WEEKNIGHT RAINBOW HIKE: Escarpment Rail Trail – Japanese Interval Walking

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06/18/2026 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM

WEEKNIGHT RAINBOW HIKE: Escarpment Rail Trail - Japanese Interval Walking

  • HikeType Rainbow Hike
  • HikeIcon https://hikes.brucetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/7/image.png
  • PaceTypes ,Brisk - 4 to 5 km/hr,Leisurely - 3km/hr or less
  • TerrainTypes ,Easy - Mostly flat and usually good footing,Strenuous - Hilly with steep climbs and some poor footing
  • PaidOuting No

Registration Required:

Click here to register for this hike (10 spots remaining)

Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: Rainbow Hike
Location (Google Maps): Top of Wentworth Stairs at Mountain Brow West Park, Hamilton

Hike Leader(s): Doug O'Neill Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Brisk - 4 to 5 km/hr, Leisurely - 3km/hr or less
Terrain: Easy - Mostly flat and usually good footing, Strenuous - Hilly with steep climbs and some poor footing
Distance: 8 KM APPROX

Description

Everyone is welcome on this uber-friendly, all-inclusive 2SLGBTQAI+ Rainbow Hike.
Tonight’s hike, mostly along the Bruce Trail Rail Trail (close to downtown), includes an (optional) intro to Japanese interval walking (Nihon-shiki)which we’ll try for at east one 30-minute segment. The rest of the evening you simply walk at your regular pace.

Trail description: It's 90% flat. The steep bit, you ask? Climbing Margate Stairs and descending Wentworth Stairs.
How it works:
• Alternate 3 minutes of brisk walking (enough to raise your heart rate and make talking difficult) with 3 minutes of slower, recovery walking
• One cycle = 6 minutes; we’ll repeat it five times for a total of 30 minutes
If everyone agrees, we’ll try another 30-minute interval toward the end of our evening hike.
No one gets left behind 🙂

Meeting point & route:
•We’ll meet at the TOP of Wentworth Stairs (one block below Concession Street) at Mountain Park, along Mountain Brow. From there, we’ll:
• Walk down Wentworth Stairs
• Join the Bruce Trail Rail Trail at Charlton Avenue
• Follow the flat trail east to Margate Stairs
• Up the stairs to Mountain Brow, hike west along top of escarpment back to where we started.

What to bring:
Bring water (750 ml) and energizing snacks—especially if you don't eat beforehand. Insect repellent and sunblock also recommended. Sturdy shoes or runners are recommended.

Parking details:
Some parking on Mountain Park Avenue near Juravinski Hospital in a few designated areas. Or try the Shoppers DrugMart Parking lot at Concession & Wentworth, or along Concession.

Coming by transit: From downtown, take Route 23, 24 or 25 up the mountain and get off at Shoppers DrugMart at the corner of Concession and Wentworth. The meeting spot is a 4-minute walk from there.

Everyone gets a Bruce Trail Rainbow Badge! Again, this is NOT a high-intensive evening. The Japanese interval walking is 30-minutes of the hike.

"Click here to contact Hike Leader" on this form.