| The section of the Bruce Trail that runs from Governor's Road in Dundas to Mountail View Boulevard in Hamilton has to include some of the most varied terrain on the trail. We hit the Bruce at just the right time of year, with warm but comfortable walking conditions, trees leafing out, flowers in the undercover, and plenty of water in the streams and coming over the falls that dot the area.
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| We left one car at Mountain View, and took the other two to Governer's so that we could do a one-way hike. From Governer's Rd, we headed south, walking on the edge of farmers' fields and progressing quickly into the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. This is pristine Carolinean Forest, right on the northern edge of this habitat. Open trails under large beech, maple and other hardwood deciduous trees made for a very pleasant walk for a few kilometers, while we traversed the valley from north to south. Coming out of the CA at Wilson St, we climbed up to the top of the escarpment. At this point, the views back to the north, over Hamilton and Burlington, to the edge of the escarpment along the Waterdown section are truly magnificent. This section of the Bruce is known for waterfalls, and those that we did pass were in full spate, and provided some great photographic opportunities. |
| The trail led in a loop to the south, to the footbridge that crosses Hwy 403, and then back north to the escarpment edge again. The vegetation in this area is mostly plantation scrub, but we managed to find a low, tree-ringed hill for a lunch break. Shortly after crossing the 403, we hit the railtrail, paralleling Scenic Drive. This section gets a bit tedious - it's a multi-purpose track, and with the nice weather and it being a Sunday, there were many people out on bicycles, too many without bells! Because it's an old railway bed, it's also very flat and very straight, and most of us were happy to see the end of it just past the Chedoke Civic Golf Course. |
| The trail is now definitely in urban forest, with a mix of condition, some wider and clearly used by mountain bikers, other areas, narrow and not that clearly marked at times. After hitting James Mountain Road, the trail runs alongside the main roads, for a couple of kilometers. Noisy, and very un-Bruce-like - not what would come to mind for most people! At the bend on the Jolley Cut, the trail strikes off across country again, below a road of very attractive mid-1920's buildings. Below the Sherman Access, the trail almost feels forced, as if the BTC was trying to find an appropriate route just to have the continuity. The trail in that section is very narrow, and poorly marked, with blazes having been struck-out for a while. It's possible that the BTC may not have full access permission for the trail in this area, and is working between property lines to keep it going... |
| After crossing Kenilworth, the trail merges with the rail-trail again for a while. We were all thoroughly sick of flat, straight, exposed pathways by this time, so were delighted to find the trail heading off below the road line as we came around the edge of Red Hill Valley and headed into the home stretch. The trail wanders up and down, through a narrow stretch of woodland that has Mountain View above it, and streets of older houses below. Carpets of trilliums were out in flower - both white and pink - and added a beautiful touch to the late afternoon trek. We headed past the Red Hill Valley Golf Course - take note, the trail markers are non-existent at this point and you just have to have faith that you're on the right route; head for the middle of the woods at the other side of the open space... |
| After crossing Red Hill Creek, we were only a kilometre from the carpark. The last section follows a side trail up the escarpment, and drops the weary bodies out at the Mud Hill St parking lot. The majority of the group rested their tired legs while three of us drove back to Governor's Road to get the other vehicles, and we then all headed out to the Black Bull in Burlington for a well-earned meal. |
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