Part 9 – S Nottawasaga Concession 8 to 6th Sideroad – 411.4/890km

Part 9 was a weekend hike.

Saturday, October 5, 2024 – 1.0km-32.5km Blue Mountains section

Due to us not being able to find 4 weekends we’d both be available that weren’t in the height of summer next year to hike the Bruce, we decided to do one extra weekend of hiking this year. So we got up around 5am, my partner drove us to our start at 6am. We got there, just north of the little hamlet of Lavender around 7:30am as the sun was coming up and started our hike around 7:40am. I was apprehensive about this hike as we had an extra 5km to do today leftover from our last hike when my plantar fasciitis was acting up really badly and I couldn’t finish the planned hike.

From the little gravel sideroad the trail goes into the woods immediately and continues along a karsty trail before going through a field of young trees and again entering the woods which at some point becomes the Noisy River Provincial Nature Reserve. The path starts skirting the edge of little crevices and caves. About an hour into the hike we came to a lookout over the countryside. It was a nice, sunny day, not cool, but not hot either. The trail then leaves the exposed escarpment and meanders through the forest with some boardwalks thrown in. Around 8:50am we passed by a nice, clear pond shortly before reaching Nottawasaga Concession 10 South. You’ll cross the road and reenter the forest, which is still part of Noisy River Reserve. We passed over the lovely clear waters of the Noisy River around 9:10am. Continuing through the woods upwards towards Simcoe County Road 9, which we crossed around 9:25am.

You’ll continue down the road for a little bit before popping back into the woods. Some of the trees were changing and were a brilliant orange, but the countryside was still fairly green. You’ll then skirt a meadow before again going into the woods which boarders farm fields. There were some really big trees here. At the far end of the field was a nice bench. You’ll then turn right and continue to skirt another farm field with views of the hills in the distance. This will lead you to the forest again and down some steps, through tall grasses and clearings until you get to Concession 10 again, which we did at 9:55am.

Crossing the road you’ll again pop into the trees following a narrow path through tall grasses in some clearings before emerging into a field with some old stone ruins in the Dunedin Ravine Nature Reserve. Again you’ll walk through tall grasses before going into the forest where you’ll pass by a lovely clear stream before climbing upwards through a cedar forest, then deciduous forest next to fields and finally a house before emerging onto Concession 10 again, which we did around 10:30am.

You’ll continue along the road, which passes farms and fields and then dip down near the stream and curves back up to the intersection with 6/7 Sideroad Nottawasaga. At the south west corner is an old schoolhouse from 1880. You’ll turn west along 6/7 Sideroad and continue uphill for a bit before again turning into the forest. We found lots of caterpillars on the road. You’ll then follow a lovely little boardwalk through a marshy clearing. before continuing through trees and clearings, crossing a little stream at one point and another a little later in a field. You’ll pass farms and fields, entering a forest right before emerging onto Concession 10 again, which we did around 11:15am. You” cross the road and continue through the woods on the other side. There’s a lovely view down the road as you cross. We decided to sit on a large rock by the side of the road to have lunch and to rest my feet which were starting to hurt. Starting off again at 11:35am, you’ll continue through some woods which get a bit karsty, which some crevices and emerge every once and awhile into lovely little clearings. This part of the trail is the Transcarioca friendship trail. At one point you’ll emerge into a grassy field before arriving at a bench in full sun, but with a lovely view over the surrounding countryside. We again made use of the bench as my plantar fasciitis is still going strong.

Continuing on, you’ll pass some trees and clearings before skirting a lovely corn field with nice views down the hill on the other side. You’ll pop out onto the unimproved 9/10 Sideroad before again heading into the trees a little ways down which leads you again out next to some fields and lots of apple trees laden with fruit. You’ll eventually head into the forest which becomes karsty, there’s even a little bridge over one of the crevices. After awhile in the woods, you’ll come out into a meadow which you’ll skirt and then eventually come to a picnic table! There’s a nice view here over the countryside. We arrived here around 1pm. Continuing on, you’ll skirt a farm field before exiting onto Concession 10 again. Here you’ll continue along the road which gives a lovely view of the upcoming Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area you will be hiking in. The road ends at its junction with 12/13 Sideroad, but the trail continues on for a kilometer or so past shrubs and fields before entering into the woods. Here you’ve reached the Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area, which we did around 1:40pm.

