Alberta Road Trip
Cathy
Back from Alberta

From hiking up mountains and exploring valleys to feeding cows and riding horses, we've had a whirlwind of adventures on our road trip to Alberta. With Canada's landscape ranging in such beauty, we focused most of our time exploring the outdoors and caught a few glimpses of wildlife. We visited incredibly blue lakes, relaxed in a hot spring and watched cows block the road we were driving on. 

Back from Alberta

Hiking

Silver Creek Conservation Area in Halton Hills

On a warm afternoon, we decided to go on a short hike at Silver Creek Conservation Area. 

What we Did

We parked at the side of the road and headed over to the information board with the map. As a heads up, we didn't find this map too helpful since it didn't highlight what the trails were or how long they were. To avoid our mistake, make sure to check out the online map before you begin. We decided to follow the Bruce Trail for maybe an hour before it got too muddy for us to continue. 

Even though we didn't stay long, we really enjoyed the hike. There are so many side trails to choose from. Whether you're looking to do something shorter or longer, you can customize the hike to your liking. 

From photos we've seen online, there's a waterfall somewhere in this conservation area. If you know which trail it's on, let us know and we'll go back to hike it!

Notes

  • Location: Vehicle access from Town of Halton Hills 9th Line and Fallbrook Trail (27th Sideroad) L7G 4S8. Or you can just Google Maps it. 
  • Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
  • Parking fee: There's a donation box at the main kiosk of 9th Line. 
  • Trails: There are six trails you can hike here. I would check the map before you head out. The map at the entrance wasn't too clear. 
  • Difficulty: Moderate - It didn't seem too difficult, but we also didn't make it to all of the trails. 
  • Time: This is entirely up to you. There are so many hiking trails that you can spend one hour or a whole day there.
  • Dogs: Dogs are allowed but you must keep them leashed. 

Happy Adventuring! 

,

Forks of the Credit Provincial Park in Caledon

,

If you're up a a hike just north of Toronto, you should check out Forks of the Credit Provincial Park in Caledon. It's a beautiful park with relatively challenging trails because of the rolling hills. It's the perfect place to visit all-year round!

What we did: 

Since we were in the mood to see a waterfall, we ended up hiking the trail to Cataract Falls. There are trail markers throughout that will have a panel pointing to the "Falls." Just follow them and you should be fine. On the way back, the panel will say "Parking Lot."

There are many hills throughout the trail, but it's not too bad. I definitely felt the burn while hiking up the hills. Otherwise, the trails are well-kept and are of moderate difficulty. Once you reach the waterfall, there's a few lookouts where you can take photos. You won't be able to get anywhere near the falls since the area is completely blocked off. But you should be able to see it just fine from the lookout. 

It took us about 1.5 hours total reach the waterfall and make it back to the parking lot.  

 

NOTES:

  • Location: 17760 McLaren Road, Caledon, ON L7K 2H8
  • Parking fee: There's no entrance fee, but there's a parking fee. Apparently the machine gives the option for 2 hours, 4 hours or the whole day. But when I tried to pay it only gave me the option for the full day. Or maybe I don't know how to use the machine properly. 
  • Trails: You can find the Bruce trail, Dominion trail, Kettle trail, Meadow trail, Ruins trail and Trans Canada trail here. 
  • Difficulty: Moderate - The trails are well-kept but there are a few hills to conquer. 
  • Time: This is entirely up to you. There are so many hiking trails that you can spend just a few hours or a whole day there.
  • Dogs: Dogs are allowed but you must keep them leashed. 
  • Horses: Horseback riding is permitted on the Trans Canada trail only.
  • Activities: You can also fish here or go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. In the summer, spring and fall, you can also hang out in the picnic area. 
  • As a heads up, it can get pretty crowded here. We went on a Sunday afternoon on a gloomy day and the parking lot was packed!

Happy Adventuring! 

,

Limehouse Conservation Area in Halton Hills

,

From experiencing the natural wonders of the Niagara Escarpment to learning more about the cultural heritage of its past, Limehouse Conservation Area offers a unique experience for adventurers. At its heart lies a geological area known as the “Hole in the Wall”, where ladders cut through fissures in the escarpment rock. 

There are 5 trails of moderate difficulty: Kiln Trail (0.05 km), CVC Trail (0.9 km), Bruce Trail (1.9 km), Black Creek Side Trail (1.5 km) and the Access Trail (0.2 km). 

What we did:

We stayed on the Bruce Trail (take at a left when you reach the fork at the beginning of the trail) and made it to the "Hole in the Wall," bridge as well as the Lime Kilns and Mills Ruins. 

The "Hole in the Wall" was an unexpected pleasant surprise for us. We didn't realize how much fun it was would be to climb down the ladder into the fissure and climb around. You can spend a chuck of time exploring the area and seeing where each fissure leads you. 

Continuing past the fissure on the Bruce Trail, you'll reach the river where you can cross the bridge over Black Creek. It's definitely a photo-worthy bridge. But be careful when you cross it! 

On the other side of the bridge, continue on the trail and you'll find the Lime Kilns and Mills Ruin. 

NOTES:

  • Location: 12169 Fifth Line, Limehouse L0P 1H0
  • Entrance fee: There's a donation box at the main entrance. 
  • Dogs: Dogs are allow, but must be leashed. 
  • Time: We spent about 2 hours here, mostly exploring the "Hole in the Wall."

Happy Adventuring! 

Back from Alberta

Back from Alberta

From hiking up mountains and exploring valleys to feeding cows and riding horses, we've had a whirlwind of adventures on our road trip to Alberta. With Canada's landscape ranging in such beauty, we focused most of our time exploring the outdoors and caught a few glimpses of wildlife. We visited incredibly blue lakes, relaxed in a hot spring and watched cows block the road we were driving on. 

,

From Rattlesnake Point to Crawford Lake

,
From Rattlesnake Point to Crawford Lake

Located in Milton, Ontario, Canada, Rattlesnake Point is an eco-tourism area owned by Halton Conservation. The top of the limestone cliffs offers a beautiful view overlooking Lowville Valley. The area offers excellent hiking trails, rock-climbing sites and camping sites. 

We hiked from Rattlesnake Point to Crawford Lake. The trail is about 15 kilometres and took us 4-5 hours roundtrip with a few breaks in-between for pictures and lunch. With the rolling hills, steep ascents and rocks everywhere, this as an intermediate hike.