Toronto Hike Schedule

Car Hike: Lynn Valley Trail - Simcoe to Port Dover - 13 KM or 24 KM

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Car Hike
Location (Google Maps): Depart: Meet for a 9:30 a.m. departure from Simcoe Memorial Park parking lot, 273 Owen St. Simcoe, ON, N3Y 2V3 (Norfolk County)
If you want a shorter walk of 13 km arrive at 8:50 a.m. at the meeting location for a car shuttle to drop off your car and return to the start. Hike begins at 9:30 a.m.

Hike Leader(s): Jeanette Vincent Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Flat, Level 1 (Easy – mostly on flat, well maintained trails with hard-packed surface), Other (Refer to Description)
Distance: 13km or 23-24 km

Description

About the hike: 

The rail trail in Carolinian Canada is one of Canada’s best, following the Lynn River to Lake Erie, located on the former CNR rail line which was established along the pioneer river trail in 1873 as the Lake Huron and Port Dover Railway. The rail line was abandoned in 1988. The Lynn Valley Trail passes through a number of different habitats including; mixed woods, wetlands, open grassland and agricultural land, all along the scenic Lynn River. Interesting examples of Carolinian flora and fauna may be found along the trail. The autumn colours should be upon us and you may see the famous Osage Orange, species: Maclura Pomifera along Silver Lake. We will take a little detour to see Port Dover’s hidden gem; Lynn River Waterfalls and the luxury Clonmel Castle. Who would have guessed! We lunch in Port Dover and we retrace our steps to Simcoe. Bring a lunch or head to one of the local fish restaurants in Port Dover.

Length: 24 km (6- 6 1/2 hrs) with snack break & lunch stop.
Hike level: 2 (moderate). we will hike at 4 km/hr. Flat terrain, some paved & some stone dust.

• From Toronto about a 2 hour drive, add a little extra time if you are unfamiliar with the area.

What to wear and bring: Bring water, snacks and lunch. Or you may want to purchase a fish lunch at one of the local restaurants. Be prepared for weather conditions for this day. Hiking shoes or boots recommended. Hiking poles if you use them.

Car Hike: Family Fun at Limehouse for Bruce Trail Day!

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Car Hike
Location (Google Maps): We will meet at the Limehouse Conservation Area parking lot – coordinates are 43.632448, -79.973355.

Hike Leader(s): Monica Pasquali Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely (2-3 km/hr)
Terrain: Level 2 (Intermediate – some hills and uneven surfaces, rocks and roots underfoot)
Distance: 4 km

Description

Come and join me for a family-friendly hike in honour of Bruce Trail Day!  We will use the Limehouse Side Trail, the Black Creek Side Trail, and the main trail to make a lovely 4 km loop within Limehouse Conservation Area.  Approximately halfway through our hike we will leave the trail in order to enjoy refreshments and visit displays put on by the Toronto Bruce Trail Club at Limehouse Memorial Hall (and so we can have a washroom break, if needed) before returning to the trail to complete our loop.  There will be a scavenger hunt to complete while hiking, and individuals who would like to work on their “Biodiversity Naturalist Badge” (https://torontobrucetrailclub.org/the-trail/badges) are encouraged to do so during this hike – I love spotting interesting flora, fauna, and fungi whenever I’m on the Bruce Trail so I would be happy to help hikers in their quest for this badge.

Children under 13 years of age are encouraged to join their parents/guardians on this hike so they can fulfill the requirements for the Toronto Bruce Trail Club’s Youth Badge (https://torontobrucetrailclub.org/the-trail/badges) – all family members who are planning on joining us should register for the hike, including children.  You should bring enough water and food for a 2-hour hike, comfortable footwear with good traction, appropriate clothing for the weather, and a big smile because we’re going to have a great time!

Everyone is welcome – I hope to see you there!

Blue Mountains Stained Glass series in 4 hikes

Hike open to BTC Members only.

Hosting Club: Toronto, Blue Mountains
Category: Car Hike
Location (Google Maps): On day 1, we’ll meet at the Lavender Cemetery at the end of the Dufferin section. Refer to hike description for meeting locations of the following 3 hikes.

Hike Leader(s): Jacquie Van Dyke and Anhong MacNeil Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Challenging, Hilly, Variable
Distance: 15km

Description

Please join Anhong and myself (Jacquie) in hiking the Blue Mountain section over four hikes to earn their stained glass badge. The funds collected for this badge are used to maintain the pledge of “A Ribbon of Wilderness For Everyone”. You will be permitted to miss one hike which must be made up on your own in order to qualify for this special badge. If there is paid parking, we will all share in the cost. Bring 2L of water, snacks and a lunch. Everyone is expected to share equally in the car shuttles, both as a driver and a passenger.