There a sign with a trail map where you’ll turn left and continue through the woods, on a much wider trail before exiting into the meadow and then again back into the woods. Again you’ll emerge into a clearing and cross a stream over a nice boardwalk, then you’ll climb a steep hill before again entering the woods. You’ll pass an old snowmobile, moss-covered rocks and then an impressive cliffside before reaching the turnoff to the parking lot. I was really looking forward to a bench to rest my feet, but no such luck, so I sat on a big pile of gravel in the parking lot. There are also a few outhouses, one being large and clean. We got here around 2:45pm and rested for a bit with a snack. This section of the trail was very busy, it being a bright, sunny fall day, a lot of families were out for a hike. We started off again around 3:10pm and continued along the trail which then turns into this lovely level and wide path. You’ll then turn off into the woods along a narrower path and continue to skirt the escarpment, where you’ll see lovely caves and fissures in the rocks. A little ways along is the Lookout Sidetrail. Although I would have loved to have gone there, it’ll have to wait for a separate visit, I hadn’t the energy or ability to add anymore onto our walk for the day. We did see a large family that were throwing branches into the cracks in the escarpment…don’t be that family. It’s a conservation area and so the plants and animals living there shouldn’t be disturbed or killed by having branches thrown on them. You’ll continue along through the woods for awhile before popping out into a clearing. You’ll continue skirting fields for awhile until you get to a lovely field of clover. Here you’ll turn left and continue along the edge of the field. You’ll then come to a dirt path you’ll follow and eventually get to a gate, which we did around around 4:25pm.

This gate is the entrance to the Devil’s Glen Country Club as well as the meeting point between the Bruce Trail and the Ganaraska Trail which end in Port Hope. You’ll continue through the gate along a wide trail through the trees, eventually coming out into a clearing where there were chairlifts stored in the fields. You’ll follow a dirt path which leads you to the top of the very steep ski hill, which you will descent with lovely views before you. At the bottom of the hill you’ll then pop into the woods and follow the Mad River, over a bridge, past the parking lot and again beside the river on the other side before making your ascent up hillside. Here we started to see more people, always a sign that we’re close to the entrance of a park. Here you’ve entered into the Devil’s Glen Provincial Park and will ascent a steep hill and stairs to the top. There’s a very short walk to the viewing platform, which we arrived at around 5:50pm. Lovely views, especially of the ski hill we just descended. Turning back, you’ll make your way past the parking lot and then turn into the woods along the busy road. You’ll continue through the woods skirting a property before emerging into a field and crossing over a style onto Hwy 124. This was our end point for the day, around 6:20pm. It was one of our longer hikes he had done and my feet were done. We walked a little way down the road to the property the trail had skirted the back of, which is Avalon Clearview Studio B&B. It’s a lovely property with great views towards the Devil’s Glen, a little pond and two lovely dogs. It was up for sale though, so I’m not sure how much longer it will be a B&B. We got to our room, which was lovely with an ensuite with a large bathtub. I was in a lot of pain and so our lovely hostess gave me some frankincense to put on my feet, which did to seem to help. After a welcomed bath and some pasta we had brought with us for dinner, we ended up going to sleep around 8:30pm.

