Hike #48: Dunby Rd to 1st Line EHS, Mono

 

Hike #48 - Dunby Rd to 1st Line EHS, Mono

Today we drove two vehicles, leaving one at our destination at the end of 1st Line EHS just south of 25 Sideroad.  We then drove to Dunby Rd to begin our hike.  For this leg of the journey we were joined by Amanda's friend Andrea and our trusty companion Chloe.




Dunby Rd


3rd Line EHS


We headed east down Dunby Rd then headed north on 3rd Line EHS.  As the trail entered the woods at 3rd Line EHS, just as the road bends to the east.  From the road, the trial quickly ascends the escarpment, passing by several boulders and rocky ravines.  The trail heads north, parallel to 3rd Line EHS.



At the top of the escarpment the trail intersects with the Hockley Heights Side Trail.  This side trail descends the escarpment then continues east along 15 Sideroad then south across Hockley Valley to rejoin the main trail, forming a 24 km loop.

The main trail continues north through the woods.  At this point the trail would normally descend to 3rd Line EHS then travel north along the roadside - however this section was rerouted to the north and west to intersect with the Spring Water and Turnbull Sidetrails just south of Highway 8 at Mono Center.















The trails emerge from the woods to enter meadowlands just south of Highway 8 at Mono Center.  At the Mono Community Center there is a parking for 40 vehicles.  This is accessible by a short side trail that leads west of the main trail.  Here the rerouted Bruce trail follows the Laidlaw Side Trail for a while.

Meadowlands with looping trails - not part of the Bruce.





Peter walking northwest along a side trail to the parking lot at Mono Community Center.




A carving we encountered near the Mono Community Center parking lot.

Mono Community Center parking lot

The trail continues north to cross Highway 8.  Mono Center can be seen at the western end of Highway 8.  Highway 8 represents the boundary between the Caledon Hills Section and the Dufferin Hi-Land Section.


Trail approaching Highway 8 from the south.




View west down Highway 8 to Mono Center.

Entrance to Mono Cliff Provincial Park from Highway 8


After crossing Highway 8 the Bruce Trail enters Mono Cliffs Provincial Park located in the Duffin Hi-Lands Section.  We were disappointed that there was no placard marking the boundary between these two sections.  The Bruce ends up skirting the south and west perimeters of the Mono Cliffs Provincial Park.  Note the southern end of Mono Cliffs park is riddled with side trails.  In the southern end of the park, the trail skirts a small pond and crosses low lying regions dense with cedars.  The trail reconnects with the Laidlaw Sidetrail just north of the pond.





Pond at south end of Mono Cliff Park



Boardwalk to help navigate low lying section of trail.






Cemetery located in Mono Center (north end)

The trail continues north through Mono Cliffs Park, parallel to 2nd Line EHS, hits a junction with the Carriage Side trail, then takes a sharp turn to the west where there is roadside parking for 15 cars located at 2nd Line EHS.   The trail then turns to the north to skirt McCarston's Lake.  The McCarston's side trail runs with the main trail to skirt this lake.  It also provides a short cut to by pass this lake to the south.  We choose to follow the Bruce, north, west, then south around McCarston's Lake.  North of McCarston's Lake we encountered a look out with views to the north of the valleys of Mono Cliffs Park.



Trail heading north

This side trail heads west from 2nd Line EHS to 3rd Line EHS, crossing Mono Cliffs Park.



This sidetrail forms a loop around McCarston's Lake

Lookout located north of McCarston's lake at top of escarpment.

At the north end of McCarston's lake, we encountered a lookout platform and a short staircase that descended to the bottom of the cliff face.  This is short side trail is well worth the detour, as the views of the cliff wall from the base were spectacular!








After viewing the cliff face from below, we climbed back up the staircase and continued on the main trail to the west.   In short order we encountered the Lookout Side Trail.  This sidetrail heads north and west and provides views of the Mono Cliffs Park and the CN tower in the distance - we did not take this side trail.  Shortly after passing this side trail, the main trail quickly veers to the south to circle around McCarston's Lake.





Trail heading south


View of south shore of McCarston's Lake




After passing McCartson's Lake, the trail intersects the McCarston's Side trail (short cut section to the south) then turns abruptly to the right (west) to head toward 1st Line EHS at which point it turns north to follow this road allowance through the woods.  The road allowance then ends at the road proper, where we parked our car today (at km 7.9 at the south end of 1st Line EHS).




Trail heading north to come out on 1st Line EHS






Hike #48

Date:                 January 6th, 2023
Start:                 Dunby Rd
Finish:               1st Line EHS (44.04552° N, 80.09433° W)

Time:                           ~3 hours

Distance:                    ~11.2 kms (as the crow flies)
Difficulty:                   Easy: rolling hills, meadows, some climbs
Trail Use:                    Hiking Only               
Total kms hiked:       334.6
Kms remaining:        577.3


Points of Interest in the Area:  Mono Center, Mono Cliffs Inn, Mono Centre Brewing

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