Welcome to the Longest Mega Hike Wilderness Union has ever undertaken! We will start at 5:50 AM at the Petro Canada on Bloor and Keele before heading to Brantford to begin our long adventure. Starting at the trailhead, we will venture through the entire Brantford to Hamilton section of the Rail Trail, passing the ruins of old train stations that used to transport steel and wood by steam engine through the area.
As we journey through farmland, wetlands, and the local woodlands of Dundas Park, we’ll explore this well-maintained route through the beautiful village of Ancaster. We can stop at the local Trail Café for a coffee and some of the best cookies imaginable before completing the last 7 km.
We will finish together at (in my opinion) one of the best pubs in Hamilton, the Grain and Grit, for a celebratory pint or soft drink. Then we’ll head back to Toronto, exhausted but with a warm sense of achievement as the first to accomplish this Wilderness Union trail.
Hike length: 35km
Estimated time to complete hike: 10 hours
This is a very long hike and will be a real challenge. While the trail itself isn't technically challenging, you should be confident that you can walk for 10hrs non stop. It's a great opportunity to see how far you can push yourself. There are no massive changes in elevation and we’ll spend much of it on well developed trails.
The hike crosses the Bruce Trail as we make our way through the Niagara Escarpment, so we'll be going through field, forest, orchards and hopping over plenty of streams.
There will be places to fill up water on route as well as toilet stops as the challenge is in the distance.
05:50 - Meet up at the Petro Canada next to Keele Subway Station
06:00 - Shuttle leaves. Please note, we leave dead on time and cannot wait for latecomers!
07:15 - Meet self-drivers at 441 Mohawk Street in Brantford and begin hike
17:15 - Anticipated end of hike and drinks at Grain & Grit
18.30 - 20.00 - Drive back and return to Toronto
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
General Notes
Shoes
Hiking boots are strongly recommended for this trip.
Clothing packing list
Pack at least a litre of water for the hike - there should be opportunities to replenish along the way.
There are non-alcoholic options available at the bar and nobody is under any obligation to buy food or drink at any of the stops. And another reminder, if you're driving, don't drink.
Food and drink is not provided by Wilderness Union.
Self drivers please note that this is a point to point trip so unless you wish to find a way to get to the start point from the end we highly recommend registering for the van.
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear (ankle high hiking boots) and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles.
Waterfalls - Keep away from the waterfalls. The water will be very cold.
Getting lost - Stay with the group at all times, follow the instructions of the guides and download both the map referenced above as well as What3Words. You can't rely on having reception while out in the woods.
Hamilton has a long and complex history of Indigenous occupation, dating back over 10,000 years. The land that is now Hamilton was originally the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee (also known as the Iroquois) Confederacy, specifically the Mohawk and the Seneca nations.
The Haudenosaunee were skilled farmers and hunters, and they established large, permanent settlements in the region. They built longhouses, practiced agriculture, and maintained a complex social and political system.
In the 18th century, European settlers began to arrive in the area. The British established a military post at the site of present-day Hamilton in 1778, and the first permanent European settlement was established in the area in the late 1700s. As more settlers arrived, the Haudenosaunee were pushed off their land and their way of life was greatly disrupted. In the early 19th century, the Haudenosaunee were forced to give up their land in the region through a series of treaties.
Despite the impact of colonization on their traditional way of life, the Haudenosaunee people continue to have a strong presence in the region. Today, the Six Nations of the Grand River is one of the largest First Nations communities in Canada, and they continue to maintain their cultural traditions and connection to the land
Welcome to the Longest Mega Hike Wilderness Union has ever undertaken! We will start at 5:50 AM at the Petro Canada on Bloor and Keele before heading to Brantford to begin our long adventure. Starting at the trailhead, we will venture through the entire Brantford to Hamilton section of the Rail Trail, passing the ruins of old train stations that used to transport steel and wood by steam engine through the area.
As we journey through farmland, wetlands, and the local woodlands of Dundas Park, we’ll explore this well-maintained route through the beautiful village of Ancaster. We can stop at the local Trail Café for a coffee and some of the best cookies imaginable before completing the last 7 km.
We will finish together at (in my opinion) one of the best pubs in Hamilton, the Grain and Grit, for a celebratory pint or soft drink. Then we’ll head back to Toronto, exhausted but with a warm sense of achievement as the first to accomplish this Wilderness Union trail.
Hike length: 35km
Estimated time to complete hike: 10 hours
This is a very long hike and will be a real challenge. While the trail itself isn't technically challenging, you should be confident that you can walk for 10hrs non stop. It's a great opportunity to see how far you can push yourself. There are no massive changes in elevation and we’ll spend much of it on well developed trails.
The hike crosses the Bruce Trail as we make our way through the Niagara Escarpment, so we'll be going through field, forest, orchards and hopping over plenty of streams.
There will be places to fill up water on route as well as toilet stops as the challenge is in the distance.
05:50 - Meet up at the Petro Canada next to Keele Subway Station
06:00 - Shuttle leaves. Please note, we leave dead on time and cannot wait for latecomers!
07:15 - Meet self-drivers at 441 Mohawk Street in Brantford and begin hike
17:15 - Anticipated end of hike and drinks at Grain & Grit
18.30 - 20.00 - Drive back and return to Toronto
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
General Notes
Shoes
Hiking boots are strongly recommended for this trip.
Clothing packing list
Pack at least a litre of water for the hike - there should be opportunities to replenish along the way.
There are non-alcoholic options available at the bar and nobody is under any obligation to buy food or drink at any of the stops. And another reminder, if you're driving, don't drink.
Food and drink is not provided by Wilderness Union.
Self drivers please note that this is a point to point trip so unless you wish to find a way to get to the start point from the end we highly recommend registering for the van.
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear (ankle high hiking boots) and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles.
Waterfalls - Keep away from the waterfalls. The water will be very cold.
Getting lost - Stay with the group at all times, follow the instructions of the guides and download both the map referenced above as well as What3Words. You can't rely on having reception while out in the woods.
Hamilton has a long and complex history of Indigenous occupation, dating back over 10,000 years. The land that is now Hamilton was originally the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee (also known as the Iroquois) Confederacy, specifically the Mohawk and the Seneca nations.
The Haudenosaunee were skilled farmers and hunters, and they established large, permanent settlements in the region. They built longhouses, practiced agriculture, and maintained a complex social and political system.
In the 18th century, European settlers began to arrive in the area. The British established a military post at the site of present-day Hamilton in 1778, and the first permanent European settlement was established in the area in the late 1700s. As more settlers arrived, the Haudenosaunee were pushed off their land and their way of life was greatly disrupted. In the early 19th century, the Haudenosaunee were forced to give up their land in the region through a series of treaties.
Despite the impact of colonization on their traditional way of life, the Haudenosaunee people continue to have a strong presence in the region. Today, the Six Nations of the Grand River is one of the largest First Nations communities in Canada, and they continue to maintain their cultural traditions and connection to the land