Sunday, October 6, 2024 – 32.5km -52.6km Blue Mountains section

We got up around 6:30am and got ready. There was a lovely sunrise we could see through our window. We went up to breakfast around 7am and had lovely homemade granola, pancakes and bacon. We ended up leaving right before 8am and heading down the road to our starting location. It was sunny but very windy out. We started through the forest on the side of the road before climbing up and emerging into a field, which you’ll walk along to the far end and go back into the woods. It’s a bit karsty here. You’ll then emerge into a field, skirting that you’ll exit onto Concession 10 again, which we did at 8:30am. You’ll cross the road where you can get a glimpse of Georgian Bay to the north and continue along the edge of some lovely farm fields before heading into a lovely coniferous forest which then transitions to a deciduous forest and passes by some winter ski trails before emerging into another field. You’ll follow the field to the end and then head back into the woods, there’s an impressive view of the cliff face here where the trail becomes quite karsty as you climb up the talus slope. You’ll emerge at the top beside a chain link fence, the other side of which is a large quarry where you can see the majestic escarpment you’ve been hiking turned to dust. We got here around 9:35am.

At the end of the fence you’ll turn into the woods where there were several lovely ferns and rocky outcrops. You’ll then emerge into a field filled with milkweed that skirts a house before emerging onto the very busy Hwy 91. Crossing the road you’ll come to the turnoff for the Franks Lime Kiln Side Trail. As it was only 190m, we decided to take the side trail. You’ll go steeply downhill before emerging into a clearing with a very well preserved lime kiln enclosed by a fence. The only thing was again no bench. I ended up just sitting on the gravel path to rest my feet. Heading back the way we came, we got to the main trail around 10:20am and continued along beside a field before heading into the forest. Here the was a bit of a reroute, so the new path was a little rockier and narrower, but essential went the same way as the old one along then edge of the escarpment through the woods. We could hear rumblings of thunder in the distance as it turned overcast and the wind picked up.

You’ll then head out into a field with a large tree in the centre and crossing the field enter the wood on the other side again. We came to 26/27 Sideroad around 11am and crossing to the other side entering into the Nottawasaga Lookout Provincial Nature Reserve. There some huge trees along this section with a relatively wide path, with some karsty bits. Right after a very unusually sculpted rock will be the exit to the road, Eagle Crescent. We were hoping for a bench, but no such luck, so sat on a little rock near the entrance to have lunch and got caught in an absolute downpour around 12pm. Nothing much to do but eat quickly and carry on. It tapered off around 12:20pm as we continued through the woods. We passed the side trail for the caves, which we will come back to do another time, and carried on down a steep, rocky and now very slippery path over a creek and then along a very narrow, steep and muddy path. You are now out of the Nature Reserve and are following a road allowance. You’ll emerge onto Osprey-The Blue Mountains Townline, and crossing over will continue along Blue Mountains-Clearview Townline which climbs up giving a good view over the countryside before ending near a house. The path continues along, steeply down a hill before emerging again as a road a little ways later, passing houses. Here we found a swarm of mosquitos and felt it was rather muggy in this area. There is a massive hill ahead which you get the feeling you are going to have to climb. You are indeed looking at the Pretty River Valley Provincial Park. A ways down the road, near the bridge over the Pretty River you’ll turn off into the trees and continue along beside the very pretty river. You’ll then emerge onto pretty River Road and following it around the bend come to the parking lot. Again no benches and my feet were done for the day, but we still had 8km left.

We started hiking in the Pretty River Valley Provincial Park around 2pm and you will almost immediately start going very steeply uphill through the woods. We actually passed quite a few people hiking this section as it seems to be a popular spot for hikers and trail runners. After continuously climbing uphill, you’ll then descent through a cedar forest to the turnoff to another parking area. Turning right, you’ll come to the Pretty River and continue along beside it, ascending steadily and steeply in sections as it tumbles down over the rocks beside you. You’ll cross the river three times before finally leveling out a bit at the top of the hill. Continuing on through the woods, you’ll start to see some of the lookout points which give you a glimpse of Georgian Bay to the left and the escarpment to the right. You’ll then turn in towards the forest, away from the escarpment edge and continue along some karsty trail for a kilometer or so, this part felt very long, before emerging onto an unimproved section of the 6th Sideroad. Here we ended our hike for the weekend and for this year around 4:15pm. However, we still had to walk up about 1km to the end of the drivable section of this road where my partner was waiting with the car as well as some dinner he had made us. We left around 4:30pm and drove to the nearest Tim’s for the washroom and some tea. We got home around 6pm. Until next year!