status loading...
Only ... spots left!
Rural Hike

Boots on the Bruce Trail: A Summertime Hike

Cost:  
...
Optional Transport:  
...
Join a Wilderness Union Adventure
Loading...
Loading...
Event Date
July 5, 2026
Destination
Burlington
Duration
10 hours
Highlights
Smokey Hollow Waterfall. Grindstone Creek. Secluded Nature Close to the City.
Trip eligible for credit -  
...
Guest passes can be used -  
...

Your Registration Details

Transport
...
AdditIonal Add Ons
...
Guests
...
Difficulty Rating
★★★★
Beauty Rating
★★★★
Solitude Rating
★★★★

Description

Join us for this serene and moderately challenging stretch of the famous Bruce Trail. 

This part of the Bruce Trail will take us through lively forests, along Grindstone Creek, and past the dramatic drop of Smokey Hollow Waterfall. Starting at the concrete tunnel under Highway 6 near Waterdown, the trail drops you immediately into deep forests that will make you forget how close you are to the city. Rolling climbs, creek crossings, and rooted terrain keep you on your toes until you hit Smokey Hollow Waterfall: a wide curtain of water spilling over a limestone shelf into a shaded gorge. Beyond the falls, you'll have the trail largely to yourselves as you explore deeper into nature with your fellow adventurers. From there, the path opens into a long gradual climb before flattening out into honest, easy walking to King Road.

Total distance is 17.4 km out-and-back, with 485 metres of elevation gain. This is a solid step up from a beginner day hike but still doable for people with a good fitness level. You'll leave it feeling that sweet satisfaction of accomplishment.

Join us for this serene and moderately challenging stretch of the famous Bruce Trail. 

This part of the Bruce Trail will take us through lively forests, along Grindstone Creek, and past the dramatic drop of Smokey Hollow Waterfall. Starting at the concrete tunnel under Highway 6 near Waterdown, the trail drops you immediately into deep forests that will make you forget how close you are to the city. Rolling climbs, creek crossings, and rooted terrain keep you on your toes until you hit Smokey Hollow Waterfall: a wide curtain of water spilling over a limestone shelf into a shaded gorge. Beyond the falls, you'll have the trail largely to yourselves as you explore deeper into nature with your fellow adventurers. From there, the path opens into a long gradual climb before flattening out into honest, easy walking to King Road.

Total distance is 17.4 km out-and-back, with 485 metres of elevation gain. This is a solid step up from a beginner day hike but still doable for people with a good fitness level. You'll leave it feeling that sweet satisfaction of accomplishment.

Highlights

Smokey Hollow Waterfall: Expect a wide curtain of water spilling over a limestone shelf into a shaded gorge. It's the natural midpoint of the hike and worth every climb to get there.

Grindstone Creek: The trail runs alongside the creek for much of the first half, weaving through shaded forest with the sound of water keeping you company

Secluded Nature Close to the City: Just outside Burlington and about an hour from Toronto, you’ll step onto the trail and be immediately swallowed by nature with nothing around you but trees and creeks.

08:00 - Shuttle leaves from near Keele Station

09:00 - Meet at trailhead and begin hike

17:30 - Anticipated end of hike

18:00 - Anticipated return to Toronto

Carbon Offsetting
Wilderness Union offsets the estimated carbon emissions of every trip by investing in a global portfolio of verified carbon reduction projects.

Please read and understand this before registering

Cancellations made:

Loading...

Weather or emergency cancellations: If an event is canceled due to severe weather or other uncontrollable factors, members can receive a full credit to their account.

...

What to Expect on a WU Trip

Is a Wilderness Union Trip Right for You?
We offer a unique alternative to commercial tours. We don't just show you incredible natural wonders, we teach you to become confident in nature so you can discover the life changing magic of the outdoors. You'll love it here if:
- You want to make real friends, not just small talk with strangers
- You prefer "off the beaten path" over "all-inclusive resort"
- You're happy to pitch in and learn new skills (e.g., helping with camp setup or group tasks)
- You value the journey and the company as much as the destination

Who Else Will Be There
WU is aimed at a younger generation of outdoor lovers who don't see themselves represented in traditional hiking clubs and our members are typically 20-40 years old. Whether you're brand new to the outdoors or have plenty of experience, you'll find something for you.

Our Guides
All of our guides are highly qualified, passionate outdoor lovers, just like you. They love to share their knowledge and will help you see our destinations in another light, often teaching you something along the trail.

Q&A

Got questions? Checkout our FAQ for answers to pretty much anything you can think of.

Where can I find important updates about this hiking trip in the days leading up to it?

Please follow the Discord thread for this adventure under the ‘Upcoming Adventures’ channel, and reach out to us if you are having any issues.

Want Access to Explorer Member Pricing?

If the outdoors is your way of life, Explorer membership makes more sense. Gain access to all of our adventures, exclusive pricing, regular socials and much more.
Start with a free trial
Hey there! In order to improve your registration experience, get immediate adventure waitlist reminders, and be notified of important information, please connect your Discord account in the My Account tab.