We'll be going to the Nashville Conservation Reserve, just about 40 minutes North of the city. While a conservation reserve isn't exactly a secret, for some reason this particular area gets very few visitors, making it a particularly tranquil spot that's incredibly rare this close to Toronto. We keep the locations secret so they remain quiet and ask that you're careful about how you share these places (like not tagging the location on social) so they can remain special.
We'll come across crumbling buildings, beehives, some fantastic landscapes, a trail bisected by a river, dense woodland and more than a few surprises along the way.
We're aiming to tackle up to 8km on this hike, up and down rolling hills but within everyone's capabilities. If folks are keen, there's even the option of going a bit further and continuing all the way to 11km.
We'll stop for lunch along the route at a look-out.
We've got a big group this week with a few newcomers. A special welcome to all of you and a reminder to read this trip plan and follow the instructions carefully so you have a safe adventure.
Hike Length: 8-11km
Terrain: A mixture of grass and woodland. While there's only 80m total ascent, there are a couple of tougher climbs that we'll take slowly in the heat. If we decide to go the full 11km, there'll be a small amount of bush bashing along a rarely used trail.
Estimated time to complete: 4-5 hours with breaks and exploration time.
09:20: Those taking the van meet at the Petrocanada next to Keele Subway Station. Driving to the shuttle location? There's free parking here.
09:30: Shuttle leaves. Please note that out of respect for each other, we leave dead on time and can not wait for latecomers.
10:15: Meet self-drivers at trail head. This map will take you to the precise spot. Note that there's only limited parking (free) and if there are no spots, you may need to go back down the road to find a spot.
10:15 - 14:30: Hike, stopping for lunch en route
14:45: Return to Toronto
15:45: Anticipated return to Keele subway station
Please note that timing to return to Toronto may be up to an hour delayed if we end up hiking the longer route.
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.
It's going to be hot and there's the chance of bugs if we hit wooded areas. It's mostly pretty open so bugs shouldn't be too much of an issue but I recommend packing strong bug spray and a bug net or shirt if you're particularly sensitive to them.
Remember to pack a lunch, some snacks and at least 1l of water.
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles.
Sunburn/heat stroke/dehydration - Wear sunscreen and a sun hat. Make sure that you hydrate regularly
Ticks - Black legged ticks are present in the area. You should wear pants rather than shorts to prevent them latching on and lighter colours make it easier to spot them and keep you more cool. There's no need to worry about ticks if we take a few precautions and we'll talk about doing a tick check after the hike just to confirm we haven't picked any up. You can learn more here
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. I use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas and find that developing a richer understanding leads to a greater enjoyment of the adventures.
Nashville Conservation Reserve falls within the traditional area of the Petun people, also known as the Tobacco people and are one of the people among the Iroquois common in Ontario. There were probably only 8000 members prior to the arrival of European settlers. When those settlers arrived, that population was decimated by the disease that they brought.
Other, larger nations who still have connections to the area are the Missisaugas of the Credit First Nation the Anishnabe, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron Wendat.
We'll be going to the Nashville Conservation Reserve, just about 40 minutes North of the city. While a conservation reserve isn't exactly a secret, for some reason this particular area gets very few visitors, making it a particularly tranquil spot that's incredibly rare this close to Toronto. We keep the locations secret so they remain quiet and ask that you're careful about how you share these places (like not tagging the location on social) so they can remain special.
We'll come across crumbling buildings, beehives, some fantastic landscapes, a trail bisected by a river, dense woodland and more than a few surprises along the way.
We're aiming to tackle up to 8km on this hike, up and down rolling hills but within everyone's capabilities. If folks are keen, there's even the option of going a bit further and continuing all the way to 11km.
We'll stop for lunch along the route at a look-out.
We've got a big group this week with a few newcomers. A special welcome to all of you and a reminder to read this trip plan and follow the instructions carefully so you have a safe adventure.
Hike Length: 8-11km
Terrain: A mixture of grass and woodland. While there's only 80m total ascent, there are a couple of tougher climbs that we'll take slowly in the heat. If we decide to go the full 11km, there'll be a small amount of bush bashing along a rarely used trail.
Estimated time to complete: 4-5 hours with breaks and exploration time.
09:20: Those taking the van meet at the Petrocanada next to Keele Subway Station. Driving to the shuttle location? There's free parking here.
09:30: Shuttle leaves. Please note that out of respect for each other, we leave dead on time and can not wait for latecomers.
10:15: Meet self-drivers at trail head. This map will take you to the precise spot. Note that there's only limited parking (free) and if there are no spots, you may need to go back down the road to find a spot.
10:15 - 14:30: Hike, stopping for lunch en route
14:45: Return to Toronto
15:45: Anticipated return to Keele subway station
Please note that timing to return to Toronto may be up to an hour delayed if we end up hiking the longer route.
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.
It's going to be hot and there's the chance of bugs if we hit wooded areas. It's mostly pretty open so bugs shouldn't be too much of an issue but I recommend packing strong bug spray and a bug net or shirt if you're particularly sensitive to them.
Remember to pack a lunch, some snacks and at least 1l of water.
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles.
Sunburn/heat stroke/dehydration - Wear sunscreen and a sun hat. Make sure that you hydrate regularly
Ticks - Black legged ticks are present in the area. You should wear pants rather than shorts to prevent them latching on and lighter colours make it easier to spot them and keep you more cool. There's no need to worry about ticks if we take a few precautions and we'll talk about doing a tick check after the hike just to confirm we haven't picked any up. You can learn more here
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. I use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas and find that developing a richer understanding leads to a greater enjoyment of the adventures.
Nashville Conservation Reserve falls within the traditional area of the Petun people, also known as the Tobacco people and are one of the people among the Iroquois common in Ontario. There were probably only 8000 members prior to the arrival of European settlers. When those settlers arrived, that population was decimated by the disease that they brought.
Other, larger nations who still have connections to the area are the Missisaugas of the Credit First Nation the Anishnabe, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron Wendat.
