Upcoming Hikes Spring 2019
You are welcome to join any of the following hikes but you do so at your own risk.
Please consider joining and supporting hiking organizations such as the
Grand Valley Trails Association, the
Avon Trail, the
Guelph Hiking Club, the
Bruce Trail Conservancy, the
Thames Valley Hiking Association, and the
Elgin Hiking Trail Club. See
Hike Ontario and the
Ontario Trails Council for other suggestions.
Smoking is not permitted on hikes.
Dogs are not allowed on most hikes unless otherwise stated.
Hikes usually proceed "rain or shine". Exceptions would be if there is severe weather with road closures or imminent lightning storms.
Note that it states "Depart at ..." in each description. That means you must be at the designated meeting place well ahead of time.
Some hikes are loops while others are linear. Linear hikes require a car shuttle at the start of the hike and at the end of the hike. If it is a car shuttle hike, we usually meet at the end point.
Come prepared to participate in the car shuttle and ensure there are at least two to three empty seats in your car. Also, you need room in the car trunk for back packs, etc.
Some of these hikes may be offered through a hiking organization in which case you must be prepared to sign a "Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk" form before the hike starts.
Hike Rating
To help you decide if a hike is suitable for you, I tend to use a hike rating system similar to that used by organizations such as the Bruce Trail Conservancy, Hike Ontario and the Grand Valley Trails Association. There are three aspects that describe or rate the hike.
Pace (or Speed)
Leisurely = less than 2 km/h Slow = 2 to 3 km/h
Moderate = 3 to 4 km/h Fast = 5 km/h or greater
Level of Difficulty (LOD)/Terrain
Easy or Level 1 – Well–defined trails, gentle inclines. Hiking boots not required, but trails may be wet. Is suitable for beginners. This level is recommended for newcomers
if the distance is suitable.
Normal or Level 2 – Generally on trail. May be hilly, light bush whacking, some rough spots or obstacles. Sturdy hiking boots are necessary.
Strenuous or Level 3 – Rough terrain with one or more of the following: extensive bushwhacking, steep sections, long climbs and descents, beaver dams,
rock scrambling or other obstacles. Boots, Level 2 experience, and a high level of fitness essential. Long pants and sleeves recommended.
Distance
Distance is stated in kilometres (km). [1 kilometre = 0.621371192 mile].
2019 SPRING HIKE(S)
Thursday, April 18, 2019
– Walk to the Airport on the GVT. Level 2. Pace: 2-3
km/h (slow-moderate). 12 km
Leader: Jamie.
Depart at 10:00 a.m. from the M.R. Good Family Walter Bean
parking lot (Google Street View) near the end of Otterbein
Road (43.460195, -80.420032). The Grand Valley Trail (GVT)
takes us through Natchez Hills (ESPA 24) to the Fairway Road
bridge (one of only a small number of segmental bridges in
the province). Here we leave the GVT and cross “the Grand”
from Kitchener to Cambridge to Woolwich Township (no
passports required). We proceed to the airport and stop at
the
Runways Café for lunch. After, we re-cross “the Grand”
and return to the Otterbein Rd parking lot using the Walter
Bean trail only. NOTE: It is possible to shorten this walk
from 12 km to 9 km on your own by placing a car in the K.D.
Woerner Family Walter Bean parking lot (43.444795,
-80.401927) at the end of Woolner Trail (formerly Zeller
Drive) and avoid the longer walk back to the Otterbein Rd
parking lot. Check here for more information and last-minute
changes.
Thursday, April 25, 2019 –
Glasgow-Petersburg Hydrocut Loop. Level 2. Pace 2-3 km/h
(slow-moderate). ~ 9 km
Leader: Jamie.
Depart at 10:00 a.m. from the Glasgow Street parking lot,
1670 Glasgow St, Kitchener (43.428911, -80.563366). We walk
west on trails along the hydrocut to the Petersburg Regional
Forest (the Pines Side), do a big loop, including the
picturesque and short Kamikaze section, and then return.
Bring water and a snack. Directions: From the Ira Needles
Bvd/Highland Rd roundabout go west on Highland Rd for about
350 m, turn right (north) on Glasgow St & travel about 1 km
(across railway tracks) & turn left into parking area. Check
here for more information and last-minute changes.
