Grand Valley Trail - Hiking Events

Upcoming Hikes in October: 

Tobermory, Fall Walking in the Bruce Peninsula National Park

Greg Vincent ♣ vincent.greg@gmail.com

We will hike the trails of the Bruce Peninsula National Park both Saturday and Sunday and include “The Grotto” and the Burnt Point Loop. Our hikes will not be fast paced to enjoy this scenic area, bring your camera! We stay and have our meals at a comfortable hotel in Tobermory overlooking Little Tub Harbour. More information at hikevincent.wordpress.com and Greg Vincent vincent.greg@gmail.com 

LaFarge Trail in Flamborough. Map: LaFarge Trail.

Distance10 km at a moderate level. Terrain: Hilly. Duration 3 to 4 hours

Leaders: Nick Kuret ♣  and Anita Kuret, 519-740-1449. Cell 519-221-2357 or nickkuret@yahoo.ca Depart 9.00 AM. Meet at the intersection off Concession 6 West and Middletown Rd. From Cambridge follow Hwy.8 towards Hamilton. At the 6 Concession turn left (approximately 9km from Cambridge) and follow this road for about 10km to the intersection of Middletown Rd. We will car-pool to the trail-head and hike back to see 5 drumlins up close. Glaciers formed these elongated hills that make up the countryside. We will also be walking through some of the famous Beverley Swamp. Bring water and a snack.

Boyne Valley - Bruce Trail, Dufferin Hi-Land. Bruce Trail Map 20.

Distance 16 kms. Level: Moderate pace 3 to 4km/hr. Duration about 5 hours. 

Maureen McFarland ♣  416-489-3703 or maureen.mcfarland@gmail.com Jim Vanderlip ♣  416-925-9134 or jvanderlip@sympatico.ca

Depart: 9.30 AM. East Side of County Road 19 at the start of the Prince of Wales side trail. Take Hwy 401 to Hwy 410, which becomes Hwy 10 north of Orangeville. At County Road 89, continue north onto Prince of Wales Road/County Road 19. After about 1 km, there is a small parking lot on the right side of the road. Cell phone for day of hike 647-918-4180. Join us for a lovely fall hike in Boyne Valley Provincial Park. We will hike the main trail, the Prince of Wales, Primrose Loop and Boyne Valley side trails. We will climb to the lookout at Murphy's Pinnacle to enjoy the views.

Harvest Hike, Avon/Health Valley. Map: St. Jacob's Farmers Market.

Distance: 6 km. Level: Slow at 2 to 3km/hr. Duration: 3 hours 

Anne Lowe ♣ 519-893-6308 or a.lowe@sympatico.ca and Petra Suffling petrasuffling@gmail.com

Depart 9.00 AM. To meet up with Anne drive north through St. Jacob's on King St. N. At Albert St. Turn right and proceed to back of parking area. Be prepared to car pool back to Farmer's Market. A visit will be made to the St. Jacob's Farmer's Market on a busy autumn day. We will walk a portion of the Avon Trail then join the Health Valley Trail along the Conestoga River. We will return to the market to enjoy the activities of the market 

End-to-End # 13 of 14. Grand Valley Trail Belwood / Prices Corners, Pinnacle Section, Maps 14 & 15 (7th Edition). Level 2 intermediate. Distance: 24 km. Pace: 4.5/ 5 km/hr. Terrain is variable but primarily flat. No dropouts. Car shuttle.

Charles Whitlock ♣ 519-505-6298 or walkaway.treks@sympatico.ca Jim Vanderlip  416-925- 9134 jvanderlip@sympatico.ca Depart at 9:00 AM. Meet at Km 46.6 on the Erin Garafraxa Townline road where the trail crosses the road. Parking is alongside the road (43.804740- 80.202690). This meeting point is on the Townline Road between the 5th and 6th Line of the Town of Erin and confusingly enough between the 12th and 13th Line of the adjacent Township of East Garafraxa. . This is a somewhat longer hike but with enough generally level terrain and road walking to make it manageable. We will follow the Grand River northwards passing Belwood Lake and the hamlet of Belwood and then overland to the meeting place to the east of Prices Corners. 

End-to-End 14 of 14 (The Grand Finale). Grand Valley Trail Prices Corners / Alton, Pinnacle Section. Maps 15 and 16 (7th Edition). Level 2 intermediate. Distance: 19 km. Pace 4.5 / 5 km/hr. Terrain is generally flat with significant road walking. A steep climb at the terminus of the trail to the top of the Pinnacle. 

Charles Whitlock ♣ 519-505-6298 walkaway.treks@sympatico.ca Jim Vanderlip ♣ 416-925-9134 jvanderlip@sympatico.ca Depart at 9:00 AM. Meet at the parking lot for the Millcroft Inn and Spa at 55 John Street, Caledon (Hamlet of Alton). Access parking lot from Queen Street West & John Street (48.856309- 80.076648). Unfortunately lots of road walking to finish but the countryside is beautiful, you get to climb the Pinnacle at the end (the views are great) and you will have finished the trail. And we will have celebratory refreshments following this hike at a suitable place to be named at the appropriate time. 

