2015 03 28 - Niagara Hike 1: The South Terminus (28 March) "Denny's Trail"

On March 28th, 13 intrepid hikers made up our first hike from the Southern Terminus, at the Brock Memorial.  As we might have expected at this time of year, some sections were quite icy, and where the sun had open access to the ground, there was mud, but the cold conditions made this not nearly as messy as it might have been.

With only a few minor navigation blips, we completed the trek to the 15.2 km marker in approximately 4 1/2 hours.

For upcoming hikes, we'll make an effort to better co-ordinate our shuttles in advance, and look into meeting locations that include a washroom.

Well done all--a very successful first hike

Hike Details:

The Hike
The hike is 15.2 km long, beginning at the Southern Terminus (0.0 km) cairn, in Queenston Heights Park (near the Brock Memorial). It is part of the Niagara Club's section of the Bruce Trail. It follows the escarpment and includes some breaks along roads which link woody conservation areas and open field trails.

1. Start Time and Place
We will meet at 10:00 a.m. sharp in the parking lot off of Taylor Road, Woodend Conservation Area (actual address is 9653 Warner Rd, Niagara Falls, ON L2H 0H5).  There are no bathroom facilities on site. There is a McDonald’s about 2 km from our meeting spot, at the corner when you are turning on to Taylor Road off of York from the QEW.

Meeting spot: See Woodend Parking on Map
Read About Woodend Conservation Area Here


2. Car Shuttles
We will begin car shuttles at 10:00 a.m. from Woodend to the Southern Terminus at Queenston Heights Park. It is a 10 to 15 minute drive. When the shuttle is complete, about half our cars will be at each end of the trail. Obviously, we will need to do a shuttle again at the end of our hike.

!!  Please bring change of shoes and a bag for your muddy gear to leave at Woodend Parking lot– let’s be kind to our cars !!
If possible, bring two sets of car keys. Carry one set, secured in a deep pocket. Leave one set at end of trail.

Read about Queenston Heights Park
Map: Shuttle Route


3. Trail Conditions
Snow is mostly gone, but expect next week’s hike to be very muddy and wet in places. There is still some chance that we will encounter icy spots where snow has been packed down.

Please bring:
• extra socks to carry along in your day pack
• sturdy boots or trail shoes
• change of shoes and bag for boots (leave in a car at the Woodend parking lot)
• walking stick or hiking poles, if you have them
• gaiters, if you have them


4. Aim to Be Self-Sufficient
We will help each other, but everyone should be responsible for his or her own safety.

Everyone is expected to carry:
• own lunch and high-energy snacks
• at least 1 litre of water
• sufficient warm layers
• basic first aid for your feet

Read more:
Day Pack Essentials
Using the Trail
What to wear for Winter Hiking

It is also a good idea to bring a charged cell phone – we should have uninterrupted service for this trail section.
Finally, we will stick together, but it’s advisable to have your own trail maps  Bruce Trail downloadable maps.

Here is a link to the photos I took for Hike 1!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/32814960@N08/ejy8N0