About this hike: This scenic hike explores the southernmost side trails of the Iroquoia section, combining escarpment top viewpoints, a wooded creek valley, and one of the best birding locations on the Niagara Escarpment. Hiking around Beamer Memorial Conservation Area, we’ll follow the Bruce Trail and complete all required Map 5 side trails, while respecting the current trail reroute due to the closed Beamer staircase.
Highlights include the Grimsby Point hawk watch area, a descent into the Forty Mile Creek valley, and a walk through the Beamer Falls corridor, now incorporated into the main Bruce Trail. We’ll also complete the rugged and scenic Adam Dopko Side Trail, a classic Iroquoia connector.
A short section of the hike follows the official Bruce Trail reroute along Mountain Street and Ridge Road West, implemented to maintain trail continuity while the staircase at Beamer remains closed.
Side Trails Completed:
Forty Mile Creek
Grimsby Point
Adam Dopko
Beamer Falls (via former sidetrail corridor now designated as Main Trail)
Hike leader: Brandon Correia
Contact: brandoncorreia8240@gmail.com | 519-500-2861
About the leader: Brandon has been actively hiking with the GVTA and Bruce Trail organizations since 2022 and enjoys intermediate to longer distance hikes, most specifically on the GVT and Bruce Trail.
About this series of hikes: Join Brandon on this Iroquoia Side Trails Badge Series. In this series of 5 hikes, we will complete the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Side Trails Challenge. Once the challenge is over, we can apply for a badge, more details on the challenge can be found here: SIDE TRAIL CHALLENGE BADGE - Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club.
More detail on future hikes to be posted shortly but the tentative dates and locations can be found below. Feel free to join all 5 hikes or just the ones you want. Hikes will have varied distances and terrains.
Tentative dates of other hikes:
Aug 8 – Hike #2 East Hamilton Escarpment
Aug 29 – Hike #3 Central Hamilton Clifftop Connector
Sept 26 – Hike #4 Dundas Valley
Nov 21 – Hike #5 Mount Nemo to Crawford Lake
Where: Grimsby area
Length: Approx. 13 km
Category: Linear with car shuttle.
Pace and duration: Medium – 3.5-4 km/hr. About 3.5 hours
Hike level: 2 Intermediate – Medium terrain - Escarpment edge trails, forest paths, creek valley, some road walking
Parking & Departure: Meet at 8:15 at the roadside parking at the end of the end of Cline Mountain Rd (43.196027, -79.623523). From here, we will leave at 8:30 shuttle to the starting point of the hike at parking lot of Grimsby Lions Community Pool (enter at 1 Elm St at the south end of Coronation Park) (43.193201, -79.565301).
Directions: Please use your favourite GPS app to obtain directions.
What to wear and bring: Please bring plenty of water (at least 2L) and snacks. Hiking boots/sturdy footwear are required, be prepared for the weather, rain gear as necessary, bug spray and sunscreen. Hiking poles are optional.
Sorry, no dogs on GVTA hikes with the exception of certified service dogs.
ALL ARE WELCOME ON OUR HIKES. Membership is encouraged as it helps to support our trails, $30 per household. To become a member please go to:
https://www.gvta.on.ca/Membership.
