Bruce Trail End to End Part 8
Another one-way hike, thanks to the beauty of carpooling. dairymilk, Minnie, and I were joined by J, and her sister C for a wonderful hike in the Iroquoia section of the trail. We started at Tiffany Falls, which is actually 460m up a side trail from the main trail. If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend taking a quick visit. The path to the falls is wide, smooth stone dust, suitable even for strollers. The end of the canyon is amazingly picturesque. I do suggest, though, going early in the morning. There was nobody there at 9am, but when we arrived back at 1:30 in the afternoon, the parking lot was absolutely packed.
It's really amazing how much of the Bruce Trail, even in the heart of Hamilton/Dundas, manages to stay in conservation areas. Most of what we were hiking through was apparently the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. We had a quick stop at the Centre of Trails there to buy some ice cream, and get some bandaids for J's blistered heel.
Lunch was taken in the parking lot of a golf course, with a bit of lucky shade. Unfortunately, the last 2.5km of the hike were along Dundas city streets, due to a right of way issue crossing the CN rail line towards Webster's Falls. A real pity, as that Spencer Gorge loop is a perennial favourite 3h hike. The conservancy is working on getting those access rights back, probably through arranging for a safe crossing of the rail line. I look forward to that happening.
Minnie conked out after lunch, and I had to drag her the last 2.5km. We made it all the way to the confluence of the Main Trail and the Webster's Falls side trail, then a quick jog back down Sydenham rd to where we parked on a side street.
Distance covered today: 12.6km
Total distance covered: 79.6km
Bruce Trail % completed: 8.84%
Total Iroquoia distance covered: 40.8km
Iroquoia % completed: 33.77%
It's really amazing how much of the Bruce Trail, even in the heart of Hamilton/Dundas, manages to stay in conservation areas. Most of what we were hiking through was apparently the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. We had a quick stop at the Centre of Trails there to buy some ice cream, and get some bandaids for J's blistered heel.
Lunch was taken in the parking lot of a golf course, with a bit of lucky shade. Unfortunately, the last 2.5km of the hike were along Dundas city streets, due to a right of way issue crossing the CN rail line towards Webster's Falls. A real pity, as that Spencer Gorge loop is a perennial favourite 3h hike. The conservancy is working on getting those access rights back, probably through arranging for a safe crossing of the rail line. I look forward to that happening.
Minnie conked out after lunch, and I had to drag her the last 2.5km. We made it all the way to the confluence of the Main Trail and the Webster's Falls side trail, then a quick jog back down Sydenham rd to where we parked on a side street.
Distance covered today: 12.6km
Total distance covered: 79.6km
Bruce Trail % completed: 8.84%
Total Iroquoia distance covered: 40.8km
Iroquoia % completed: 33.77%