Take advantage of the beautiful weekend weather for a hike at beautiful Hilton Falls - one of the best trails within about an hour of the city. We'll hike along the Niagara escarpment and classic Bruce Trail scenery that will see you hopping across limestone boulders and walking alongside beautiful lakes.
This gorgeous trail's highlight is the waterfall where we'll stop for lunch.
This is an easy 10km hike, suitable for anybody with a decent level of fitness and just about the best way of making the most of a warm spring day.
Hike length: 10 km
Estimated time to complete hike: 4.5 hours
Description:
This is an easy looped hike with little in the way of elevation. We’ll be walking on maintained paths through the woods.
07:50 – Those getting a ride meet up at the Petro‑Canada next to Keele Subway Station
08:00 – Shuttle leaves.
We leave dead on time and cannot wait for latecomers!
09:00 – Arrive at Halton Region Forest 6th Line Parking South, meet up with self-drivers, and begin hike.
09:00–14:00 – Hike, eating lunch en route
15:00 – Anticipated return to Keele Station
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.
Pack breathable layered clothing and dress according to the weather.
- Hiking boots/trail shoes (sneakers are not suitable and you may be turned away if you're dressed in a way that puts yourself in danger)
- Sun hat/cap
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Any medication
- A bag to pick up trash
You should bring a packed lunch, snacks and at least 1.5L of water. It's a good idea to also pack electrolytes during hot days.
Bring a packed lunch, snacks and at least 1 litre of water for the hike.
No reservations are required for this hike. We'll be parking away from the paid parking.
Blacklegged ticks are common in Ontario and can carry Lyme disease. There's no need to be concerned if you follow some basic precautionary steps.
To protect yourself:
If you find a tick, remove it right away with fine-tipped tweezers or tick removal tool, being careful not to pull off the head. Pull straight out, clean the area, and monitor for symptoms like a rash or flu-like feelings. If concerned, talk to a healthcare provider—early treatment is highly effective. Hang on to the tick after removal so you can send it in for testing if needed.
It usually takes 24–36 hours of attachment for the bacteria to be transmitted. That means early removal is key and that you don't need to worry if you've found one on you before 24 hours has passed.
Hilton Falls is close to Crawford Lake, which has an unusually well-documented Indigenous history. The area was once home to a thriving Iroquoian village in the 15th century, before European contact.
In the early 1970s, researchers from the University of Toronto made a remarkable discovery while studying sediment cores from Crawford Lake. They detected high levels of corn pollen in layers dating back to the 13th–15th centuries, suggesting that the area was inhabited by an agricultural society during that time. This finding led to archaeological excavations which uncovered the remains of a pre-colonial Wendat (Huron) or Attawandaron (Neutral) village near the lake.
The village likely housed around 300 people from the ancestors of the Wendat or Attawandaron Nations. They cultivated crops like corn, beans, and squash, which allowed them to establish a more permanent settlement. Longhouses were built to shelter extended families, with each clan living communally.
For unknown reasons, the village was abandoned sometime in the early 16th century. The area then became a hunting ground for other Indigenous groups like the Mississaugas. When European settlers arrived in the late 18th century, the Mississaugas negotiated land agreements with the British, opening up the region for settlement.
Take advantage of the beautiful weekend weather for a hike at beautiful Hilton Falls - one of the best trails within about an hour of the city. We'll hike along the Niagara escarpment and classic Bruce Trail scenery that will see you hopping across limestone boulders and walking alongside beautiful lakes.
This gorgeous trail's highlight is the waterfall where we'll stop for lunch.
This is an easy 10km hike, suitable for anybody with a decent level of fitness and just about the best way of making the most of a warm spring day.
Hike length: 10 km
Estimated time to complete hike: 4.5 hours
Description:
This is an easy looped hike with little in the way of elevation. We’ll be walking on maintained paths through the woods.
07:50 – Those getting a ride meet up at the Petro‑Canada next to Keele Subway Station
08:00 – Shuttle leaves.
We leave dead on time and cannot wait for latecomers!
09:00 – Arrive at Halton Region Forest 6th Line Parking South, meet up with self-drivers, and begin hike.
09:00–14:00 – Hike, eating lunch en route
15:00 – Anticipated return to Keele Station
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.
Pack breathable layered clothing and dress according to the weather.
- Hiking boots/trail shoes (sneakers are not suitable and you may be turned away if you're dressed in a way that puts yourself in danger)
- Sun hat/cap
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Any medication
- A bag to pick up trash
You should bring a packed lunch, snacks and at least 1.5L of water. It's a good idea to also pack electrolytes during hot days.
Bring a packed lunch, snacks and at least 1 litre of water for the hike.
No reservations are required for this hike. We'll be parking away from the paid parking.
Blacklegged ticks are common in Ontario and can carry Lyme disease. There's no need to be concerned if you follow some basic precautionary steps.
To protect yourself:
If you find a tick, remove it right away with fine-tipped tweezers or tick removal tool, being careful not to pull off the head. Pull straight out, clean the area, and monitor for symptoms like a rash or flu-like feelings. If concerned, talk to a healthcare provider—early treatment is highly effective. Hang on to the tick after removal so you can send it in for testing if needed.
It usually takes 24–36 hours of attachment for the bacteria to be transmitted. That means early removal is key and that you don't need to worry if you've found one on you before 24 hours has passed.
Hilton Falls is close to Crawford Lake, which has an unusually well-documented Indigenous history. The area was once home to a thriving Iroquoian village in the 15th century, before European contact.
In the early 1970s, researchers from the University of Toronto made a remarkable discovery while studying sediment cores from Crawford Lake. They detected high levels of corn pollen in layers dating back to the 13th–15th centuries, suggesting that the area was inhabited by an agricultural society during that time. This finding led to archaeological excavations which uncovered the remains of a pre-colonial Wendat (Huron) or Attawandaron (Neutral) village near the lake.
The village likely housed around 300 people from the ancestors of the Wendat or Attawandaron Nations. They cultivated crops like corn, beans, and squash, which allowed them to establish a more permanent settlement. Longhouses were built to shelter extended families, with each clan living communally.
For unknown reasons, the village was abandoned sometime in the early 16th century. The area then became a hunting ground for other Indigenous groups like the Mississaugas. When European settlers arrived in the late 18th century, the Mississaugas negotiated land agreements with the British, opening up the region for settlement.
