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THE SITE: This is a long hike that can be shortened by walking back 3 km along a long the paved 6th Line road instead of entering the Hilton Falls area. This is a great hike with many dramatic features to add to your enjoyment along the way. The hike involves crossing the impressive Dufferin Quarry Bridge that bridges a gap in the towering cliffs that allows trucks access to the quarry. The footbridge was constructed thanks to the Bruce Trail Association. The trail follows very close to the escarpment edge offering great views of the flat plains around Toronto and passes by numerous old cedars –some in excess of 900 years in age.
THE HIKE: From the small parking lot on the left hand side of 6th Line, cross the road to the east side and look for a small wooden bridge over a marshy area. The trail is marked by the blue blazes of a Bruce Trail Side Trail. The trail heads eastwards through the forest past lush growths of ferns, wild rhubarb and other vegetation. Here the trail is relatively flat with a gentle climb along the fence line. The trail does a quick jog north at one point before continuing eastwards where it meets Townline Road.
This is an alternate parking place if the small lot on 6th Line is full. There is no parking lot here but rather roadside parking on the gravel road which is not busy but it can be dusty.
At Townline Road turn right and in a few metres you will see the continuation of the trail across the road. This is quite a wet boggy area and mosquito breeding ground so beware in mosquito season
 The trail continues easterly trough a wooded area and past a large pond with a weir and limestone cliff walls before you come to a trail divide area. If you go left you will follow the blue side trail. If going right you will enter a meadow area where if you look to your right to see a large in-ground concrete dish that resembles an old abandoned reservoir serving a long gone community. Keep on the trail to the left trough a flat field and back into the woods where you will soon pass a picturesque creek. The trail is somewhat hard to follow here with numerous side trails. Take the trail to your right through a fence gate and follow the trail as it meanders through the woods. The trail begins to wind uphill trough very rocky terrain. Watch your footing in this area.
After about 500 m watch for the trail to swing left and follow the path downwards off the ridge. There is a wetlands at the bottom. The path continues downwards to the far side of the swamp before it begins to climb again. The path becomes very rocky and you will soon join the main Bruce trail at the edge of the escarpment. Turn right and follow the main Bruce trail with its white blaze markings. Soon the views open up with some very dramatic views of the plains far below.
The path winds dangerously close to the edge with a sheer drop. A gold course can be seen below along with views of the tall buildings in Mississauga. As the path heads south and then curves west, there are excellent views of rattlesnake point that towers over the town of Milton. The path soon arrives at the Dufferin Quarry Bridge which is a marvel of engineering. Before crossing the bridge take time to look at the display on your right that discusses the history of the bridge and the quarry. Cross over this long footbridge and follow the trail as it once again swings towards the escarpment edge. Although very rocky many wildflowers border the trail.
 The trail now begins to descend through a series of ridges along the edge of the cliffs past a collection of ancient cedars clinging to the cliff edge and face. There are some remarkably twisted tree growths here. Be carefully as there are patches of poison ivy in this area. You will pass through some rock crevices and cave like overhangs as you descend abruptly onto 6th Line. Here you have a choice: turn right and walk back along 6th line to the car parking lot or cross the street and enter the golf course to continue the hike through the Hilton Falls area.
Once you enter the golf grounds keep way to your left against the tree line. Do not join the main Bruce trail here with its white blazes. Instead follow along the tree line in the open and do a little jog to the right to cross the bridge over a small creek. Again keeping to your right you will see a flat grassy area with a bench at hole 4 T-off. If you look into the woods here you will see a fence running along parallel to the open area some10 m inside the woods. Walk through the brush (there is no trail) and turn right and follow the fence line. There is something of a trail here but it is essentially overgrown. As you follow the fence line walking towards the quarry you will come to a V-style gate common to bicyclists. Pass through the gate and walk through a corridor fenced in on both sides until you reach the V gate at the other end of the quarry. Follow the trail which soon joins the Hilton Falls trail system.
Turn right onto the Hilton Falls trails and stay on the wide trails through this area. You will come to an intersection marked “E”. Keep right here and follow to point “F” where you also keep right. As you follow the wide Hilton Falls Trail around the beaver pond, you will come to the far end where the trail begins to loop back to Point F. Instead look for the blue side trail markings on a trail to the right and then left to enter the woods. Follow the blue sidetrail blazes and when the trail meets a road go left. Follow this trail across a gravel bridge over a stream. Shortly after the stream take the path to your right. At the T-intersection go right and follow the path to where it eventually emerges into the parking lot where you parked originally.
For refreshments after the hike, head back and turn east onto the 401 heading for Toronto. Exit at Milton (Hwy #25 South) and immediately turn right at the first small laneway which takes you to Kelsey’s on the right. If you have alternate suggestions, please post these in the forum. Thanks.
Enjoy the hike and the day!
revised 22June03
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