddy at this time of year.

We will follow the Laidlaw Side Trail west from the parking lot, then north to the Bruce Main Trail (km 0.6) then continue north past the viewing platform. Where the Main Trail veers left through a narrow fence opening, we’ll keep right onto the Clifftop Trail, then turn right onto the Walter Tovell Side Trail.  Continue south to Laidlaw Side Trail and back to Mono Community Centre parking. Total distance 8.5km

ABC's of Hiking Poles

Hosting Club: Niagara, Iroquoia, Toronto, Caledon Hills, Dufferin Hi-Land, Blue Mountains, Beaver Valley, Sydenham, Peninsula
Category: Special Event
Location (Google Maps): BTC Office in Dundas

Hike Leader(s): BTC Staff Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Brisk – 4 to 5 km/hr
Terrain: Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing, Strenuous – Hilly with steep climbs and some poor footing
Distance: 6-7 km’s

Description

Learn everything there is to know about the ABCs of Hiking Poles in this informative, engaging and interactive presentation. Developed and facilitated by Margaret O’Dell, this session will cover everything about hiking poles including attributes, benefits and cons. Bring your hiking poles (if you own a pair), so we can compare the different attributes of various brands and styles. We’ll draw from our collective experiences and founded research to learn from one another about good hiking pole etiquette. The session will conclude with a fun game – the winner will go home with a free pair of Cascade Mountain Trek Hiking Poles.

There will be an optional hike along the Tews Falls Side Trail after lunch – please indicate if you will be attending this optional hike in your registration or by using the Contact the Hike Leader button .

Refreshments will be provided with registration and lunch for anyone attending the optional hike portion.

Sydenham End to End - Stain Glass Badge

Hosting Club: Iroquoia, Dufferin Hi-Land, Sydenham
Category: Stained Glass Badge End to End Fundraiser Hike
Location (Google Maps): Blantyre Parking Lot

Hike Leader(s): Anita Bergsma Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hr
Terrain: Slippery and Steep Sections, Slippery Sections Likely, Strenuous – Hilly with steep climbs and some poor footing
Distance: Varies depending on available parking. The section is about 170km with 50km on road / 8 days of hiking.

Description

Pace: Medium – 3-4 km/hr
Terrain: Dependent on Conditions, Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing, Strenuous – Hilly with steep climbs and some poor footing
Distance: 165km over 8 days ~ 20km – 25 km+ per day.

Description

Overview

Important – Please do not register for this hike unless you can attend all 8 days. You may only miss 1 day if you have to but must be made up and reported to the Hike Leader before the last scheduled hike.
This is a series of 8  hikes to complete the Sydenham section of the Bruce Trail.  The organization, guidance, logistics and stained glass badge are included in your fee, which is non-refundable. Proceeds support the Sydenham Bruce Trail Club, which in turn supports the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s mission to “Preserve a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever.”

For this E2E in 8, we will be following the main trail northbound, finishing in Wiarton. Please note that you are signing up for the entire series of 8 hikes as a Group Hike. This Sydenham series in 8 hikes is geared toward experienced long-distance hikers with the expectation of a 3  to 4 km/ hr. pace maintained over a 20 km-plus day.  The section is approximately 170 km, so daily distances will be based on available parking. No dropout points have been established, and therefore, hikers who must drop out will be responsible for their transportation back to their vehicle. Please note that public transportation back to your vehicle is very limited if existent at all, in this section.  Please be honest about your hiking abilities. We will hike at a steady pace, but there will be plenty of time to take pictures and enjoy the flora and fauna of this beautiful but challenging section.  This particular set of 8 hikes is intended to be Moderate.  It is a group hike, so you must be able to keep pace with the person in front of you.

Attire and Daily Hikes. 

Hikers will be expected to be wearing proper hiking boots and layered clothing with the expectation of cool and possible wet weather.  Sufficient food and water for a full day of hiking is required as well as hiking poles (if you use them), and wet weather gear is strongly recommended. Bug spray is also suggested. Clothing adjustments and bio-breaks are as needed. Please let the sweep person know and they will wait for you. A morning break around 10 am and a 10-15 minute on-trail lunch break will be scheduled. An afternoon break will be based on our expected finish time. Depending on weather conditions, these times may vary.

Please do not sign up for this hike if you need to miss any of the days. It is 4 straight weekends and your attendance is needed in each of the days for sharing of car shuttling. One day may be made up if you absolutely must miss a day.

All participants will be expected to take turns either driving to the start or driving the drivers back at the end of the day. Carpooling to our meeting spot with 2 people in the car is generally ok but we would like to minimize and equalize the driving/shuttling as much as possible so it is fair for all participants.

Leave No Trace

Please remember, like all hikes, this is a Leave No Trace hike. Pack out whatever you pack in. Do not toss anything onto or into any sections of the trail. We will also try to leave the trail better than we found it so we will be collecting collectable garbage we might see along the way. Daily volunteers to collect trail trash will be supplied with a bag. Dogs will not be welcome on this hike.

Accommodations

It is strongly recommended you make reservations for accommodations as soon as you register for the hike. Accommodations can be made anywhere along the Sydenham trails. There is a motel, a campground and several B&Bs. If you would like a roommate, I can share your email with any other registered participants who are also looking for shared accommodations. Please let me know.

Daily

We meet for each hike by at least 7:45 am each day. A schedule for meeting and start locations will be sent to each participant closer to the start date. We will hike northerly each day. The schedule is subject to change.

Dufferin Hi-Land 60th Anniversary Side Trail Highlights

Hosting Club: Dufferin Hi-Land
Category: General Hike
Location (Google Maps): Park at Split Rock Narrows parking lot on 2nd Line EHS, 1.5 km north of 25 Sideroad (north of Mono Cliffs Provincial Park)

Hike Leader(s): su Bate, Helen Bailey Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Brisk
Terrain: Dependent on Conditions, Moderate, Slippery and Steep Sections
Distance: 10km

Description

This is the 3rd in a series of 6 loop hikes; each hike is between 9-12km in length.  If you hike all 6 of the hikes in this series, or otherwise hike 60 km in Dufferin during 2025, you qualify for the 60th Anniversary badge.

Bring a drink, a snack and ICERS.  There are some steep drop offs and the trail can be slippery, icy and muddy at this time of year.  Dress for the weather!We will follow Splitrock Side Trail east and south to second intersection with Ralph Tremills Side Trail. Then we follow Ralph Tremills east and return via Splitrock Side Trail west to 2ndLine. We’ll follow 2nd Line EHS Side Trail south to 25 Sideroad, cross the stile and continue south on Walter Tovell Side Trail to Clifftop Trail.  Keep right on Clifftop Trail to Bruce Main Trail, following the Main Trail west and north to Lookout Side Trail (km 4.0). Take Lookout Trail north and east to Walter Tovell and return north on Walter Tovell and 2nd Line EHS Side Trail to parking lot.