RAINBOW HIKE🌈: Trekking through Terra Cotta

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Car Hike
Location (Google Maps): We will meet at the roadside parking on Heritage Road (coordinates are 43.734079, -79.944033).

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

Pace: Leisurely (2-3 km/hr), Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Level 1 (Easy - mostly on flat, well maintained trails with hard-packed surface), Level 2 (Intermediate - some hills and uneven surfaces, rocks and roots underfoot), Level 3 (Advanced - steep hills and some scrambling over boulders)
Distance (km): 10 km

Description

This hike is part of our Rainbow Hike program🌈, which aims to foster connection, visibility, and community among 2SLGBTQIA+ hikers and allies.  We’ll be joined by Doug O’Neill, who leads Rainbow Hikes with the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club, and Lana Hubbard, a transgender hike leader with the Caledon Bruce Trail Club.

After everyone checks in with me at the meeting location we’ll do a 10 km loop hike using the main trail and the Terra Cotta Side Trail.  Most of our route will be level 2/intermediate difficulty but there will be one large hill to conquer as we summit the escarpment on the main trail (level 3/advanced) as well as a fairly long flat section along the Terra Cotta Side Trail (level 1/easy) so this hike has a bit of everything!  Any fit Rainbow Hiker is welcome to join us.

Everyone who participates in this hike will receive a FREE Bruce Trail Pride Badge!

Please bring at least 2 litres of water and enough food for a 4-hour hike.   You should wear comfortable hiking shoes and socks, a hat, a breathable shirt, and lightweight long pants (to minimize the risk of a tick bite).  If rain is in the forecast then a rain jacket would also be a great idea.  Sunblock and bug repellent are also useful if it’s a sunny and buggy day.

After the hike, anyone who is interested in joining me for lunch and drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options will be available) at nearby Badlands Brewing Company (https://www.badlandsbrewing.ca/) is more than welcome to do so.  And if you don’t want to purchase your lunch then no worries — we’ll be eating at picnic tables in their outdoor Beer Garden so you can bring your lunch and still enjoy the good company and great conversation.

Looking forward to hiking with you on September 6th!  And feel free to share this page/link with your 2SLGBTQIA+ friends and family.

For more information on Bruce Trail's 2SLGBTQIA+ hikes, and to get information on upcoming Rainbow Hikes, please see the following webpage: https://brucetrail.org/pride-2026/