Oct. 7  Meet at 9:15 am at 44.268777, -80.156810 Roadside parking on Mulmur-Nottawasaga Townline, 550m east of Lavender Hill Rd, at the cemetery gate. Do not block gate. Hike distance – 15km

Oct. 8  Meet at 7:45 am at km 14.1, GPS 44.312310, -80.193602 Accessible only from Con 10 South, roadside parking on the shoulder of 9/10 Sideroad. Hike distance – 18km

Oct. 24  Meet at 9:15 am near km 46.8, GPS 44.430927, -80.275390 Parking area located 380m north of the main trail crossing on Pretty River Rd. Hike distance – 15km

Oct. 25 Meet at 7:45 am again near km 46.8 Hike distance – 21km. Badge day!!!

Car Hike: Nature Appreciation - Rockside Side Trail

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

Parking is at the end of Boston Mills Road, just west of the intersection with Mississauga Road. Take care not to block the private driveway.
Driving directions: From Highway 410 north, continue on Highway 10, left on King Street, right on Mississauga Rd., left on Boston Mills Rd. to parking at the dead end.

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

Pace: Leisurely (2-3 km/hr)
Terrain: Variable
Distance: approximately 6 km

Description

We’ll take a slower pace to allow time to observe and identify the ferns, fungi, birds, dragonflies, etc. that we encounter along the trail. Using the iNaturalist app, participants will be encouraged to take photos with their smartphones and contribute observations to the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s iNaturalist Project. Of course anyone who simply wants to take in the wonders of nature while we walk is also welcome to come along! Note: Limit of 10 hikers, and registration is mandatory.

https://brucetrail.org/pages/get-involved/volunteering/citizen-science

This is a perfect opportunity to accumulate sightings towards earning your Naturalist badge!

Bring your curiosity, nature guidebooks, binoculars, camera, smartphone, lunch and water. Please wear proper hiking shoes or boots, and consider poles. There are a few steep sections. Difficulty Level: 1-2 (Easy/Moderate)

Urban Walk: Bronte Village

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Urban Walk
Location (Google Maps): Meet at the Bronte Athletic Park parking lot. The baseball diamond will be on your right as you enter.

Hike Leader(s): Roger Harris Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Level 1 (Easy – mostly on flat, well maintained trails with hard-packed surface)
Distance: 8 km

Description

We will follow the Donovan Bailey Trail to Bronte Road, then take Heritage Trail to Bronte Harbour. After a short break, we will continue along Waterfront Trail to Water’s Edge Drive, then walk southwest along Marine Drive to return to our starting point. The route is on a mixture of paved and packed gravel paths.

If you would like to read up on this walk, it is described as Hike No. 11 (‘Donovan Bailey/Bronte Village Loop’) in Nicola Ross’ book ”Halton Hikes” (2016).

Please dress appropriately for the weather, and bring water and snacks. Hiking boots and poles will not be necessary.

School Bus Hike: Niagara Glen and Niagara-on-the-Lake

Trip Information
Departure Time: 08:30
Return to City Time: 18:00
Departure Point: Kipling Departure Point

Optional Items

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Bus Hike
Location (Google Maps): Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Hike Leader(s): Celia Ho; Tom Swales; Leila Damband Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely (2-3 km/hr), Mixed (See Hike Description), Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Other (Refer to Description), Variable
Distance: 8-9 km

Description

Join us to visit Niagara Glen (https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/attractions/niagara-glen) and Niagara-on-the-Lake (https://www.niagaraonthelake.com/).

There will be 4-5 km of trails at Niagara Glen (excluding the rocky Whirlpool Trail). The terrain is Moderate (Difficulty Level 2) trails suitable for most hikers with basic trail experience and with infrequent obstacles and gently rolling areas with some short, steep sections. There are steep staircases going down into the gorge and coming back up.

After Niagara Glen the bus will take us to Niagara-on-the-Lake where we will do a 4 km loop on the Heritage Trail with paved and unpaved trails between Fort George, Butler’s Barracks, and Paradise Grove. The trails link Fort George National Historic Site and Butler’s Barracks National Historic Site. The terrain is Easy with hard-packed surface, no obstacles, minimal stairs and little or no change in elevation. Please refer to the route map: https://onthegomap.com/s/gi8t3622

After the hike free time will be given to explore the streets of the Historic Old Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and stop for refreshments.

Pro-rated parking fee of $1.35 for bus parking at Niagara On The Lake will be added to the bus fare when registering.