TorontoHiking.com Trail Guides
L22 Speyside to Limehouse Trail

START Lat/Long

N43.58291
W79.97208

LAST HIKED:

27 Sept 05

HIKE LENGTH:

9.5 km one way
20 km return

TOTAL
ASCENT:

 296 m

RATING:

beginner/intermediate (based on length of hike)

TIME:

N/A

FEE:

None

TERRAIN:

some hills; rocky terrain; woods, meadows, ponds

LUNCH SPOTS:

At Limehouse CA for return trip via Side Trails where possible

FACILITIES:

none

THE SITE:

The hike begins at the Main Bruce Trail off 15th Sideroad and enters the Speyside Forest heading north over rocky undulating terrain to the Limehouse Conservation Area. If you only have one car then this is a 20 km hike. If you can shuffle two cars then you can do the oneway 9.5 km hike and avoid the side trails.

WAYPOINT
INTERVAL

DISTANCE
km

WAYPOINT-TO-WAYPOINT TRAIL DESCRIPTION

001 - 002

1.0

From the “Speyside Crown Land” sign on the side of Sideroad 15, take the Main Bruce Trail into the woods. where another sign says Bruce Trail Access. At a Y-intersection with the Speyside Side Trail trail going off to the right, continue straight ahead on the left part of the Y. At a second Y the Speyside Side Trail goes off to the right, continue along the main trail to the left (002).

002 - 003

1.8

The trail becomes very rocky for the most part as it passes through a young woods with a lot of fallen moss-covered branches littering the woods. The main trail meets the returning end of the Speyside Trail (003).

003 - 004

2.2

Keep to the left on the Main Bruce Trail where it soon meets the 17th S.R. Access Trail (004).

004 - 005

2.5

Stay right on the main trail following a series of rocky ridges. At a slanted T-intersection (005) stay on the Main Bruce Trail going to the left.

005 - 006

2.9

The trail crosses a wooden plank bridge, swings to the left past what is left of an old foundation and passes along a ravine to arrive at Sideroad 17. Watch the blazes carefully in this area to avoid getting lost. Keep left on 17th Sideroad until the Main Bruce Trail soon leaves this muddy sideroad. The trail turns right on an old laneway into the woods (006) across a chain fence between two large coniferous trees that act as a gateway entrance.

006 - 007

3.4

A set of descriptive signs describe the special features of this area. The dirt trail strewn with a few rocks widens to 1.5 m in width, passes a regenerating field and climbs into mature woods where it  meets the Vanderleck Side Trail (007).

007 - 008

3.9

Keep right on the Main Bruce Trail. The trail meets 3rd Line road allowance which is a wide mud trail. Keep left along 3rd Line until it swings right into the mixed woods along another wide mud roadway (008).

008 - 009

5.6

Passing a pond habitated with young ducks the trail continues straight ahead to 4th Line.  Cross busy 4th line, turn left for a short distance and go right over the stile leaving 4th Line (009).

009 - 010

7.8

The trail passes the foundations of an old farm house on the left and continues along the fence to a farmer’s field(where sheep dogs were seen at work rounding up sheep). Keep to the side of the field through some fresh manure fields -say goodbye to clean hiking boots and be prepared to scrape. Crossing a stile into a small woodlot, the trail emerges under a hydro line onto a farm lane. At 5th Line turn left and soon the trail turns right (010) leaving 5th Line.

010 - 011

8.2

The trail climbs a rock face into the Limehouse Conservation Area where it passes through fields and crosses an abandoned roadway to meet the Black Creek Side Trail (011). Keep to the left on the Main Bruce Trail.

011 - 012

9.3

The trail passes a number of rock fissures before dropping through the “Hole-in_the_Wall” on two ladders. The trail turns right and follows an old rail bed where it meets the returning Black Creek Side Trail (012).

012 - 013

9.5

The Main Bruce trail turns left to cross Black Creek on  a bridge near the remains of an old mill. The path passes a number of old lime kilns and a large area map before arriving at Regional Road 43 and the village of Limestone (013).

013 - 012

10.0

On the return hike we again meet the Black Creek Side Trail and take this side trail to the left (012).

012 - 011

11.2

The trail descends through mature woods and winds it’s way down to creek level for a good look at Black Creek before climbing back up through a cedar forest high above Black Creek where it meets the Main Bruce Trail again (011).

011 - 010

11.6

Keep left on the Main Bruce Trail where you meet 5th Line in 400 m (010).

010 - 007

16.0

The trail comes descends a rocky slope to 5th Line where the trail turns left along the road and then right back into the woods past a large tree. Soon the trail turns to the left and passes back through the manure field and then two other farmer’s fields before heading back into the woods and crossing a stile. Past the stile the trail goes left along the edge of a third field and runs parallel to the hydro lines reaching 4th Line (009). Continue along the Main Bruce Trail and for variety take the side trails on the return hike. The next side trail we meet is the Vanderleck Side Trail which heads to the right down a rocky slope (007).

007 - 006

17.4

Continue along the Vanderlick Side Trail. At Sideroad 17 turn left and follow the sideroad until you rejoin the Main Bruce Trail (006).

006 - 004

17.8

Take the 17th S. R. Access Trail back to where it meets the main tral and keep right (004)

004 - 003

17.9

In 100 m you meet the Speyside Side Trail (003)

003 - 002

19.0

Take the Speyside Side Trail to the left across rocky terrain as it turns right along another track and then right along a logging road to rejoin the Main Bruce Trail (002).

002 - 001

20.0

Turn left on the main trail until you meet the next loop of the Speyside Side Trail which heads off to the left through the woods meeting 25 Sideroad. A right turn along this sideroad bring you back to the start (001).

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