Upcoming Events in October:  

Join us for our hiking information night. 

Join us for an evening with long-time hiker and hike leader Greg Vincent. Greg leads hikes on many local trails, including Grand Valley Trail, Bruce Trail, Avon Trail, many local rail trails, and for years, has also led hikes in Europe, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. A favourite of Greg’s is the Camino in both Spain and Portugal.

This event will be of interest to you, if you:

   Are new to hiking and want to get tips and advice from an experienced hiker
   Are considering an out-of-country hiking experience and want to know more
   Want to meet new people and connect with other hikers

Bring a friend, neighbor or family member who may be interested in hiking but has been putting off taking the first step! Greg will look at our local trail systems, both the Grand Valley Trails and the Bruce Trail. He will review how to access these trails on your own or with a trail club. As well, he will discuss what you need to keep you happy, and found on a trail. There will be lots of time for questions and discussion.

Admission is free. Refreshments served. RSVP by emailing acotekennedy@gmail.com

Upcoming Hikes in November:  

Sudden and Dryden Tract of the Grand Valley Trail, Black Walnut. GVTA map: 9.

Distance 10 km at a moderate level. Terrain: Variable. Duration is 3 to 4 hours.

Leaders: Nick Kuret ♣  and Anita Kuret, 519-740- 1449. Cell 519-221-2357 or nickkuret@yahoo.ca Depart: 9.00 AM from the parking lot on Alps Rd. km 9.3. Find your way to Cedar Creek Rd. (Hwy.97), turn left on Dumfries Rd. (Road 47) and left on Alps Rd. After about 1km the parking lot is to your right. We will hike through some farmland, through Dryden and Sudden Tact with rolling hills and mature forest. 

Waterloo RIM Park. Map: none. Distance: 7 to 8 km. Level: moderate. Duration: 3 to 4 hours.

Pauline Copleston ♣ 519-747-5066 or pfcopleston@gmail.com Depart 10.00 AM. Meet at the southeast corner of the RIM Park Sportsplex parking lot, 2001 University Ave, Waterloo. Enjoy a walk in the crisp air along this mostly flat section of the Walter Bean Grand River Trail. We walk out and back. Depending on the weather, you might need to bring icers, or snowshoes. Bring snacks and water. Optional hot chocolate stop in the Sportsplex after the hike

Waterloo loop hike through Waterloo Park and hike extension on Spurline. Length 5 kms with an option of another 5 kms extension. See details below. Pace 3 to 4 km/hr. Terrain is flat. Suitable for beginners

Janice Bock ♣ 519-745-3296 or traveljb@gmail.com Petra Suffling ♣ 519-742-4577 or petrasuffling@gmail.com Depart: 9.30 AM. Meet at Paul Puncher Clothier/ Waterloo Train Station on Regina by the tracks— 20 Regina St. South, Waterloo. We’ll do a loop hike over to the Erb Grist Mill beside Silver Lake and Perimeter Institute and then around the circumference of Waterloo Park for this late Autumn hike (~5 km) and back to Paul Puncher. Our extension is ~ 5 km more on the new Spurline with coffee or soup or perogies to follow at Teremoke Café. Join us to get your Saturday started on Nov. 19. Experienced or beginner hikers are welcome.

Upcoming Events

Hike Ontario Navigation: Map, Compass & GPS  Course. : Time 9.00AM to 4.00PM.

Location: International Tai Chi Centre, Orangeville, Ontario. Cost $85.00. Preregistration mandatory.

Instructors: Lewis Williams (Hike Ontario) & Charles Whitlock (Grand Valley Trails)

The course is designed for individuals over 16 years of age wishing to apply basic land navigation skills by using a map, compass or GPS. Two Hike Ontario instructors will provide the course content.

The course will use a variety of topograghic maps including those found in the Bruce Trail Reference Guide or the Grand Valley Trail. The theory portions will be held indoors. For the most part, the course will be held outdoors.

Participants need to bring a base plate orienteering compass, paper, pen, ruler, weather-appropriate clothing and footwear, lunch, water, and a GPS (if available). The instructors will be using a Garmin GPS unit. Props, handouts and a brief GPS PowerPoint presentation will be used.

The deadline for registration will be 7 days prior to the start of the course.

Regular Price: $85.00.

If you wish to connect with one of the instructors contact Charles Whitlock at walkaway.treks@sympatico.ca or 519-742-7435

Registration is through Eventbrite linked through: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/navigation-map-compass-and-gps-orangeville-tickets-21490922929

GVTA’s Holiday Season Dinner

For More information and to buy your tickets click here

Join GVTA's Holiday Season Celebration Social starts at 5pm for dinner at 6pm

Cost: $30 for members and volunteers and $35 for non-members; $15 for children ages 4-12.  Purchase tickets by November 4. 

Bring your photo submissions to the Celebration for our Photo Contest ..  see Photo Contest Rules for details