Iroquoia Km 0.0 to Km11.1 - 18 December, 2014

Hikers: Helgy and Steve
Guest Hikers:  John G., John N., Carol and Anita

Leaders:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Iroquoia Km 0.0 to Km11.1

Weather: Cloudy and mild,  no wind

Actual Distance hiked: 12.6

After parking one car at the shopping centre, we drove to the Lewis Access Side Trail and started the hike.

We hiked the stairs and switchbacks of the Lewis Access Side for 350 metres up to the main trail.

We turned left and hiked the  trail along the escarpment.  The trail was rocky with slippery wet spots.  Just before the Adam Dopco Access Trail we stopped for elevensies.

After our elevensies break we climbed a number of stairs to the top of the escarpment.  We continued along the top of the escarpment and came out onto Wolverton Road.  From here we walked along Wolverton Road to Ridge Road and along to Quarry road then proceeded into the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area.  Here we found open washrooms for a short pit stop before proceeding on the trail to Grimsby Point.

 

At Grimsby Point we had spectacular views of the escarpment towards Niagara.  We then headed down stairs passing by some fast flowing water.  At the bottom by the bridge was the start of the Iroquoia section.  We took the Forty Mile Creek Side Trail and the road back to the shopping centre where we had left the car.  

We picked up the other cars and drove home.

Niagara Km 45.1 to Km 55 - 16 December, 2014

Hikers: Helgy, Anne and Steve

Leader:  Karen

Section and Distance:  Niagara Km 45.1 to Km 55

Weather: Cloudy, mild with some rain,  no wind

Actual Distance hiked:  11.67

After parking one car at the Balls Falls Conservation Area, we drove to Rockway Community Centre and started the hike.

We took the Rockway Side Trail for 500 km to the main trail and turned left.  The trail was re-routed in August 2014 with the completion of bridge which allowed us to cross Fifteen Mile Creek within the Rockway Conservation Area.  This new route wound through the forest by the creek surrounded by steep cliffs just before Rockway Falls.

After crossing Ninth St. we entered a mature hardwood forest.  We crossed several creeks and a swampy area to a road allowance.  We passed a vineyard and re-entered the bush to the Louth Conservation Area.

We continued along the picturesque high ground above Sixteen Mile Creek past a pretty waterfall.

We climbed the escarpment and and headed southwest towards Staff Avenue.  We headed northwest along the road and turned right onto seventeenth street.  After following the road for 1.3 kms we turned left and went half way down a hill onto a switchback.  We crossed several creeks and streams
before climbing steeply to the top of the scarp and headed through a bush to nineteenth street.

We crossed the road and headed west through the bush along the brow of the Escarpment to Glen Rd.  It was here that we had our elevensies.

We headed into the woods and descended into the valley of Twenty Mile Creek. We followed the creek for a km and climbed steeply up a set of steps into into Balls Falls Conservation Area.

We entered the park through the arboretum and descended a flight of stairs.  We used the road bridge to cross Twenty Mile Creek to our parked car.

Today's hike completes the Niagara section, our fourth section.

Niagara Km 29.1 to Km 45.1 - 9 December, 2014

Hikers: Helgy, Anne and Steve

Leader:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Niagara Km 29.1 to Km 45.1

Weather: Cloudy and mild with a little sun,  no wind

Actual Distance hiked:  16.40 Km

Starting the Hike

After positioning the cars we started the hike at DeCew House.   We entered the bush and then followed the south shore of Lake Moodie for 1.2 km to the Hydro facility and then followed the trail to the Escarpment edge above Twelve Mile Creek.  Here we saw a good view of DeCew Falls by the waterworks building. We continued along the old roadway to Morningstar Mill.  We continued along DeCew Road before entering the woods.

After crossing several streams we descended steeply to a swampy area, followed by more fields.  These lands form part of the 700-hectare Short Hills Provincial Park.  The trail turned left through fields and forests to Wiley Rd.  We followed the old farm road and followed the north bank of Terrace Creek to Terrace Creek Falls.  It was here where we had elevensies.

 After crossing a bridge over a stream we reached an old roadbed (Gillign Rd.) and followed it up the hill.  We continued hiking through old farm pastures and fields and then climbed a steep ravine by the Swayze Falls and observation deck overlooking the falls.  The falls is known as "dry falls" because it is often dry; however, today there was a trickle of water with some ice buildup.

We continued through the wooded area of Short Hills Provincial Park before we exited onto Effingham Road which we followed for a short distance and then entered a right of way near an old water-filled quarry.  We skirted a field and followed an old road allowance for a short distance.  It was here that we had our lunch.

After lunch we ascended steeply to the top of the Escarpment and continued through the woods to Rockway Road.  We followed Rockway Road briefly before reentering the bush.  After crossing a small creek, we came to the Rockway Side Trail, which we took to the Rockway Community Centre to our parked car.  Along the way we stopped to see the Rockway Falls.

We picked up our second car, stopped at Tim Hortons and drove home.

Niagara Km 70.6 to Km 55.0 - 4 December, 2014

Hikers: Helgy and Steve

Guest Hikers:  Cees, John G., Mike, Joanne, Annie, Shirley, Bob

Leader:  Karen

Section and Distance:  Niagara Km 70.6 to Km 55.0

Weather: Coldish, Sun and Cloud, no wind - Perfect hiking weather

Actual Distance hiked:  16.68 Km

Today seven pathfinder hikers joined us on our hike.  After parking a car at Balls Falls we drove to the Mountainview Conservation Area to start the hike.

We started on Mountainview Road to Locust Lane to a road allowance.  We crossed a creek onto the EastDell Estate Winery property and then climbed a steep hill on a road allowance to the escarpment.  We soon passed the Kinsmen Community Park.

We followed the slope to a gully and then followed a narrow entrance back up.  We saw several slabs of rocks left by glaciers atop the escarpment.  Walking through the bush we came to a well worn path to Quarry Road.  We crossed the road and followed farmer's fields for a while.  We passed through a mature stand of beach and maple trees with beautiful views of the vineyards and Cave Springs from the top.

We crossed Cherry St. along the top of the Escarpment.  We descended steeply over a ridge and large dolostone boulders from the escarpment crest.  We climbed a diagonal ascent of the escarpment, crossing several streambeds.  It was here that we had our lunch.

We continued along through meadows and woodlands to Fifth Avenue and Victoria Street.

We followed the escarpment to Balls Falls.

While the drivers picked up the cars, the hikers explored the Balls Falls Conservation area.