Home News Events Bruce Trail Day -Sunday Oct 2, 2011
Bruce Trail Day -Sunday Oct 2, 2011 Print Email

Sunday October 2, 2011

Bruce Trail Day is an annual event celebrating Canada's oldest and longest footpath, hosted by the Bruce Trail Conservancy and each of its nine Bruce Trail Clubs.

Bruce Trail Day 2011 is also a celebration of the International Year of Forests.

Together with our sponsor, Ontario Power Generation, each Club of the Bruce Trail Conservancy is hosting free guided hikes and family activities to help you explore the Bruce Trail and discover the amazing variety of life along the Niagara Escarpment.

Come and learn about our year-round hiking programs, trail maintenance opportunities, and what we are doing to establish a conservation corridor from Niagara to Tobermory.

Check out highlights from one of the Bruce Trail Day 2010 events on YouTube >>

Bruce Trail Day 2011 Events (from south to north)

Click on a loction for more details and directions

Niagara College (Niagara-on-the-lake Campus)

Hosted by:  Niagara Bruce Trail Club  (www.niagarabrucetrail.org)

Date & Time:  Sunday, October 2, 2011; 12 pm - 4 pm

Description:

Explore a reclaimed wetland on one of two short interpretive hikes lead by student volunteers from Niagara College. Or venture further along the Trail with Club volunteers, past layered rock formations and splendid views of vineyards and orchards on the flat plain below. 

Interpretive hikes @ 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm
Main hike @ 2:00 pm

Directions:

Meet at the "Greenhouse" at Niagara College
Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus
135 Taylor Road
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON  L0S 1J0

Meeting Point: GPS: 4315380, -79.16250

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Kerncliff Park  (Burlington)

Hosted by:  Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club  (www.iroquoia.on.ca)

Date & Time:  Sunday, October 2, 2011; 10:30 am & 1:00 pm

Description:

Join us for a guided hike along the Bruce Trail through Burlington's most scenic park. Walk through a hardwood forest and flowing ravines, enjoy a beautiful view overlooking Burlington and Lake Ontario, and discover the future plans for this park. Learn more about the Bruce Trail from Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club members, including our year-round hiking program and trail maintenance opportunities. This event is not suitable for children under seven years of age or persons with walking difficulties. No pets please.

Directions:

From QEW/ 403, exit at Brant Street and turn north, turn left onto North Service Road, turn right onto Kerns Road, drive up to the top of the escarpment, the park and parking lot will be on your right.

NOTE: Access to Kerns Rd. south from Hwy 5 is no longer available. See here for details>

Meeting point: GPS: 43.34862, -79.85925

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Terra Cotta Conservation Area (FREE shuttle from Toronto)

Hosted by:  Toronto Bruce Trail Club  (www.torontobrucetrailclub.org)

Date & Time:  Sunday, October 2, 2011; 10:00 am - 3:30 pm

Description:

Explore the variety of life and beautiful fall colours in one of the most scenic sections of the Bruce Trail.  Start by warming up at the Watershed Learning Centre and meeting some of your local Bruce Trail volunteers. Then join Credit Valley Conservation staff for a fun-and-fact filled guided hike at 10:30 am or at 1:30 pm.

Free parking at Terra Cotta Conservation Area for Bruce Trail Day participants.
(Thank you to our partner, Credit Valley Conservation)

Bus from Toronto available (see details in Directions below).

Directions:

Terra Cotta Conservation Area - Watershed Learning Centre.
14452 Winston Churchill Blvd, Halton Hills, Ontario
GPS: 43.72159, -79.95657

By car:

  • From Hwy. #401, exit north and continue on Winston Churchill Blvd.
  • Take a slight right at King St.
  • Take the second left on to Winston Churchill Blvd
  • Terra Cotta Conservation Area is 2 kilometres ahead on the left side of the road
  • Go past the gatehouse and go straight through box horse gate. Take first left into parking lot.

By bus - FREE Chartered bus leaves at 12 noon from Toronto

  • Meet at York Mills Subway Station in Toronto
    (on Old York Mills Rd near the southern entrance to the subway station)
  • Bus departs at 12 noon (in time for the 1:30 pm free guided hike

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Forks of the Credit Provincial Park

Hosted by:  Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club  (www.caledonbrucetrail.org)

Date & Time:  Sunday, October 2, 2011;  10 am - 3pm; Last hike 2:30 pm

Description:

Join us for a fun-filled day of guided autumn hikes featuring walks to the Cataract Falls, walks around a kettle lake, and more. Learn about the fantastic forests and the history of this part of the Niagara Escarpment.

Enjoy:

  • Our fabulous all-day BBQ
    Featuring Octoberfest sausages, hot-dogs, veggie dogs, hot- apple cider and more.
  • Children's Nature Activity Table
    Fun and exciting exploration of our plant, animal and reptile world.
  • Spectacular Views and Fall colours


Check out highlights from Bruce Trail Day 2010 at Forks of the Credit on YouTube >>


Hikes

1-, 1.5- and 2-hour guided hikes, 1.5 - 5 kms in length
Leaving regularly between 10 am and 2:30 pm.

Directions:

Meet at Forks of the Credit Provincial Park main parking lot. From Caledon Village go west on Hwy 124 (Charleston Side Road) to McLaren Road. Go South on McLaren Road to Forks of Credit Provincial Park Parking lot.

