Hiking Ontario

If you know me personally, you know that it is quite hard for me to stay still. And by this I do not mean that I fidget and fuss, but that I crave adventure and movement on a scale that most people just don’t understand.

While up to and including this point in my life, travel on a grandeur scale has not been possible – whether monetary tightness or family obligations or school requirements, or, or, or, there has always been something trumping my wild heart’s need to run.

That being said, I have not let that stop me from getting my fix when I can and instead, has made me quite the well-rounded guide for trails and destinations within our beautiful province that just have to be tackled. On a weekend or day off I am often up before the sun and off – solo or with company – hitting the open road with a destination in mind, ready to feed my soul the nourishment she craves of nature, adventure and exploration.

Wanting to get your feet wet with some of the best treasures I’ve found so far? Here are a few to get you started:

1. Spencer Gorge Conservation Area: This location contains some of the best hiking within a 30 minute drive of Cambridge, Ontario and boasts gorgeous views of the escarpment.

Overlooking the gorge toward Tews Falls side

There are well traveled paths already available for the less crazy than me type (which lead up to the peak, featured in the above photo), or if you are willing to be a little more daring, (and slightly…illegal), then you should prepare for a 6 hour hike down the basin into the gorge itself where you can meander your way to the bottom of both sets of falls. This area can be reached through a gated off access point on the Webster’s Falls side of the trail, or near the rail way tracks at the bottom of the hill heading into Dundas. Come prepared with proper, sturdy footwear, some water, snacks and enjoy a day playing at the base of waterfall giants. Michael and I did this hike last in the winter and while incredibly challenging in full snow gear, totally worth it to stand in awe of this:

Feeling so small at Tews base January 2015

2. Beamer Memorial Conservation Area: This beauty of a spot was first visited on a fall day where I was feeling particularly restless and needed a new perspective. Not knowing where I wanted to head, I Googled ‘best Escarpment vantage points’ and this beauty popped up in the search results. It really is something to take in.

Lake Ontario for days

Roughly an hour’s drive from Cambridge, this trail is located in Grimsby Ontario and is part of the Bruce Trail system that runs along the Niagara Escarpment. There are multiple access points (I have found 3 so far) boasting views of the escarpment cliffs, terraces, Lake Ontario as well as the upper and lower falls. If you’re a bird fanatic, try to visit during the spring Hawk migration (roughly March 1 – May 15) where you can catch these stunning birds of prey on warm sunny days between 10:00am and 3:00pm.
New to hiking? From the main gate the trail is fairly flat, roughly 1.9km and easy to navigate for even the most novice hikers. With multiple lookout points and even more challenging trails leading into the basin, this area needs a whole day’s dedication if you can manage. If you’re able and wanting a little more challenge, climb your way down from the back entrance or end of the top trail from the front; here you will find the upper and lower falls just waiting for you to explore them.

Linda and I reaching the top of the lower fall deck

3. The Bruce Peninsula National Park: While the furthest of my favourites, clocking in the drive at just over 3 hours from Cambridge, this breathtaking wonder located in Georgian Bay is well worth the drive. A part of the 885km of Bruce Trail, this section offers hikers the unique Northern landscape, incredible turquoise waters and four trails within the park to choose from.

That really is the colour of the water

As it’s located in the heart of a biosphere reserve, you’re sure to see your fair share of wildlife and interesting vegetation, massive rugged cliffs and limestone barrens. Make sure you make your way down to the Grotto – a natural cave on the shoreline that was formed from the waves from the Bay washing in over thousands of years.

Dancers pose over the Grotto #yogaeverydamnday

If you’re feeling extra adventurous and the park just isn’t enough for you (ha, yeah right), head over to Flowerpot island via boat and spend the day on an additional 6.5 km of trail, admiring the natural sea stacks, navigating massive caves and touring the historic light station.

Kelso: Located in Milton, just a 40 minute drive from Cambridge and easily accessable from the 401, Kelso is a location I would consider when I am looking for a slower pace, less challenging climb.

From the mid-point, overlooking the top

Still providing great heights for views, it also houses 22 km of hiking terrain which is also suitable for mountain bikers looking for a challenge, 396 hectares of camping, and a network of incredible caves to explore. With the perfect Western views, Kelso is a great place to head with a picnic, your favourite person and find a spot to perch while the sky gives you an incredible show at sunset.

