The premise of this hike was to follow the Bruce Trail east, from 8th Line
through the Terra Cotta Conservation Area, then make a partial loop out the
hike by returning via the Caledon Trailway and the conservation area paths,
rejoining the Bruce Trail back to 8th Line. The 8th Line area is a popular day
hiking spot with a number of loop trails that attract groups of hikers, particularly
on weekends. At about 4km each the Bennett Heritage Trail and Great Esker Side
Trail are two loop trails to hike if you're not up to the all-day hike described
here. For maps of these trails consult the Bruce Trail Guide Book.
Use the roadside parking at 8th Line and 27 Sideroad. Walk about 100m south
on 8th Line to a short trail to the east that leads to a wooden bridge over
Snows Creek. You are now on the Bruce Trail. The trail slowly climbs out of
the valley to the top of the escarpment, passing by several lookouts and a number
of side trails. There are a number of rocky areas that require careful footing.
After near 5km of hiking the trail descends to 10th Line, follows 10th Line
north for 200m, then descends on the left side of the road into the Terra Cotta
Conservation Area. The trail exits the conservation area into the Jack Smythe
Field Study Centre, then to Winston Churchill Blvd.
I continued along the Bruce Trail until Mississauga Rd, where I decided to
start heading back. I walked south along Mississauga Rd for about 2km - in hindsight
I should have continued east to the next road, Creditview, which would have
been a lot less busy but not that much further. Walking along the road and the
Caledon Trailway provided a welcome rest from the ruggedness of the Bruce Trail.
At the terminus of the trailway the Terra Cotta Side Trail continues north through
the conservation area before rejoining the main trail. Note that this trail
is currently under re-route, so check with the Bruce Trail guide before relying
on the tracks I've posted here. The main trail is followed back to 8th Line.
Trailmaps
The color track lines on this map show the trail segments I followed:
The green line is the section of the Bruce Trail
from 8th Line to Mississauga Rd. The track log splits this route into 2 sections,
8th Line to 10th Line, 10th Line to Mississauga Rd.
The yellow line shows the route I followed to
loop back to 10th Line, along Mississauga Rd, the Caledon Trailway, and the
Terra Cotta Conservation area.
The premise of this hike was to follow the Bruce Trail east, from 8th Line through the Terra Cotta Conservation Area, then make a partial loop out the hike by returning via the Caledon Trailway and the conservation area paths, rejoining the Bruce Trail back to 8th Line. The 8th Line area is a popular day hiking spot with a number of loop trails that attract groups of hikers, particularly on weekends. At about 4km each the Bennett Heritage Trail and Great Esker Side Trail are two loop trails to hike if you're not up to the all-day hike described here. For maps of these trails consult the Bruce Trail Guide Book.
Use the roadside parking at 8th Line and 27 Sideroad. Walk about 100m south on 8th Line to a short trail to the east that leads to a wooden bridge over Snows Creek. You are now on the Bruce Trail. The trail slowly climbs out of the valley to the top of the escarpment, passing by several lookouts and a number of side trails. There are a number of rocky areas that require careful footing. After near 5km of hiking the trail descends to 10th Line, follows 10th Line north for 200m, then descends on the left side of the road into the Terra Cotta Conservation Area. The trail exits the conservation area into the Jack Smythe Field Study Centre, then to Winston Churchill Blvd.
I continued along the Bruce Trail until Mississauga Rd, where I decided to start heading back. I walked south along Mississauga Rd for about 2km - in hindsight I should have continued east to the next road, Creditview, which would have been a lot less busy but not that much further. Walking along the road and the Caledon Trailway provided a welcome rest from the ruggedness of the Bruce Trail. At the terminus of the trailway the Terra Cotta Side Trail continues north through the conservation area before rejoining the main trail. Note that this trail is currently under re-route, so check with the Bruce Trail guide before relying on the tracks I've posted here. The main trail is followed back to 8th Line.
Trailmaps
The color track lines on this map show the trail segments I followed:
The green line is the section of the Bruce Trail from 8th Line to Mississauga Rd. The track log splits this route into 2 sections, 8th Line to 10th Line, 10th Line to Mississauga Rd.
The yellow line shows the route I followed to loop back to 10th Line, along Mississauga Rd, the Caledon Trailway, and the Terra Cotta Conservation area.