Bruce Trail End to End Hike #38: Limehouse Conservation Area

August 06, 2022

Hike #38 Fourth Line to Sixth Line, Georgetown

Today we parked our car on Fourth Line (roadside parking for four cars) and took an Uber to where we concluded our previous hike on Sixth Line. The Uber ride cost about $14 not including tip. It's important to note that it isn't always easy to get an Uber in these remote locations so you may want to have a backup plan. There are no washrooms in Limehouse Conservation area or at either roadside parking locations.

Stile off Fourth Line

We stumbled across a Geo cache and took a peek to see what was inside. Looks like some water got into this one damaging some of the contents.

Geo Cache

The section of the Trail between Fourth Line and Fifth Line is a tunnel of woods that runs between farm fields on either side.

Cornfield

A short section on 5th Line takes you past the historic Gibraltar School House built in about 1845. The school closed in 1962 and is now a private residence.

Former Gibraltar School

Off of Fifth Line you will climb a short but steep embankment to enter into Limehouse Conservation Area.

Entrance to Limehouse Conservation Area

The portion of the Bruce that leads you through Limehouse Conservation Area is well worth a visit. You will come across ruins, rock fissures and a drop through the "Hole-in-the-wall" on two ladders.

View south towards 5th line from top of embankment

There are a couple of side trails in Limehouse Conservation Area that form loops with the Bruce Trail.

Ropes on trail protecting regeneration area

Rock Fissures as photographed from the Bruce Trail

Staircase dropping through "Hole-in-the-wall"

When you drop through the "hole-in-the-wall" you will get the opportunity to explore the base of this fissure.

After crossing through the "hole-in-the-wall" there is a boardwalk through a marshy area leading up to Black Creek.

Unfortunately the bridge over Black Creek at the Mill Ruins has been protected with orange barrier fencing which significantly detracts from the look of this historic site. Below I've included an image from the Limehouse Conservation Area website of the naked bridge.

Mill Ruins over Black Creek

Photograph of Bridge over Black Creek, Photo Credit

As there is no longer pedestrian access on the old bridge there is a newer wooden bridge that crosses Black Creek.

Bridge over Black Creek

Lime Kiln

Restored powder magazine

Exit from Limehouse Conservation Area

You can pick up the Canada Goose Side Trail as you exit Limehouse Conservation Area.

The Bruce Trail exits Limehouse Conservation Area in the historic village of Limehouse onto 22 Sideroad. After crossing the bridge over railroad tracks, the trail turns left onto Kirkpatrick Lane. The main trail follows Kirkpatrick Lane around a corner to the right, to the intersection with Fifth Line.

Bridge over Train Tracks, Limehouse

View of train tracks from bridge, Limehouse

After about a 300 metre walk along Fifth Line, the Bruce Trail takes a right turn into the bush, skirting the edge of cultivated fields before exiting again onto Fifth Line. You will continue along Fifth line for about 900 metres before re-entering the woods on a boardwalk section that leads over to Sixth Line. Alternatively you can skip the hilly 2.2 km U-turn and continue straight up Fifth Line rejoining the trail as it heads over to Sixth Line. Fifth Line is quite busy so be sure to walk opposing traffic.