The Hilton Conservation Area is a truly beautiful location, and we will be tackling one of the hardest routes in the snow and ice. Layers will be your friend, but we will heat up as we tackle over 200 meters of elevation and complete this 21.5 km hike. Hiking in front of waterfalls, over streams, across reservoirs, and past ruined water mills, this is a rare hike of this distance so close to Toronto.
Hike length: 21.5km
Estimated time to complete hike: 9 hours
06:50 - Those getting a ride meet up at the Petro Canada next to Keele Subway Station
07:00 - Shuttle leaves. Please note, we leave dead on time and cannot wait for latecomers!
08:00 - Arrive at Britton Tract Trailhead parking area to meet up with self drivers and begin hike. We leave dead on time and cannot wait for latecomers!
08:00-17:00 - Hike, eating lunch en route
18:30 - 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.
Winter clothing
The key for winter hiking is to have breathable layers that allow you to adjust your temperature as you start to heat up or cool down. The biggest problem you're likely to encounter is actually getting too hot - the amount of exercise you're doing means you'll warm up quickly and it's important that you vent your clothes before you start sweating because that will only make you colder once you stop.
Pay attention to your fabrics - there's a saying that cotton kills because it keeps moisture and makes you colder. Instead, go for breathable fabrics, like athletic wear or wool. Wool has the advantage of keeping you warm when it's wet but cheap polyester running gear is just fine. We've put together a simple guide to layering on our instagram.
A common mistake is to bring your heavy winter coat that you'd wear in the city - this will become very uncomfortable very quickly. If you'd like advice on what coat is suitable, we'll give you recommendations no matter your budget.
Because clothing becomes a safety issue in winter, it's particularly important that you're dress appropriately and follow these guidelines. If you turn up in clothes that could put you at risk we may have to turn you away. As always, ask us in advance if you'd like any advice, we'll be delighted to help!
Shoes
You should be switching to proper hiking boots once the snow has started. If the snow is really deep, you can wear a proper winter boot that goes above the ankle but this isn't essential, especially if you have gaiters. These go over your shoe to prevent snow coming in. Trainers and city boots are really not suitable because they won't have sufficient grip.
There's a good chance your feet are going to get wet, either through snow ingress or sweat so you should always pack a spare pair of socks when winter hiking.
Traction
You're going to find that you move more slowly and spend more effort hiking in the snow so we tend to hike shorter distances. From first snowfall you should always bring ice spikes with you. The Kahtoola Exospikes are a great option if you have the budget, otherwise Amazon has plenty of cheaper options. You rarely need snowshoes unless the snow is really deep and powdery and hiking with them usually requires even more energy.
We're bringing ice spikes for anybody who requested them.
Winter Hiking packing list
A head torch
In case we end up out after dark. Unlikely but we should be prepared.
Have any questions? Ask us on the Discord! Members who turn up dressed in a way that puts themselves at risk will not be able to join us and we won't be able to refund your trip.
Bring a packed lunch, snacks and 1l of water for the hike.
Any members who ordered icespikes will get them when we meet at the trailhead.
General Notes
The snow may have melted so we could have a mixture of slippery muddy conditions. Please read the following carefully - if you're not dressed safely we will not be able to take you up with us and we all want to avoid that!
That starts with:
Shoes
Hiking boots are essential for this trip. You're going to need good grip and a higher shoe to prevent your feet getting soaked. That's likely to happen anyway so make sure you pack an extra pair of socks.
Trainers and city boots are really not suitable because they won't have sufficient grip and could put you at risk. You won't be able to join us if you're wearing sneakers/blundstones.
Traction
At this time of year you should always pack ice spikes. We recommend Kahtoola Exospikes but you can find cheaper 'micro-spikes' online - just keep in mind they don't last long. The black rubber ones with tiny studs you get from Canadian Tire and Dollarama are useless. If you reserved some from us we'll have some packed for you.
Clothing packing list
It's also a good idea to bring a whistle in case you need to call for help.
Have any questions? Ask us on the Discord! Members who turn up dressed in a way that puts themselves at risk will not be able to join us.
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.
