START Lat/Long

N43.27946
W79.97892

LAST HIKED:

14Aug07

HIKE LENGTH:

6 km

TOTAL
ASCENT:

 180 m

RATING:

intermediate

TIME:

N/A

FEE:

parking fee

TERRAIN:

A hike along the gorge bottom; rocky with some hills

LUNCH SPOTS:

At Dundas Peak

FACILITIES:

At Webster’s Falls

THE SITE:

From Webster’s Falls, we descend to the bottom of the falls by a metal staircase and then hike along the gorge. The trail ascends to overlook the gorge and follows the edge. The trail climbs a long extended hill up to the Dundas Peak Lookout before following the gorge edge past Tews Falls and back to the parking lot.

WAYPOINT
INTERVAL

DISTANCE
km

WAYPOINT-TO-WAYPOINT TRAIL DESCRIPTION

001 - 002

From the parking area take the trail curving to the right along the escarpment edge.  The trail soon descends down a set of wooden steps arriving at the Webster family gravesite. continue straight ahead up a dirt path to the top to an open field. now leave the trail and walk ahead across the open area to a stone wall ahead. From this point you get a good view of Webster’s Falls before continuing to the right along the path. The path descends towards the falls crossing a stone bridge to arrive at alookout area and nearby washrooms and picnic areas. To the right you will find ametal staircase that descends down into Spencer Gorge. At the bottom first go left for a good view of the falls, Then back at the bottom of the staircase continue to follow the trail along the side of Spencer Creek. Past a fireplace site the trail climbs up and continues along the gorge from the top. At one point the main Bruce Trail begins to head uphill to the right leaving the gorge edge. Here you have a trail choice and both end up at the same point at waypoint (003). Continue on the main Bruce Trail away from the gorge or follow the more interesting trail that stays along the edge of the trail -sometimes very close to the edge so use caution. This intersection point is waypoint (002).

002 - 003

Continuing along the edge of the gorge top and comes out to a wide curve in the creek and meets a path going downhill along the creek edge. We’ll stay on the upper path but both routes come together further along the creek. This is another choice you can make. The trail along the gorge meets the main Bruce Trail again at the railway tracks (003).

003 - 004

Facing the tracks, turn left and walk along the path beside the railway tracks. This is the Old Dundas Station Side Trail (800 m in length) that completes the loop. Use extreme caution as this is a very busy rail route and trains are frequent. Soon you arrive at a meeting with the main Bruce Trail (004).

004 - 005

Take the Bruce Trail to the left heading uphill. There is a long long long gradual climb uphill where you make U-turn and continue up a set of log berm steps to the top and an intersection of the Glen Ferguson Side Trail, while the main Bruce Trail goes straight ahead. Instead, at this point, go left down a small slope to Dundas Peak lookout (005). From here you have a commanding view of Dundas below, McMaster University to the far left and Spencer Gorge to the right.

005 - 001

Leaving the lookout area, turn left along the main Bruce Trail. This trail now follows the edge of the escaprment looking down into Spencer Gorge from the other side. At Tews Falls there are two viewing platforms for good views of the falls. Leave Tews Falls, cross a small bridge and then stay along the wooded edge making a U-turn that leads you back to the far parking lot where you began (001).