HIke #24: Sydenham Street, Dundas to Old Guelph Road

 

Sydenham Street to Old Guelph Road


We started our hike today at the Sydenham Street lookout. There is limited parking in the small lot. We parked our second car on Old Guelph Road. There is free parking at both locations. From the parking lot take the 80 metre Sydenham Side Trail to the Bruce Trail. Note that Rock Chapel Parking lot is currently closed. The section of the trail from the Sydenham Lookout to the Rock Chapel Parking Lot is easy; however, the section from Rock Chapel to Old Guelph Road is moderate with rolling hills. The muddy conditions made the stretch to Old Guelph Road challenging today. If you are looking for a nice gentle walk in the woods I suggest parking at Sydenham Street lookout and hiking in and out to Borer's Falls...if mud sliding is more your thing then continue onwards to Old Guelph Road!

Sydenham Lookout
The Bruce Trail continues along Sydenham St towards the Flamborough sign before turning onto Romar Drive. If you go down the wood stairs at the end of the Sydenham side trail you will be heading back towards Niagara. 

Sign on Sydenham St



At the end of Romar Drive, the Bruce Trail enters the woods and passes through the Rock Chapel Biosphere (part of the Royal Botanical Gardens).
Entrance to Rock Chapel Biosphere

Map of Rock Chapel and surrounding biosphere reserves.


The Bruce Trail follows the Escarpment Trail along the ridge. This is a wide, flat gravel trail through forests abundant with birch trees and is unlike any woods we've seen since we started our journey at the terminus in Queenston, Niagara. 

Bruce Trail runs with the Escarpment Trail through the Rock Chapel reserve.


Collage of birch trees 



One of many pedestrian bridges crossing small ravines along the ridge of the escarpment.






Stone Bridge crossing a particularly large ravine in the Rock Chapel reserve.








View of the Hamilton valley from the Escarpment Trail in the Rock Chapel reserve.





The Bruce Trail stays on the Escarpment Trail. The Armstrong Trail, which intersects with the Escarpment Trail, is a short loop that descends a steel staircase towards the Valley Floor. 


 



Along the Bruce Trail in Rock Chapel is an abandoned Sugar Shack and picnic pavilion. 

Map of the escarpment from Niagara to Tobermory.



Section of the trail that leads to the Rock Chapel parking area.

View of Boer's Creek from the edge of the escarpment.


Borer's Falls used to provide water power to a sawmill in Rock Chapel Village. The mill was run by the Borer family. After years of land clearing, the creek's flow slowed to the point where it could no longer power the mill. Winter is the best time to view the falls as they are not obscured by foliage. 

Brink of Borer Falls viewed from the north and west.

Bridge over Borer Creek

View of Borer Creek from bridge

Borer Falls viewed from the southeast.

Meadow adjacent to Boer's falls.


View from trail of Gurdwara Shaheedgarh Sahib Temple



















Note that there is a section of the Bruce Trail that crosses private land where dogs are not allowed. Please respect the wishes of owners so that we can continue to access this section of the Bruce. 





View from trail of Gurdwara Shaheedgarh Sahib Temple
















Interesting flora along the trail




Hike #24

Date:                      January 1st, 2022

Start:                      Sydenham Lookout 

Finish:                    Old Guelph Rd & Highway #6 

                                (N 43.307417, W 79.911580)

Distance:                7.79 km 

Time:                       2 hours 20 minutes

Difficulty:               Easy to Moderate

Trail Use:                Multi-purpose 

Total kms hiked:     149.1 kms

Kms remaining:      762.8 kms


Points of Interest in the Area: Royal Botanical Gardens 

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