Winter Walk on the Bruce Trail – Sherman Falls to Canterbury Falls

One thing we can say about this year is that the mild temperatures and low volumes of snow in this area have made this season very favourable for winter hiking. Early morning on Saturday, January 14 I headed out to explore the trails. Parking at the corner of Lions Club Road where it meets Old Dundas Road, I headed into the woods in the direction of Sherman Falls. This is a short walk and the fresh snow from the prior day gave the whole area a clean and bright look. Admiring the icicles forming on the rocks, this was the ideal spot for my morning coffee. Sherman Falls is impressive at any time of year, and at 17 metres high provides plenty of perspectives for photo taking. On this day I had decided to continue on the Bruce Trail with the goal of reaching Canterbury Falls which is a waterfall I had never visited before. To get there, I returned back in the direction I had come but now on the other side of the stream. Following the trail up the steep rock, I was soon at the top and walking through the woods deeper into the Canterbury Hills area. One of the great things about hiking in the winter is the quiet and solitude. With the exception of the sound of my boots crunching through the snow and the jingle of Rosie’s dog tags, the silence was perfect.

The air was crisp and the light snow cover made the green colour of the moss covered rocks really stand out.

The Canterbury Falls area really has two waterfalls, both of them being fed by a tributary of Sulphur Creek, which is also sometimes referred to as Canterbury Creek.

The first one you get to is called Little Canterbury Falls. This is a 5 metre (16 feet) tall ribbon cascade with a crest width of 1 metre (3 feet). It experiences its strongest flow during seasonal storms and after the winter snow melt.

The second and larger of the 2 is Canterbury Falls which is a 9.5 metre (31 feet) high terraced ribbon cascade with a crest width of 3.3 metres (11 feet). A wooden footbridge crosses the creek right at the crest of this waterfall providing an interesting vantage point for viewing. We spent some time here, enjoying the fact that we had the whole area to ourselves. After quietly watching a group of deer working their way through the valley, we headed back, making a mental note to definitely visit this area again soon.

Crook’s Hollow Historical Trail

Saturday, January 7, 2012 certainly did not feel like a winter day. With the sun shining and the temperature hovering around 7 degrees Celsius, it was a perfect day for exploring. Following a short stop at Tom Horton’s to pick up coffee, I headed up to Greensville, parking on the side of Crook’s Hollow Road at the entrance to the Crook’s Hollow Historical Trail.

The ruins of the Darnley Grist Mill capture your attention immediately with their rough stone walls and remains of old window frames. A nearby plaque explains the history of the mill and standing there in its shadow you can’t help but wonder what life must have been like, back in the day when water powered grinding wheels were used to process flour and grains.

The Darnley Grist Mill was constructed between 1811 and 1813. Originally the building was square and was 3 stories high. A nine metre high overshot waterwheel was mounted on the outside wall beside Spencer Creek. Water was drawn over the wheel to power the mill, which housed four sets of grindstones used for feed and flour production.

Leaving the site of the mill and walking along the edge of the creek, you quickly arrive at the Darnley Cascade. This 4 Metre high waterfall is formed as Spencer Creek drains from Christie Lake and heads towards the Valley. An interesting fact is that the Darnley Cascade, at 225 metres above sea level is the highest elevation waterfall in the Hamilton area. Continuing along the trail, the large and impressive Christie Dam Looms. This imposing structure which was constructed beginning in 1970 features a continuous walkway across the top providing an excellent view of Christie Lake.
On this day we spent some time admiring the lake from the dam and then proceeded up the trail as it follows the western shore of the lake. This is a great trail winding through pines and providing great views of the lake.

Christie Lake is one of the most beautiful lake settings on the Niagara Escarpment. Within its 336 hectares (830 acres) are 10 kilometres of trails, a wildlife management area, wide open spaces, tall grass prairie meadows, forests and a 360 metre sand beach. Visitors may enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer with canoeing, fishing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, and even cross-country skiing when conditions permit.The Crook’s Hollow Historical Trail is certainly not as well known as other parts of the Dundas Valley area but it is well worth a visit and is rich in natural beauty as well as history.

