Father’s Day Hike to the Dundas Peak

One of my favorite weekend activities is hiking the many trails of the Dundas Valley and some of my favorites are the ones in and around the Spencer Gorge Wilderness area. So when Fathers Day morning arrived and my oldest son suggested starting the morning with a hike, I couldn’t think of a better destination.

The Spencer Gorge Wilderness Area is part of the Niagara Escarpment, declared by the United Nations (UNESCO) as a World Biosphere Reserve. This unique geological formation contains a few of Hamilton’s best waterfalls, one of its best lookouts, and hundreds of species of wildlife living in this Carolinian forest.

On this day we decided to head to the Dundas Peak to enjoy the amazing view from this point. The most common route to get here is to park at Tews Falls Conservation Area which is located on Harvest Road in Greensville. From there the well marked trail takes you to two different look-out points that provide views of the spectacular 134 feet tall (41 metres) waterfall and then proceeds along the gorge perimeter.

This trail although well groomed is right on the edge of the gorge and at times the drop off beside it is shear. It is important to stay alert and watch your footing. At various points where the trail has narrowed there have been protective barriers placed to aid in hiker safety. The views into the gorge below continually change and are amazing.

When we arrived at the peak we found that we had the place to ourselves and it was great to enjoy the panoramic views of Dundas below and the rocky outcroppings of the gorge walls.

If you are looking to hike to this point but are looking to shorten the walk, consider this little known shortcut: Leaving Dundas by going up the Sydenham hill, turn left on Fallsview Road. At the second curve, you will see a trail going into the woods on your left side. There is room to park on the shoulder here and the trail that you follow will quickly connect to the main trail. Turn left at this point and you will reach the peak in about 20 minutes.

This visit was certainly a great way to start my Father’s Day. Spending time with my family and enjoying the beautiful outdoors of this area always serve to remind me just how blessed I am.

Have you visited the Dundas Valley and Beyond page on Facebook yet? Check it out for photos and more hiking info. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dundas-Valley-and-beyond/120774278042380

Thanks for the ongoing support and dialogue. Happy hiking!