Hike 68: Old Baldy Conservation Area to Campbell Hill Road

Old Baldy Conservation Area to Campbell Hill Road

Today we left a bike at the top of Campbell's Hill Road and parked our car at Old Baldy Conservation Area to start our hike. This is not a ride we'd recommend as side road 7B up to Old Baldy Conservation Area parking is extremely steep, narrow and made of loose gravel. Peter ended up pushing his bike up most of the way (approximately 2kms). The bike ride along Grey Road 13 was a busy with traffic and mostly downhill. There is a fee of $11.30 to park at Old Baldy. The lot has plenty of room and a portable toilet. We saw several people with climbing gear entering the trail. 






Trail as it winds through Old Baldy CA








Cedar forest at the top of the escarpment

This section of the Bruce Trail treated us to several breathtaking views of Beaver Valley to the west. 



View of Beaver Valley Ski Club 






One of several crevices encountered in Old Baldy CA.


View northward into Beaver Valley.


View southward from trail (out over Beaver Valley)


Trail descending through woods










Intersection where re-route occurred.

We came across a rather significant reroute that was not on our map (Ed. 30.0) or the Bruce Trail website. It was so new that there weren't any markers along the roadside allowance 4B or on Grey 13 until we reached the Beaver Valley Rest area at Artemesia-Euphrasia where the former trail used to emerge.

The original trail (Ed. 30.0) heads left (east) then south along 4th Line A towards Artemisia-Euphrasia Townline.  The re-route heads right (west) to descend along a road allowance to Sideroad 4B and eventually Grey Rd 13.

Bruce Trail Reroute Sign

Road Side Allowance 4B (approximately 1km)


Where road allowance continues on Sideroad 4B


Intersection of Sideroad 4B and Grey Rd 13.  Grey Road 30 is straight on, passed the intersection.

Approximately 2 kms of our hike today was on Grey Road 13 heading southward and uphill. The highway is quite busy with fast moving traffic so be careful! This is the route Peter would later bike on the way back to pick up our car. 


Grey Rd 13 @ Grey Rd 30

Valley Vistas Side Trail is accessed from Grey Road 13. Due to the reroute we're not exactly sure where it accesses the Bruce Trail, or if it only connects with the former Bruce Trail section that is now closed. 



Approximately halfway up the road portion of our sunbaked walk along Grey Road 13 we stopped at the Beaver Valley Rest Area. Here there is parking, picnic tables, and portable toilets. Many people were stopping to try to get a lookout of the valley; however, you can't really see it unless you walk south from rest area parking lot (uphill).

The trail continues south on Grey Rd 13, passed Artemis-Euphrasia Towline road and eventually turns right (west) to re-enter the woods.  The trail winds up and down the escarpment, eventually climbing towards a meadow containing two surge towers (Ontario Power Generation) that direct water from Eugenia lake (east) to power generating turbines in the valley far below (east).




Heading south on Grey Rd 13




Grey Rd 13


Where the trail leaves Grey Rd 13 to re-enter the woods


Meadow by Grey Rd 13


Entering forest




View south of Beaver Valley




One of several creek crossings















Penstacks, Ontario Power Generation Property



From the hill where the Penstacks lie, the trail turns right to continue through meadows, tracts around farmers fields, and woods.  The trail climbs and descends, eventually intersecting with Campbell's Hill road, were we left the bicycle today.  Campbell's Hill road is also the location of the terminus of the Campbell's / Graham's Hill side trail which crosses the Beaver Valley from east to west to link the eastern and western sections of the Bruce trail.




Campbell's Hill Rd



   

Date:    June 28th, 2026
Start:    Old Baldy Conservation Area

Finish:  Campbell's Hill Road

Time:   3:04:19
Distance:  10.46 kms
Elevation Gain: 386 m
Difficulty:  Moderate (rolling hills, steep climbs, gravel paths, rocky trail, meadows, highway)
Trail Use:  Hiking Only on trail              
Total Bruce Trail kms hiked: 507.1 kms
Total Bruce Trail kms remaining: 404.8 kms
Points of Interest: We popped in and bought some apricot jam at the Kimberley General Store







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