The Hermitage – Ancaster

Walking up the laneway of the Hermitage on a snowy January morning, it is easy to envision that you are stepping back in time. As you approach this formerly magnificent home in the Dundas Valley, you can almost imagine parties and day to day activity going on in what was a very prominent home in its day.
According to the historical plaque at the ruins, stones used in construction were quarried from local sites, the red bricks from the Dundas Valley and the limestone sills from the Credit River Valley. The Hermitage had several owners before it was acquired by George Gordon Leith in 1855. After George’s death in 1901, his daughter Alma Dick-Lauder bought the estate from the rest of the family and lived there until 1934, when a fire broke out during a party and burned the house down. Even after this fire, Alma continued to live on the site, building a modest home within the ruins where she lived until her death in 1942.
A Google search of this site will reveal many articles detailing alleged paranormal activity in this area. One that sticks out was reported by a group of young men who saw an apparition of the house restored to its former glory with lights on in the windows and very obvious signs of life. Others have reported hearing footsteps following them and whispers behind them and someone reported having seen a glowing corpse that vanished when they went in for a better look at it.
The Hermitage history is rich with legend and romantic tragedies of suicide and lovers scorned. The rumours and dark stories of murders and satanic rituals as well as the sightings and quiet woods make it a place that will forever be whispered about when the darkness falls and the moonlight shines.

In spite of this, I have to confess that I just found the site to be incredibly peaceful, particularly on this snowy day.

The Hermitage can be found while hiking from the Dundas Valley Trail Centre and is located on the Main loop. This trail is a favourite of mine, filled with rolling hills, streams and moss covered rocks.

A short distance away, you will find the gatehouse of the Hermitage and directly behind it is the Hermitage Cascade. This beautiful cascade waterfall is 13 feet (4 metres) in height and is very pretty. There are many good reasons to check out this trail in the Dundas Valley and both the Hermitage and the Hermitage Cascade are well worth the visit.

The Sydenham Falls Trail

“There’s a waterfall where??”

That was my immediate reaction when my brother called me and asked how I felt about an early morning fall hike into Sydenham Falls. Even though I had lived in this area for over 20 years I was totally unaware that this waterfall existed.

That was a year ago, and now I make a point of hiking the Sydenham Falls trail at least once each season. The great thing about this trail is that it actually contains 3 waterfalls and if you visit when the runoff is heavier you will get a chance to view a fourth.

Often times in the past, I had seen the trail heading into the woods at the bottom of the Sydenham Hill in Dundas, Ontario, not ever realizing the beauty and amazing rock formations that would appear just steps beyond.

The first waterfall that you come to is called Lower Sydenham Falls. It is approximately 13 feet high and is located below the railway bridge that crosses Sydenham Creek. There is a narrow wooden bridge that provides a good spot to view from and if you are feeling adventurous, a narrow and steep trail will take you to the water level. As you continue up the trail about 100 metres, heading steadily uphill into the escarpment, you will find a side trail on your right with a very steep downhill grade. This somewhat treacherous descent will take you to the bottom of Middle Sydenham Falls. The climb is worth it as this 20 feet high washboard curtain falls is spectacular! Heading back up the main trail, you arrive at Upper Sydenham Falls, which at approximately 45 feet tall is the largest of the three. It is a beautiful ribbon type falls and is a great spot to take photos.

In between Middle and Upper Sydenham Falls, you will see the fourth waterfall which is also beautiful but tends to dry up in the summer. This waterfall is called Lafarge Falls. This tall ribbon falls has water cascading down a rock face full of colour. On this day, December 31, 2011, we had just experienced a day of light rain which ensured that the falls was flowing well. The easiest way to access this trail is through Cascades Park which is on Livingstone Drive in Dundas. I highly recommend this trail if you are looking to see a lot of waterfalls in a short span of time. Also, this trail features a lot of uphill walking as you make your way up the escarpment so you get an additional cardio workout as a bonus!

For your information, we now have a new page on Facebook. Please visit and “LIKE” us!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dundas-Valley-and-Beyond/120774278042380
We will use that page to post photos as well as to provide current information on trail conditions and events. Come join the conversation!!

Happy New Year!!

Best wishes to you all for a happy and healthy 2012. I wanted to share a photo I took on New Years Day while hiking at Websters Falls in Dundas.We now have a new page on Facebook. Please visit and “LIKE” us!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dundas-Valley-and-Beyond/120774278042380
We will use that page to feature more photo’s as well as current information on trail conditions and events. Come join the conversation!!

