Bruce Trail: Balls Falls to Lough

 

Ball's Falls

Great hike - Ball's Falls was v busy because one of the first really nice weekend days this year, but once out on the trail had it pretty much to myself.   Jordan Hollow trail led to a weekend market.  Long road stretch which I didn't love, but otherwise super nice day.

Stats:

Distance: 11.03 km 
Elevation Gain: 223m 
Weather: 15 deg and sunny
Duration: 2h 42 min

Side Trails Include:

- Upper Falls
- Jim Rainforth
- Jordan Hollow

No idea what this was, but very cool!  In Ball's Falls.

Got to test the waterproofness of my boots here.
Spoiler alert: they are not waterproof ;-P

Bruce Trail: Decew House to Decew Falls

 

Decew House

Brutal wind, cold, and meh today.   Better once in the trees.   Great history at the start of the hike (Decew House).  Some mud but not horrible.   Came back via Laura Secord Trail to avoid out and back.  Not much in way of hills etc.

Distance: 5.43 km 
Elevation Gain: 37m 
Weather: 5 deg, damp, and cold wind
Duration: 1h 11 min

Trail connects to Short Hills and is more like the normal BT then

Gratuitous pic cause I liked it and it's unique to Decew

Bruce Trail: 12 Trail 2nd Half

 

Double Bridges

Included for completeness but this one was so easy was a walk more than a trail.  Flat and easy out and back trail that follows the creek.   It looks like could be turned into a loop by using an unrelated trail, but I wasn't sure until I got back.

Distance: 5.5 km 
Elevation Gain: 25m 
Weather: 15 deg and sunny
Duration: 58 min min

Bruce Trail: 12 Trail Side Trail

 

Trail follows this creek till it winds up a road to Brock campus

Short and easy out and back hike today.  Fair bit of road walking, although discovered a mountain bike park so that's fun.   Most of the trail was flat and easy.   Quiet, didn't meet anyone except on the road or the parking lot.  Parking lot is in the middle and only did left side - will do the other side another day :).   Trail only really felt like a hiking trail right before it met the Bruce Trail main trail.

Stats:

Distance: 5.9 km 
Elevation Gain: 95m 
Weather: 5 deg and sunny
Duration: 1h 16 min

Bruce Trail: First 16km. Niagara Terminus to Wood End

 

Really, what other picture could I choose?

Almost perfect hiking weather to kick off the trail!   Janie and Braulio joined me with their dogs Luna and Chico (Sasha has unfortunately aged-out of this kind of hiking).  It was a fun day that included the Brock Monument, a stile (which, for reasons I don't understand, always make me smile), a misc item that turned out to be the remains of a cold war tower, a bridge over the highway, and tunnel under the train tracks, a short portion along the road - but at least a quiet road that included a shoe tree, and lots of great trails.

Stats:

Distance: 16 km 
Elevation Gain: 331m 
Weather: 10-20 deg and overcast
Duration: 3h 6 min
Fellow Hikers: Janie & Braulio

The trail sometimes leads strange places!

Arguably not the best photography but it made me laugh

Bruce Trail: Short Hills to Decew Falls

 

Terrace Falls

Highlights of this one were Terrace Falls and the Laura Secord Bridge.   Not necessarily because of the bridge itself but because of the history it brings to mind.   Ducks have come back :)

Stats:

Distance: 13.51 km 
Elevation Gain: 223m 
Weather: 5 deg and cloudy
Duration: 3h 1 min

Side Trails Include:

- Morningstar
- Black Walnut

Other Trails Include:
- Very Berry
- Laura Secord

Bruce Trail - Woodend Side Trails

 

Outdoor Classroom at Woodend

Muddy spring trail, Wetland muddy this time of year and plausibly buggy the rest.  Close to home and easy walk.  Some of the trail runs alongside the highway.

Stats:

Distance: 5.31 km 
Elevation Gain: 67m 
Weather: ~5deg and cloudy
Duration: 1h 16min

Side trails completed include:

- Niagara College
- Wetland Ridge
- Margaret K

Bruce Trail: Rockway Falls - Louth Conservation

 

If I had to pick just one...

Not the most impressive or eye catching photo, but his was the one that resonates.   Walking alone, woods and water.  There's a trail, but it's not obvious or flat.  Blue sky in the background.   Instant mental health boost.   This was my first long hike, and it has it's own blog post here.   

Stats:

- 10km 
- 254m elevation gain
- ~5deg and sunny
- 3h 8 min

Side Trails completed include:

- Rockway Falls
- Louth
- Lower Falls
- Midway
- Staff Ave

Bruce Trail: Glenridge Quarry Section

 

Love the light and shadows

Super short route that I've done before, mostly to test out new boots on a hill.   Sunny, birds starting to return from winter.  Ground still mostly frozen so no mud issues.

Stats:

Distance: 5 km 
Elevation Gain: 157m 
Weather: ~5deg and sunny
Duration: 1h 10min