Sunset at Kelso

If you’re wanting the same proximity to home as Kelso but a little more adventure, on the alternate side of the escarpment you’ll find Rattlesnake Point, accessible from Kelso or a short drive, which hosts three rock-climbing areas and an additional 12.7 km of looping trails.

These are just a few of my favourite spots in our gorgeous province of Ontario – I’ll have to write a few posts to fit them all in as there are still plenty of places in Muskoka, Niagara, through Huron and Bruce Counties, Sarnia, etc. to be shared. What are some of yours? Any different ones you might recommend for me?

~ Toni

 

Morning hikes at ridiculous o’clock

Lately I have a bit of an obsession with the morning sky.

First light brings so much promise and beauty – not to mention the peace and calm that comes before the world is awake. We see so many sunsets in our lives, sometimes we forget how beautiful the sunrise can be.  I have become a sunrise junkie.

As with all things that I love, I wanted to share the joy I find in these hours and decided to try to convince a few of the TLT ladies to join me in an insane adventure at stupid o’clock in the morning – 4:30 a.m. in fact.

I didn’t tell them where we were headed. I sent out a cryptic message to meet at my house, ready to depart on an adventure at this silly time and that I promised it would be worth the loss of a few hours of (in most cases) sleep.

I received the expected responses:

“Are you crazy??”

“Have you lost your mind?? 4:30??”

And then slowly, but surely, curiosity got the best of them and three of my brave TLT ladies agreed to come.

Part of me thinks that they really didn’t expect me to come through on these plans because I am far from a morning person – in fact most mornings I get ready without uttering a word until my first coffee has been consumed and I have had time to adjust to the idea that sleep is already over and the dream world hours away again.

That being said the early morning plays to my enjoyment of silence, calm and peace. It’s a compromise I am more and more willing to make the older I get and the more I realize how much enjoyment the wee hours of the morning bring.

As three very sleepy, brave and curious ladies arrived at my house, we piled into our car and headed to the first and most necessary stop on our adventure – Tim Horton’s.

After gathering our order and smiling at the curious glances of the drive-thru worker heavy with “what on earth are these nutty chicks doing up at this ungodly hour” thoughts, Kim, Jacqui, Julia and I continued on our adventure to one of my favourite places to gain perspective and take in the natural beauty we are surrounded by – Websters Falls.

Tews side of Websters Falls, Dundas ON

As light broke, so did the silence I was anticipating.

Making our way up the dewy trail laden with freshly spun webs, dew worms and of course pesky mosquitoes, I don’t know why I expected anything but our usual fits of laughter, dirty inside jokes and audible shrieks of enjoyment.

We were totally not supposed to be there yet…

Reaching the top, silence returned as each of us took in the view of sleepy little Dundas, Ontario, Spencer’s Gorge and the beautiful sunrise we were able to catch.

Daylight breaking over Dundas, Ontario

Our conversations ranged from the moment we were in, to challenges we were each facing in our daily lives, creating new memories together and of course recalling past hilarious events that have ensued during these early morning workouts.

And of course the funniest things get captured on Twitter

We hung out at the top for an hour or so, basking in the cool morning air, trying to hold onto these moments of joy before each of us became consumed by our usually busy and packed weekends that lay ahead of us.

My sisters ❤

 

Classy as always, ladies!

We had a ridiculously good time together (as usual) and vowed to take advantage of as many available crazy o’clock Saturday mornings as possible.

Our brave foursome at 6:00 a.m.

With sore abs from laughing, an unusual amount of early morning energy, legs stretched and ready for the day, we sauntered down trail for our drive back into town, pausing at every opportunity to take in the gorgeous views offered by the falls.

Nice bum, where you from?

 

Sisters at heart ❤

Nothing wakes you up quite like a morning session of laughter, cardio and a lot of coffee.

Sunrise selfies!

A huge part of my self-satisfaction has come from breaking out of my comfort zone, doing things a little differently and a lot less ordinary. The pay offs so far have been huge and I recommend a shake-up in routine to you all.

~Toni