Bruce Trail Hike #6: DeCew Falls to Short Hills (Roland Road) 11kms

DeCew Falls to Short Hills (Roland Road)

 

DeCew Falls to Short Hills Provincial Park. There is free parking and washroom facilities at both locations. If you want to do a shorter hike it is about 5km to the entrance of the Short Hills on Wiley Road. Here you will find free parking and washroom facilities. You can also take the Black Walnut Side Trail through Short Hills Provincial Park to significantly reduce the trek; however, you will miss Terrace Creek Falls. 

Morningstar Mill



Take the Morningstar Side trail from the parking lot to the Bruce trail. 




This section definitely has several interesting bridges including this suspension bridge.  

The Bridge at Laura's Crossing

The Bridge at Laura's Crossing commemorates Laura Secord, who traversed the rain-swollen waters of this creek to warn Lt. James FitzGibbon of an impending American attack. 





Abandoned Millstones 

A tributary to 12-Mile Creek where we saw a large Blue Heron take flight. Unfortunately he was too quick for us to snap a picture. 

Tributary 12-Mile Creek 


This section of the Bruce Trail features several bridges. Below you will see collages of some of the bridges crossed along this leg of the journey.

Various bridges along the trail

More Bridges


Power lines through Short Hills Provincial Park

Wild Mushroom...post a comment if you know the species!

In addition to the meandering creeks, Short Hills Provincial Park has a nice mix of both dense forests and open meadows with plenty of wildflowers and butterflies. 

Portion of the Rim of Africa Friendship Trail through Short Hills






A good portion of this section of the Bruce Trail allows both mountain biking and horseback riding. A portion of the Bruce Trail joins with Terrace Creek Trail #6. This section of the Bruce Trail is for hiking only; however, there are other trails you can take to bypass this section.


Terrace Creek Trail #6



Portion of the Terrace Creek Trail #6


Both Swayze Falls and Terrace Creek Falls are often dry in the late summer. Early spring is the best time to view if you want to see rushing water. 


Terrace Creek Waterfall



Terrace Creek Waterfall




Bruce Trail joins with the Swayze Falls Trail #1.








Swayze Falls Trail allows both mountain biking and horseback riding. Watch out for the road apples (💩) scattered along the trail!







Horse Hitching Post
 


There is also a picnic spot 
with a horse hitching post. 
Note that Swayze trail does have some steep sections. 



Swayze Falls (dry in summer)






Berries along Swayze Falls Trail


The image on the top left is the Jack in the Pulpit propagating. It will turn bright red before it drops its seeds.







Hike #6

Date:                        August 10th, 2021

Start:                        DeCew Falls Parking Lot:  DeCew Falls Map

Finish:                      Short Hills Provincial Park: 193 Roland Road Parking Lot B

Distance:                11.35 kms

Time:                       3 hours

Difficulty:                Easy to Wiley rd (first 5km) then moderate through Short Hills

Trail Use:                 Hiking/Biking/Horseback Riding permitted in some sections

Total kms hiked:   43.6 kms

Kms remaining:    868 kms


Points of interest in the area: Howell's Farm

Please post feedback in the comments!!! 







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