Bruce Trail Hike #2: Firemen's Park to Woodend Conservation Area


Hike #2: Firemen's Park to Woodend Conservation Area



This leg of the Bruce Trail has us starting where we left off last time, at Firemen's Park. We parked one car at Woodend Conservation Area (1 Taylor Rd, Niagara on the Lake) and left the other car at the bottom of Dorchester rd right at the trail head. There is free parking at both locations.



This 9km journey was incredibly diverse passing through Carolinian forests with views of lush ravines, past ponds and meadows, alongside vineyards, onto the road, through a tunnel and across the QEW on a pedestrian bridge. 

As we started, we passed a pond where many turtles were visible sunning themselves. Walking through Firemen's park along the trail we also passed by a few of the nets for the ultimate frisbee court tucked away in the woods. 


Firemen's Park Pond


Firemen's Park Pond




Ultimate Frisbee Course, Firemen's Park



Yellow and Orange Wood Chickens










Don't be alarmed by the sound of bird cannons firing as you pass by the vineyards. 



Vineyard



Sand Plant Hill Footbridge over the QEW




Screaming Tunnel



Even in the daytime the screaming tunnel gives off an eerie vibe. Legend has it that the spirit of a girl murdered here can be heard screaming if you light a match off the wall around midnight. 



Photo Credit





We saw several beautiful butterflies including several Monarchs and a two tailed swallowtail.
Other wildlife seen include a red-tailed hawk, wild turkey, squirrels and a gartersnake


Walking along Warner road was interesting in itself. We passed Davey Tail Acres and a shoe tree.

Shoe Tree on Warner Rd. 




Any guesses as to what type of animal this is? Post your guess in the comments! 



After continuing down Warner road, we reentered the woods at the base of the escarpment winding up through a switchback into Woodend Conservation Area. If you are pressed for time you can take the side trail formally known as the Woodend Side trail,  now renamed Margaret Kalogeropoulas Side Trail. This will lead you back to the main entrance and shave about 2kms off your hike.


Garter Snake, Woodend Conservation Area


The trail skirts around the Niagara District School Boards outdoor education centre located in Woodend Conservation Area. The trail passes by stone formations along the top of the Niagara Escarpment. There are several looping side trails throughout the Conservation area. 


Woodend Conservation Area









Hike #2

Date                         August 2nd, 2021

Start:                        Firemen's Park, Dorchester rd, Niagara Falls

Finish:                       Woodend Conservation Area, 1 Taylor rd,                                               Niagara on the Lake

Distance:                 9.18 kms

Time:                        2 hours 24 minutes

Trail Use:                  Hiking only




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hike #59: Devil's Glen to Nottawasaga Lookout Provincial Park

Image
  Hike #59 Devil's Glen to No 26/17 Nottawasaga Side Road Today we parked on No 26/27 Nottawasaga Side Road and took an Uber to our starting location at the Devil's Glen parking lot (spots for 10 cars). There is roadside parking on No 26/27 SR. We almost had to cancel our Uber as he attempted to approach via Concession 10 South, and 26/27 was not accessible from that direction without four wheel drive. Fortunately, he was the same Uber driver that we tipped very well the previous week so he found an alternate route to us. I suggest if you are taking an Uber from this spot that you walk approximately 1.5 Kms to Osprey Clearview Townline Road. This parking spot would not be accessible in winter; however, you would be able to access the trail from the Devil's Glen Parking Lot. There were no washroom facilities at either parking location. Devil's Glen Parking Lot From the parking lot, the trail continues along Highway 124 at the top of the Devil's Glen Ravine before ent...
Read more

Hike #62: Blue Mountains, South Side

Image
  Castle Glen Estates to Blue Mountains (South Side) Note: While hikes 62 and 63 are in end to end order, the dates are note chronological. We completed these hikes at earlier dates but waited to post to keep the blogs in end to end order. We skipped ahead to complete other sections due to winter conditions and trail closures.  Today we embarked on a fun group hike ending at the Summit View BBQ. Peter's brother Rob was visiting from Vancouver so we decided to show him our version of a "Mountain Hike". The end of the hike left him wondering when we were going to get to the mountains. While it's no Big Chief, there still are some great views. My sister Nathalie and her husband Michael joined us as well. We parked one car at P2 in the Village at Blue Mountains (free parking and E-vehicle charging) and then the five of us squeezed into Peter's Elantra. Thankfully it was a short drive as it was a tight fit! We parked on  County Rd 19 and 2nd Line  (space for 3 cars). N...
Read more

Hike #60: Nottawasaga Lookout to Pretty River Valey

Image
  Nottawasaga Lookout Provincial Nature Reserve to Pretty River Valley Provincial Park Today we left a bike (in case we couldn't get an Uber) at the head of the Pretty River Access Trail on Pretty River Road (roadside parking   for 5 cars). There was no signal to call for an Uber so we traveled another kilometre east down the road to park our car at  Snowdrifters Parking Area  (20 cars).  At Snowdrifters Parking Area we had enough of a signal to request an Uber which took us to 26/27 Sideroad Nottawasaga   where the Bruce Trail enters the southern boundary of the Nottawasaga Lookout PNR (roadside parking for 5 cars).   Note that 26/27 Sideroad is only accessible by car from the west.  Most of the road from Concession 10 North towards Clearview Townline road requires a serious off road vehicle (e.g., ATV or monster truck).  From 26/27 Sideroad the trail heads north through the Notawasaga Lookout PNR, curving westwards towards the intersec...
Read more