Caledon Section - km 28.4 to km 44.4 - 23 September, 2014

Hikers: Andy, Ann G, Christine, Helgy,  and Steve

Leaders:  Richard and Karen

Section and Distance:  Caledon Section - km 28.4 to km 44.4

Weather:  Sunny and Warm

Actual Distance hiked:  16.97 kms

After parking a car at the 7 Line parking lot, we drove back to km 28.4 on the Escarpment Road to start the hike.

Starting the hike

We crossed the road and entered a hardwood forest and hiked for a little less than a km before we returned back to the road near Mountainview Road.

We continued the gradual descent to Airport Road and then hiked along Airport Road to Finnerty Sideroad and Innis Lake Rd.

We continued along a road allowance before following a series of bush paths through Toronto Regional Conservation Authority land.

We then descended into the Dingle (a narrow wooded valley) and then climbed to the junction of the Palgrave Side Trail.

We followed the trail, to Coolihans Sideroad before entering the Glen Haffy Conservation area. 

The trail then took us through open parkland, open fields and corridors between plantations to Highway 9.

After crossing Highway 9 we descended through ceders to a private reservoir and followed a wide path to a bridge over the Humber River.  The trail followed the river until it came to the main reservoir.

We came across this tree and wondered if it was a trail marker tree used by  the Natives and early settlers.

Trail marker trees were an ancient form of land and water navigational aids, as well as a marking system to denote areas of significant importance such as ceremonial sites. These trees were used by many, if not all, of the Native American tribes and later by fur traders and early pioneers.

I have sent the picture to an expert on these trees to confirm if it in fact is one.

Shortly afterwards we reached the junction of the 7th Line Parking Access Trail and took the trail to the car.

 We stopped at Tim Horton's for coffee before retrieving the other car and driving home.