Stoney Creek tumbles for twenty metres (66 feet) over the rim of the Devil's Punch Bowl, a one hundred metre wide (328 foot) rock face that exposes 40 million years of geological history. From the lookout near the parking lot, follow the side trail, indicated by the blue markers, that leads down steep valley walls into the creek bottom. Turn left through the forest and walk a short while along the railway line before taking a rocky pathway that leads to the punch bowl.
From this perspective you'll see layers of coloured stone, sand and fossils deposited by ancient seas. It's a unique opportunity to view one of the largest and most complete vertical natural exposures of Silurian stratified rock along the escarpment. From Queenston Formation red shale and Lockport Formation chert beds, you'll also see the most southerly exposures of Cabot Head (grey shale) and Manitoulin (shale dolomite) formations.
Before following the trail on the opposite creek bank, cross over the railroad tracks and follow the blue side trail markers along the creek and into Battlefield Park, site of the 1813 Battle of Stoney Creek. You can visit the Gage Homestead, now a museum and climb the tower for a view of the CN Tower and Lake Ontario.
The Bruce Trail loops through red oak and white pine forest and returns for 500 metres (1640 feet) along the road. With file information from the Bruce Trail, for more information on this and other Bruce trails please purchase the Bruce Trail map and trail guidebook. The Bruce Trail is the oldest and longest marked hiking trail in Canada. It is 840 km long, with over 440 km of side trails. Every year more than 400,000 visits are made to the Trail as people walk, snowshoe, watch wildlife, take photographs and admire the glorious scenery of the Escarpment.
The Bruce Trail was instrumental in the Escarpment being named a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations in 1990 - one of only twelve such reserves in all of Canada. The Bruce Trail is a member of the Ontario Trails Council through affiliation with Hike Ontario.
With information from Hamilton Conservation Authority websites.
For more information on trails or to view a trail video by activity please go to the OTC Youtube Channel
Ontario Trails do not own or manage any trails. Check with the identified manager before using this trail. Do not trespass, allowed uses only.
For more information on the great sport of snowshoeing please see our partner Snowshoe Canada
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Rain starting tomorrow morning. 