Free parking at Forks of Credit Provincial Park for Bruce Trail Day participants.
(Thank you to our partner, Ontario Parks)

Meeting point: GPS: 43.82493, -80.00410

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Mono Cliffs Provincial Park (Mono, NE of Orangeville)

Hosted by:  Dufferin Hi-Land Bruce Trail Club  (www.dufferinbrucetrailclub.org)

Date & Time:  Sunday, October 2, 2011; 10 am - 3 pm; Last hike 2pm

Description:

Hikes, hikes hikes!  Take a free guided walk on the Bruce Trail and its many looping side trails through Mono Cliffs Provincial Park. See the new beaver dam at McCarston's Lake and take in the views from several lookouts.

Hikes depart every hour and last approximately 1 - 2 hours.

MEMBERSHIP TABLE - Like to hike? Join our club, and enjoy guided hikes year round, social events, trail blazing parties, discounts and more. See samples of our newsletter and magazine. Drop by our Membership table/display for more information.

KIDS TABLE- It's a "hands on" fun for children 12 and under. Learn about special habitats and animals as you build a bird-feeder or make an Owl Whistle with help from Ontario Parks staff

TRAIL BUILDERS' AREA - Interested in helping to "Build the Bruce?" Talk to any of our volunteers about joining a crew to help build bridges, clear trails, blaze the path and much more. Training provided.

Sausages, hot dogs & refreshments on sale.
Everyone is welcome to enjoy a piece of Bruce Trail cake, cut at noon.

Directions:

Follow Hwy. 10 north from Orangeville to Camilla. Turn right on 15th Side Rd. (Dufferin County Rd. 8) to village of Mono Centre. Turn right at Mono Centre and follow signs to 3rd Line EHS, Mono. Go north to Mono Cliffs Park entrance and parking lot. From the east, 15th Side Rd. (Dufferin County Rd. 8) is accessible from Airport Rd.

Meeting point: GPS: 44.04679, -80.06221

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Blue Mountain

Hosted by:  Blue Mountains Bruce Trail Club  (www.bmbtc.org)

Date & Time:  Sunday, October 2, 2011; 10 am - 12 pm

Description:

Enjoy the fall colours and magnificent views of the Village at Blue, Collingwood and Georgian Bay on this free interpretive hike at the top of Blue Mountain lead by Bruce Trail volunteers.

Directions:

From Collingwood travel west on First Street. Continue through the traffic lights at High Street onto Mountain Road, through the next set of lights to the new traffic circle. Take the Scenic Caves road exit and drive to the top of the escarpment to Swiss Meadows Road. Turn right onto Swiss Meadows Road and enter the first parking lot on your right.

Meeting point: GPS: 44.49560, -80.32183

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Old Baldy (Kimberley)

Hosted by:  Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Club  (www.beavervalleybrucetrail.org)

Date & Time:  Sunday, October 2, 2011; 1:30 pm

Description:

Choose from a 6 km or 10 km tour of the Beaver Valley. Watch turkey vultures soar over the valley, encounter the Escarpments ancient cedar trees and enjoy home-baked treats after teh hike!  Both hikes will begin at 1:30 PM 

Directions:

From Toronto

Hwy 10 to Flesherton. Turn right on Hwy 4. At Grey Rd 13 turn left (continue past Eugenia Emporium). Turn right on Artemesia/Euphrasia Townline .Turn left on 3rd Line and turn left on Sideroad 7B. Watch for our Signs and Parking lot on left.

From Hwy 26

Take Hwy 13 South to just past the Beaver Valley Lookout. Turn left at Artemesia/Euphrasia Townline. Turn left on 3rd Line and turn left on Sideroad 7B. Watch for Bruce Trail Day Signs.

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Inglis Falls (Owen Sound)

Hosted by:  Sydenham Bruce Trail Club  (www.sydenhambrucetrail.ca)

Date & Time:  Sunday, October 2, 2011

Description:

Visit one of the three beautiful waterfalls that surround Owen Sound - where the Sydenham River plunges 18m over the Niagara Escarpment. Hike leaders will take you along their favorite routes in the section of the Bruce Trail.

Directions:

Location and directions to be announced. Stay tuned!

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Dyer's Bay (Bruce Peninsula, between Lion's Head and Tobermory)

Hosted by:  Peninsula Bruce Trail Club  (www.pbtc.ca)

Date & Time:  Sunday, October 2, 2011; Hikes depart at 10 am

Part of the Bruce Peninsula Outdoor Festival, Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2011

Description:

Bruce Trail day offers an opportunity to see some beautiful property in the Dyer's Bay area that encompasses mixed, hardwood and evergreen forests, pastoral meadows and breathtaking cliff vistas along Georgian Bay. There will be hikes of differing lengths and levels of difficulty, and this day is the perfect wind-up to a weekend of guided specialty hiking and other outdoor activities  and maybe even a bit of learning! As an added bonus, the hike locale is very near the  historic Cabot Head light station reached by a beautifully scenic drive along the shore; a great picnic location before the drive home.

Bruce Peninsula Outdoor Festival (Sept. 30 - Oct. 2) is several days of activity and presentations embracing the spectacular North Bruce Peninsula. This year, celebrating the "year of the forest" we'll have renowned speakers approaching the subject matter from several different perspectives and we'll physically explore our forests and coastlines with enthusiastic experts. Check www.pbtc.ca for festival details and registration, and Bruce Trail Day hikes information. The festival is a pre-register event with minimal costs but the Sunday Bruce Trail Day hikes are free to all comers; we encourage any curious folks to come along.

Directions:

Start point: Dyer's Bay parking area, Dyer's Bay Road, Dyers Bay.

GPS: 54.16238, -81.34065

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For more information about any Bruce Trail Day event, visit the Club website listed, or contact the BTC at:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or  1-800-665-4453 ext. 29
 

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