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THE SITE: These three trails are shared use trails for hikers, bicylists and horseback riders. Be alert to the dangers of meeting horses or bikers along the trail.The vegetation on the Swayze Falls Trail (#1) includes Sugar Maple, Black Maple on the lower slopes and Black Walnut in the bottom lands. The Black Walnut Trail (#2) winds around Twelve Mile Creek. Wildflowers such as Birdsfoot Trefoil, Common Milkweed, Tiger Lily and Spotted Knapweed can be found. The Very Berry Trail (#7) features an abundance of wildflowers, birds and small mammals. Natural vegetation here includes a mix of Basswood, Beech, Maple, Oak and Ironwood in the uplands areas and large Bitternut Hickory and Black Walnut trees in the valley. The main feature of the trail is Twelve Mile Creek, Niagara’s only cold-water creek, historically noted for its quality trout fishing. This is a fascinating hike but some creek crossing may be necesary in wet weather.
THE HIKE: The trail leaves the parking lot (001) and the nearby basic washroom and shortly arrives at a signpost where you turn left to follow the main Bruce Trail, here marked as Trail #2. This trail crosses a road to the Boy Scouts camp and continues on a wide gravel path into the woods. The trail crosses a rapidly flowing creek over a metal and wood bridge where the sound of numerous birds can be heard from the surrounding trees. The trail wanders along through fairly open woods alongside the creek and through some wetland areas where the calls of chickadees are heard in abundance before crossing a small wooden bridge over the creek.
The main Bruce Trail continues to follow Trail #2 trough the woods along the edge of some short hills to the right. The trail now climbs a steep incline that provides good views of the surrounding areas. At the top of the hill, a wooden structure made of old tree branches can be seen before the trail enters a meadow like area and passes under the hydro transmission lines before entering the woods once again. At the intersection of Trail # 2 & 7 (002) keep to your left and go straight ahead on Trail #7, the Very Berry Trail. This trail heads uphill through some berry patches with the ground showered in fallen hickory nuts. Squirrels can be seen busily gathering these treasures while birds make active calls from the nearby trees. At the top of this long upward slope, the trail passes along the top of the ridge and through a predominantly maple forest with traces of oak. Great views can be had from the top of this ridge. A sign in the middle of the trail indicates the trail ahead is closed for regeneration thus temporarily closing the loop shown on the trail map. Instead turn left and head downhill along Trail #7.
The trail descends to the base of a hog back incline where a bunch of starlings dart down on us. Crossing a small creek on a wooden bridge, many distinctive old trees can be seen. A porcupine is spotted high in the branches of a nearby tree. Passing through a mixed hardwood pine and spruce area, the trail follows along the bank of Twelve Mile Creek where a flock of robins and blue jays swoop overhead. Passing through an underbrush area of mixed vegetation, a raccoon is spotted and the screams of a hawk and catbird pierce the silence. Entering a flat grassy area with small shrubs, black walnuts litter the ground as nuthatches, cardinals and chickadees dash from one branch to another. This brings you to 1st Street Louth where you need to retrace your path back to intersection (002) and turn left onto Trail #2 to continue the hike.
T he trail passes through a meadow area and gradually climbs back into the woods along a winding trail curving to the left. A number of informal side trails leave the main trail at various points along the way. The path comes out to a paved road and Trail #2 continues to the right into the Wiley Road parking lot (003). The trail continues past the fence gate along an old farm road between two meadows until you arrive at a small signpost indicating the start of Trail #6 (004). Continue forward on Trail #2 past the two trail markers for trail #6 on your left until you come to the lower trail marker for Trail #6 on the right. The trail here is completely washed out by the large volume of water in the creek requiring us to cross the nearby bridge and carefully make our way along the far bank back to dry land. Here there are two trails close together. Ignore Trail #6 and stay on Trail #2.
Climbing up an incline provides a gorgeous view of the gorge below along with a picnic table  (005). At the intersection of Trails 2, 4 & 6 (006) stay on Trail #2 passing the trail #4 crossing ahead and continuing on to the intersection of Trails #1 & 2 (007). Take care to find this intersection –you are looking for the first small informal path on your left heading up a steep incline. There is no trail sign or marking here. At the top turn left and follow Trail #1. Here there are great views of the surrounding countryside as the trail wanders along the edge of the hill before beginning a climb and passing a hitching post and two picnic tables. The trail continues on the ridge at the top of the ravine before circling around the edge of the ravine. Soon you pass a farmer’s field and a nearby farmhouse. At the hydro tower the trail makes a right turn and heads down a steep slope and over a wooden bridge across a creek. Passing through an area of white pine, the trail climbs to the top of the ridge and circles around to pass the opposite side of the ravine.
 Continue forward where the trail enters a sparsely populated woodland with a few rocks in the path. When you meet Trail #3, follow it to view Swayze Falls (008). Continue along Trail #3 until it rejoins Trail #1 (009). Continue north until the trail comes to a creek with a fair amount of water and no bridge across. Making our way down the slope to the creek we strategically place a few rocks in the creek to allow us to carefully walk across. Once across it is necessary to scramble up the hillside and around to our left to rejoin trail #1. Once again we are heading north. The trail passes along the top edge of a ridge and to the left there are numerous tempting grape vineyards.
Trail #1 soon meets the main Bruce Trail (010) coming down from the nearby road and enters an evergreen forest with an impressive collection of trees before descending a steep muddy slope. The trail continues along the top of the ridge which can be very muddy when wet before leaving the woods and skirting an area of low shrubbery. Along this grassy area there is a fantastic view of the surrounding countryside making up Shorthills PP. Deer can be seen in this region. The trail descends to the main path (011) where a left turn takes you back to the parking lot.
Enjoy the hike and the day.
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