Saturday, April 27, 2019 –
Huron Natural Area/Brigadoon Loop. Level 2-3. Pace: 2-3 km/h
(slow-moderate). ~ 9 km
Leader: Jamie. Depart at
9:30 a.m. from the parking lot at Huron Natural Area, 801
Trillium Dr., Kitchener (43.398943, -80.481975). We will
walk southward along some of the Huron Natural Area (HNA)
trails. Shortly after the start, we leave the HNA on new
community paths and head south of the historic Huron Road
into the central-western portion of Brigadoon (see Brigadoon
Neighbourhood map). Some of the Brigadoon loop takes us
through a woodlot & around Wards Pond caused by the damming
of Strasburg Creek (e.g. Battler’s Pond) on the north side
of Huron Road where George Davidson planned to build the
village of
New Aberdeen in about 1856 [see PDF map of New
Aberdeen, the village that didn’t catch on]. We head back to
our cars at HNA. Be aware that there are some short segments
where we must “bushwhack”; that is, there is no path & we
must make one. Hikers may wish to bring trekking poles. A
brief “nutrition” stop is planned during the trek so pack a
drink & a snack. If the weather conditions are extreme, I
will shorten the walk to 5 km or less in the HNA. Check here
for more information and last-minute changes.
Thursday, May 2, 2019
– Woolwich-Waterloo & Avon Trail
Loop. Level 2. Pace: 2-3 km/h (slow-moderate). 9 km
Leader: Jamie. Depart at 10:00 a.m. from the parking lot
(43.508366, -80.557796) outside the
Country Bulk store on
Apple Grove Road (near the St. Jacobs Farmers Market on
Weber Street North). Initially we proceed westward for 4.5
km on the Avon Trail enjoying fresh, spring odours
(“corral-number-5”) as we pass amongst farm buildings and
across farmland following Martin Creek. Quality hiking boots
are a must since the trail is rugged and potentially muddy.
Passing through a sugarbush we cross into the City of
Waterloo and leave the Avon Trail by heading eastward in
Stamm Woodlot. Leaving the woodlot, we walk a section of the
Trans Canada Trail through Benjamin Park before re-entering
Woolwich Township and returning to our vehicles. You may
wish to remain at St. Jacobs Farmers Market for lunch and
other shopping. Note: This same hike is offered on Saturday,
May 18th. Check here for more information and last-minute
changes.
Sunday, May 12, 2019 – Mother’s Day
GeoTime Trail Walk, Waterloo. Level 2. Pace: 2-3 km/h. ~ 5
km
Saturday, May 18, 2019
– Woolwich-Waterloo & Avon Trail
Loop. Level 2. Pace: 2-3 km/h (slow-moderate). 9 km
Leader: Jamie. Depart at 10:00 a.m. from the parking lot
(43.508366, -80.557796) outside the
Country Bulk store on
Apple Grove Road (near the St. Jacobs Farmers Market on
Weber Street North). Initially we proceed westward for 4.5
km on the Avon Trail enjoying fresh, spring odours
(“corral-number-5”) as we pass amongst farm buildings and
across farmland following Martin Creek. Quality hiking boots
are a must since the trail is rugged and potentially muddy.
Passing through a sugarbush we cross into the City of
Waterloo and leave the Avon Trail by heading eastward in
Stamm Woodlot. Leaving the woodlot, we walk a section of the
Trans Canada Trail through Benjamin Park before re-entering
Woolwich Township and returning to our vehicles. You may
wish to remain at St. Jacobs Farmers Market for lunch and
other shopping. Note: This same hike was offered on May 2nd.
Check here for more information and last-minute changes.
Saturday, June 1, 2019
– Winterbourne/West Montrose
Area. Level 2. Pace: 2-3 km/h (slow-moderate). ~ 8 km
Leader: Jamie. Depart at 10:00 a.m. from Letson Park, West
Montrose (43.585520, -80.479824). A car shuttle will be
required so arrive with space in your vehicle for other
hikers. The Grand Valley Trail takes us from Winterbourne
(Short Street) along Cox Creek, the Grand River to Buggy
Lane, and proceeds north through West Montrose before we
return to Letson Park on a short section of the Kissing
Bridge Trailway. Check here for more information and
last-minute changes.