It often seems like my most recent hike is my favourite hike, and this is no exception. Not far from Toronto, this area has a number of trails and sidetrails, so you can pick and choose according to how much time you have. While the escarpment edge isn't as dramatic here as it is in other locations, there are wonderful views, relatively deep forest, and a number of beautiful streams.
This hike is a loop, starting and ending from the interesting Scotsdale farm, with plenty of free parking, although apparently no facilities
(I've designed this page to be simple with no pictures on it
so that you can print a copy and take it with you.
The pictures are linked at each stage, with a camera icon 
and are all contained
on three pages, starting with pictures from around the Scotsdale Farm page.
Please send us any comments/corrections to brucetrail [at] wholemap.com
Click here to return to the main page,)
or grab some water, your hiking shoes, compass, GPS, and camera and take a hike!
| General Location: | Just east of Georgetown, north of the 401
You can see the location of this hike with other Web sites in the same area  | |
| Bruce Trail Reference 20.0 | Start | Map #13 Credit Valley Toronto Club |
| Total Bruce Trail Distance | 6.7 km (km 27.1 to km 33.8) | |
| Bennett Heritage Side Trail Distance | 3.6 km | |
| Irwin Quarry Side Trail Distance | 1.2 km | |
Passes by/through:
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We'll start by heading south on the end of the Bennett Heritage Sidetrail, then walk north up the main Brucetrail, around the Irwin Quarry Sidetail, and back down to the start of the Bennett Heritage Sidetrail back to the car. Stopping for a bit of lunch, and lots of pictures, this hike took me about 5 hours.
Leave the car and head back down the main driveway, south, towards Trafalgar Road. You'll notice the blue blazings along the trees. Ignore the first, wide trail to your left, and watch for the spot towards the top of the hill where the trail leaves the driveway and heads into the forest on your left.
The trail heads to the right, southwards back towards Trafalgar Road along a double track
trail.
You'll follow along an old fence line, with the sound of the traffic getting louder.
Just before Trafalgar Road, the path turns to the left,
and after about 15 minutes from leaving the car, down to the main trail at kilometer 27.1.
The trail here is deep in the forest, with a high canopy overhead, and crosses a creek or two.
Volunteers have built a number of raised walkways over the
wet parts of the trail.
At times the path heads out of the forest and along the side of an old field.
I noticed a few mountain bike tracks in the sections of the trail that were a bit muddy,
even in October after little rain.
After about 40 minutes of hiking on the main trail, you'll see an old stone pile fence,
and the Maureen Smith sidetrail (which heads west back to the Bennett Heritage Sidetrail).
Continue on the main path to your right.
10 minutes later there is a short path on the left to a view across the 27th Sideroad of a barn ,
a map of the trails ,
and the sound of running water. Keep on the path, to the left, we'll see the rapids in a while.
This section is a bit tough going, as there are many flat, moss covered boulders,
so watch your step, while enjoying the view as well.
You've been walking roughly parallel to the 27th Sideroad for about 10 minutes before crossing the street at around kilometer 29.6
At this point the escarpment edge appears , with various small fisures and boulders.
The path continues south through beautiful forest, until it reaches the 3.6 km long Great Esker Sidetrail.
It is always tough to pass up a sidetrail, but in this case I decided to continue straight along the main trail.
The section here is a long downhill trail, and I noticed a few mountain bike tracks here as well.
Before long the other end of the Great Esker Sidetrail appears where the main trail bends to the left, northward.
About 45 minutes after crossing the 27th Sideroad, the path will cross the 8th Line, and run northwest,
parallel to it. Eventually you'll hear the sound of running water, down to your right.
You'll come almost to the road, then head to your right down to a bridge across Snows Creek and
a series of little rapids.
Once you taken many photos and enjoyed the wonderful sound of the running water, you'll follow the path
down river a bit, then off to the left. You're now walking along the other side of the ravine,
where there are many small boulders along the way .
20 minutes after leaving the rapids, with the ravine to your right, you'll arrive at the northern end of the Bennett Heritage Sidetrail. We'll eventuall turn left here to return to the car, but if you're up for it, the descent back into the ravine along the valley floor to find the source of the sound of running water here is worth the walk back up.
Eventually it will be time to head north-west a bit, then south-west along the Bennett Heritage Sidetrail back down
towards the parking lot. Lots more
beautiful countryside and beautiful paths
until you get to the north end of the farm property then make your way to the car.