Buckhorn Island State Park - New York State

When I started writing Dundas Valley and Beyond, I included the “and Beyond” part to include those inevitable opportunities I would have to explore beautiful areas beyond the Dundas Valley and greater Hamilton area.

This week was one of those opportunities. Taking advantage of a few vacation days between Christmas and New Years, my family and I headed to Grand Island, New York for a few days of relaxation and shopping. Always looking for opportunities to hike, I discovered that Buckhorn Island State Park was only minutes from our hotel and made sure that an early morning hike into the park was part of the trip. Grand Island is an interesting place. At seven and a half miles long by six miles at its widest point, it is surprisingly small and yet it is one of the largest freshwater islands in the world.
Located at the southernmost point on the island, Buckhorn Island State Park and Wildlife Sanctuary consists of 895 acres of marsh, meadows and woods and the last vestige of the vast marshlands and meadows that once bordered the Niagara River. The public is welcome to hike the nature trails as well as bike, kayak, canoe, fish and cross-country ski in the park. Ongoing restoration continues to re-establish wetland cover and water levels and increase the diversity of native flora and fauna. The ongoing restoration plan includes increasing public access with more non-intrusive trails, overlooks and bird watching blinds.
Waking early, I was greeted by icy conditions and a light snow flurry. Heading into the park, it seemed like I had the entire area to myself and it was incredibly peaceful walking the snow covered trails that followed the Niagara River. This area was officially designated an Important Bird Area in December, 1996. Nineteen species of gulls have been found here, representing almost half of the world’s 45 species. The area is also on the migration route for 25 species of waterfowl. Many even overwinter along the river. The most numerous gulls found here are Bonaparte’s gull, ring-billed gull, and herring gull. The most common waterfowl to be found are greater scaup, common mergansers, and canvasbacks.

Walking the trails, I noticed that a high volume of trees were covered by climbing and interwoven clinging vines. It gave the forest an eerie “movie like” feel, particularly enhanced by the quietly falling snow. Along the water’s edge, icicles were forming on the low hanging branches.

I was impressed with the many features of the park which included kayak launching areas and lookout platforms, ideal spots for bird watching.

Heading back to meet my family for breakfast, and with the ever present sound of migrating geese in the air, I felt a sense of gratitude for the year that was 2011. I am looking forward to an exciting 2012 and I hope you are too.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and please accept my sincere wishes for a happy and healthy 2012!

Cam

December Hiking on the Bruce Trail – Waterdown and Great Falls.

I am continually amazed that the more I hike and explore this area, the more I realize that I have just scratched the surface.

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to hike the Bruce Trail as it winds through the Smokey Hollow Gorge in Waterdown, Ontario. This trail is, in a word, stunning and is definitely one I plan on returning to soon.
Parking at the small lot on Mill Street in Waterdown, a short trail takes you to a viewing platform that has been built right at the crest of Great Falls. The view is spectacular as you watch the water rush over the falls and into the Smokey Hollow Gorge. Great Falls, also known as Grindstone Falls, has a height of 10m (33 feet), and a crest width of 5m (16 feet). Visiting now, few clues remain to suggest that this stream was once so large and powerful that it supplied numerous mills with the power needed to operate heavy machinery. As late as 1890 Smokey Hollow was the site of two large mills, fourteen buildings, three houses and nine outbuildings. By 1912, however, the mills had all closed as the water level in Grindstone Creek had gone down and the steam engines that propelled the waterpower were acknowledged to be too dangerous. Today, thanks to a rehabilitation program implemented by Waterdown residents, the locality is a beautiful and well-kept park. As the Bruce Trail heads downstream of the falls, the views continue to impress with rocky outcroppings and ever changing photo opportunities as Grindstone Creek cascades through and over massive boulders. Watch your step on this trail as you experience many short ascents and descents, many with steps and tricky tree roots to navigate over. Easy to get to if hiking the Bruce Trail, the park can be found on the Waterdown section.
If travelling by car, drive along the 403 toward Toronto, exiting on Hwy 6 North. You will then turn right on Hwy 5 (Dundas Street East). Head east, then turn right on Mill Street. Keep driving until you come to Smokey Hollow Park on the right. Great Falls is close to the parking lot.
You never know who you will meet while hiking the beautiful trails of the area, and on this day I had the fortune of running into Santa who was resting up prior to his big night.Best wishes to you all for a very Merry Christmas!!!!