any outdoorsy Ontario type should be familiar with this trail, and any true outdoorsy type has spent at least a couple of days on it For those not familiar with the bruce trail, it's Canada's oldest maintained foot trail, which runs along the niagra escarpment from niagra on the lake, way up to the tip of the bruce penensula on georgian bay. The escarpment, basicly a massive 800km long ribbon of dolomite limestone, is peppered with waterfalls(niagra falls being one of them) and caves all along the way because of it geological traits. Along the the very edge of the escarpment grows some of Ontario's few remaing old-growth forests, including the narled white cedars which at times grow horizontally outwards from the cliff faces, some are upwards of a 1000 years old! All these neat little facts are just part of the reason it's designated as a UNESCO world bio-sphere reserve, though this title does little to ensure it's protection from the forces of urban sprawl(partly why I'm bringing the subject up, spread the word so to speak). Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got till it's gone, pave paradise to put up a parking lot. So ya share your tales of the bruce if you got em! And if this is all news to you, and you're from the GTA then I suggest you get up and out there cause it's right in your own back yard! The bruce trail guide should be available at a local library, tons of excellent day hike destinations or even something a little longer and more adventurous. For mysel I did a 3 day trip a few years back in and around milton area. It was early may and most of the trail was going through a young hardwood forest so all the trees had their tiny fresh green leaves. You could see for quite a ways, like you can in the winter when everything is bare, but your sightline had a green speckle to it, real groovy. Another reason why I bring up the Bruce, is I'm planning on taking on the last section of the trail this June, from Wiarton to Tobermory (171km, planning on 10 days). Wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom, little known spots to check out or could let me know what the whether can be like in the georgian bay area that time of year as I've never been. anyways, thanks, and happy trails
Yo man just got off the trail did rattlenskape point in milton to just past limeford on the outskirts of halton. Don't know the wether but it sounds killer. As a siden ote i'm looking for somebody to try the whole thing with... i was going to get at it on my own but isolation makes one lost the mind as i learned (did 6 days alone)
nice rattlers on the trail too....the eastern massassauga rattler (sistrius caetetonus )if memory serves me right ....been a long time
haha, ya, that's the same section of the trail I did, we did the halton falls side trail to kelso lake conservation area, near the glen eden ski hill, where we camped out for the first night. On the second day we hiked to, and spent the night at rattlesnake point. So we've both seen that part of the trail at nearly the same time of the year, that's pretty cool. I've heard solo trips can drive one a bit nuts, but I've also heard stories of total revelation, a stripping of the senses right down to the centre. So I figure its worth a shot. In a few years time I'd likely be wanting to do the whole 800km end to end. This trip I'm doin in June I've now narrowed to just 100km, from lions head point on the penensula, up to tobermory at the tip. Decided I'd cut the distance so I could cut the time down to a 7 or 8 day hike. Little bit more of a relaxed pace that way, and I can catch the ferry from tobermory to manatoulin Island if I like. Check that place out for a couple of days, see if there's something to be hiked or paddled, or maybe just splurge on a hostel or B&B. Ya, so I hear, only on the northern tip of the trail now though, on the penensula...where I'll be, I'll be sure to check the boots and bag in the morning
not canadien and unaware of this trail but it sounds great the Bruce Trail is also a fantastic 'back country' ski trail at Stowe, VT. Hella fun
thanks for the tip, I may be living out that way in a two years time (VT is Vermont right?) so I'll be sure to check it out!
Me and my friend used to hang around with the old guy Bruce who came up with the idea back in the day... He was a nutty old guy, had a really overgrown home (like a forest with a house in the middle, dead centre of a city.)
bump I head out onto the trail tomorow and the plan as it stands is lions head to tobermory (100km) in 8 days. Goin solo, got the pack down to about 45 lbs, which is pretty ideal. wish me luck peace
next time ur on the trail for a while, may i join you? ive been lookin for people who travel along trail for a few days at a time and was hoping some might come with me for a few days it would be a nice treat. Im so tired of the hustle and bustle of the towns and the falceness that is highschool so im looking to escape for a while but dont want to go alone until im a little more experianced on the trail :S if you or if you nkow anyone that would be interested, lemme nkow thanks emma
Aw, my dad use to take me there alot when I was a kid. It's a beautiful place. One time in the early 80's we came across a big snapping turtle sitting in the middle of the path. My dad was teaching me why it's a good thing to leave wildlife alone so we went around back of the little guy and he nudged him in the butt with his foot. The turtle's head shot out of his shell with an angry SNAP! like a mousetrap on a spring. I bet he's still there.
To tell the truth I've only ever gone solo on the Bruce, but company would be fun. I went back again this year and did another 200 km. So I've now completed over a third of the trail. I'd like finish the whole thing before I'm 25, but the clock is ticken. I was thinking of maybe doing a 4 or 5 day stint on the trail in December. I've never seen the trail in the winter, I think it would be very calming. If you're serious and think you'd be up for something like that let me know and we'll talk.
17 M, from toronto. Looking for a few chillers to take on the full trail with me ASAP. Add me on msn or email.. Zev_Glick@hotmail.com
I've been camping at Cypress Lake and part of the trail runs through the campsite there so I've trekked along a bit of that. Cypress lake is the best campsite I have been to, if you like privacy and a really nice lake it is the place to go.