The Hilton Conservation Area is a truly beautiful location, and we will be tackling one of the hardest routes in the snow and ice. Layers will be your friend, but we will heat up as we tackle over 200 meters of elevation and complete this 21.5 km hike. Hiking in front of waterfalls, over streams, across reservoirs, and past ruined water mills, this is a rare hike of this distance so close to Toronto.
Hike length: 21.5km
Estimated time to complete hike: 9 hours
06:50 - Those getting a ride meet up at the Petro Canada next to Keele Subway Station
07:00 - Shuttle leaves. Please note, we leave dead on time and cannot wait for latecomers!
08:00 - Arrive at Britton Tract Trailhead parking area to meet up with self drivers and begin hike. We leave dead on time and cannot wait for latecomers!
08:00-17:00 - Hike, eating lunch en route
18:30 - 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.
Winter clothing
The key for winter hiking is to have breathable layers that allow you to adjust your temperature as you start to heat up or cool down. The biggest problem you're likely to encounter is actually getting too hot - the amount of exercise you're doing means you'll warm up quickly and it's important that you vent your clothes before you start sweating because that will only make you colder once you stop.
Pay attention to your fabrics - there's a saying that cotton kills because it keeps moisture and makes you colder. Instead, go for breathable fabrics, like athletic wear or wool. Wool has the advantage of keeping you warm when it's wet but cheap polyester running gear is just fine. We've put together a simple guide to layering on our instagram.
A common mistake is to bring your heavy winter coat that you'd wear in the city - this will become very uncomfortable very quickly. If you'd like advice on what coat is suitable, we'll give you recommendations no matter your budget.
Because clothing becomes a safety issue in winter, it's particularly important that you're dress appropriately and follow these guidelines. If you turn up in clothes that could put you at risk we may have to turn you away. As always, ask us in advance if you'd like any advice, we'll be delighted to help!
Shoes
You should be switching to proper hiking boots once the snow has started. If the snow is really deep, you can wear a proper winter boot that goes above the ankle but this isn't essential, especially if you have gaiters. These go over your shoe to prevent snow coming in. Trainers and city boots are really not suitable because they won't have sufficient grip.
There's a good chance your feet are going to get wet, either through snow ingress or sweat so you should always pack a spare pair of socks when winter hiking.
Traction
You're going to find that you move more slowly and spend more effort hiking in the snow so we tend to hike shorter distances. From first snowfall you should always bring ice spikes with you. The Kahtoola Exospikes are a great option if you have the budget, otherwise Amazon has plenty of cheaper options. You rarely need snowshoes unless the snow is really deep and powdery and hiking with them usually requires even more energy.
We're bringing ice spikes for anybody who requested them.
Winter Hiking packing list
A head torch
In case we end up out after dark. Unlikely but we should be prepared.
Have any questions? Ask us on the Discord! Members who turn up dressed in a way that puts themselves at risk will not be able to join us and we won't be able to refund your trip.
Bring a packed lunch, snacks and 1l of water for the hike.
Any members who ordered icespikes will get them when we meet at the trailhead.
General Notes
The snow may have melted so we could have a mixture of slippery muddy conditions. Please read the following carefully - if you're not dressed safely we will not be able to take you up with us and we all want to avoid that!
That starts with:
Shoes
Hiking boots are essential for this trip. You're going to need good grip and a higher shoe to prevent your feet getting soaked. That's likely to happen anyway so make sure you pack an extra pair of socks.
Trainers and city boots are really not suitable because they won't have sufficient grip and could put you at risk. You won't be able to join us if you're wearing sneakers/blundstones.
Traction
At this time of year you should always pack ice spikes. We recommend Kahtoola Exospikes but you can find cheaper 'micro-spikes' online - just keep in mind they don't last long. The black rubber ones with tiny studs you get from Canadian Tire and Dollarama are useless. If you reserved some from us we'll have some packed for you.
Clothing packing list
It's also a good idea to bring a whistle in case you need to call for help.
Have any questions? Ask us on the Discord! Members who turn up dressed in a way that puts themselves at risk will not be able to join us.
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.
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