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Trip Overview

Sppppoooooky hike time. We're checking out one of my favourite hidden-in-plain-sight aspects of the city- the storm channels that cut through golf courses, industrial areas and residential neighbourhoods that feel totally abandoned. It's a little freaky in the day time, at night it should be a horrifying excursion.

A little caveat in case I've hyped up the scariness too much - this is completely safe and we're never going to be underground! There won't be light though so we'll be hiking by headlamp/flashlight, making our way across the west end on about a 5km hike, eventually ending up at our secret party yard for a bonfire and pizza party.

I've got a list of dietary requirements and we'll order a range of pizzas to suit everyone's needs. We'll also be supplying soft drinks - should you want anything more, please bring them.

If you drink, don't drive! This adventure is fully TTC and bikeshare accessible.

Adventure Details

The hike is super easy, just dress according to the weather.

Itinerary

18:15 - Meet at Smythe Park at sundown

We're meeting at this patch of grass off Scarlett Road.

If you have any confusion about where to go, navigate to 205 Scarlett Road and walk down Black Creek trail towards Smythe Park. You'll find us there!

18:30 - Start hike

20:00 - Anticipated arrival at the party yard for bonfire and pizza. We'll be ordering pizza to come at 20:30.

You'll find us in the yard opposite Nickel 9 Distillery on Cawthra Avenue. Enter through the gates and turn right - if it looks like you've walked into an industrial wasteland, you're in the right spot! Navigate here.

This is the entrance, just past Nickel 9

Custom Map Download

Download Map

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.

Weather Forecast

Pretty warm! I'm optimistic we'll avoid the showers

Loading weather...

What to Bring

  • Pack a headlamp or flashlight!
  • Halloween costumes are strongly encouraged
  • Anything you want to drink beyond the soft drinks we'll have
  • Dress for then weather

Food

  • We'll be ordering pizza suitable for everyones' diet

Rented Gear Info

Additional Fees/Reservations

Dangers and Mitigation

Shared Photo Album

Click on the button to share your photos from the trip and see what others have captured. Please note, we may use your photos on our Instagram. If you'd rather we didn't - let us know in the Discord.
Google Photo Album

Guest Waiver

Those bringing guests will need them to complete this waiver in advance.

Indigenous History of the Area

We like to share some of the indigenous background of the areas we visit because these territories have rich histories that are easy to overlook. Indigenous communities have a connection to and respect for the land that has largely been lost since European settlement. As we strive to form a deeper connection with the land, we have much to learn from these communities. You can use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas.

Toronto has a particularly long and varied indigenous history, groups who maintain connections to the land include:

  1. The Anishinaabe: This includes the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Algonquin peoples. They have lived in the region for centuries and continue to have a presence in the area.
  2. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy: This includes the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora nations. They have historical connections to the land around Toronto.
  3. The Huron-Wendat: They were once the primary inhabitants of the Toronto area before being displaced by European colonization and other Indigenous groups. The Huron-Wendat nation now resides in Wendake, Quebec, but maintains a historical connection to Toronto.
  4. The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation: This is a Mississauga Ojibwe First Nation located near Brantford, Ontario. They have treaty rights and historical connections to the land that is now the city of Toronto.
  5. The Métis: The Métis people, who are of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, also have connections to the region.

Trip Overview

Sppppoooooky hike time. We're checking out one of my favourite hidden-in-plain-sight aspects of the city- the storm channels that cut through golf courses, industrial areas and residential neighbourhoods that feel totally abandoned. It's a little freaky in the day time, at night it should be a horrifying excursion.

A little caveat in case I've hyped up the scariness too much - this is completely safe and we're never going to be underground! There won't be light though so we'll be hiking by headlamp/flashlight, making our way across the west end on about a 5km hike, eventually ending up at our secret party yard for a bonfire and pizza party.

I've got a list of dietary requirements and we'll order a range of pizzas to suit everyone's needs. We'll also be supplying soft drinks - should you want anything more, please bring them.

If you drink, don't drive! This adventure is fully TTC and bikeshare accessible.

Adventure Details

The hike is super easy, just dress according to the weather.

Itinerary

18:15 - Meet at Smythe Park at sundown

We're meeting at this patch of grass off Scarlett Road.

If you have any confusion about where to go, navigate to 205 Scarlett Road and walk down Black Creek trail towards Smythe Park. You'll find us there!

18:30 - Start hike

20:00 - Anticipated arrival at the party yard for bonfire and pizza. We'll be ordering pizza to come at 20:30.

You'll find us in the yard opposite Nickel 9 Distillery on Cawthra Avenue. Enter through the gates and turn right - if it looks like you've walked into an industrial wasteland, you're in the right spot! Navigate here.

This is the entrance, just past Nickel 9

Custom Map Download

Download Map

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.

Weather Forecast

Pretty warm! I'm optimistic we'll avoid the showers

What to Bring

  • Pack a headlamp or flashlight!
  • Halloween costumes are strongly encouraged
  • Anything you want to drink beyond the soft drinks we'll have
  • Dress for then weather

Food

  • We'll be ordering pizza suitable for everyones' diet

Rented Gear Info

Additional Fees/Reservations

Dangers and Mitigation

Shared Photo Album

Click on the button to share your photos from the trip and see what others have captured. Please note, we may use your photos on our Instagram. If you'd rather we didn't - let us know in the Discord.
Google Photo Album

Guest Waiver

Those bringing guests will need them to complete this waiver in advance.

Indigenous History of the Area

We like to share some of the indigenous background of the areas we visit because these territories have rich histories that are easy to overlook. Indigenous communities have a connection to and respect for the land that has largely been lost since European settlement. As we strive to form a deeper connection with the land, we have much to learn from these communities. You can use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas.

Toronto has a particularly long and varied indigenous history, groups who maintain connections to the land include:

  1. The Anishinaabe: This includes the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Algonquin peoples. They have lived in the region for centuries and continue to have a presence in the area.
  2. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy: This includes the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora nations. They have historical connections to the land around Toronto.
  3. The Huron-Wendat: They were once the primary inhabitants of the Toronto area before being displaced by European colonization and other Indigenous groups. The Huron-Wendat nation now resides in Wendake, Quebec, but maintains a historical connection to Toronto.
  4. The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation: This is a Mississauga Ojibwe First Nation located near Brantford, Ontario. They have treaty rights and historical connections to the land that is now the city of Toronto.
  5. The Métis: The Métis people, who are of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, also have connections to the region.