We promised some more background on the incredible opportunity to hike near your Meaford Haven home, and we definitely have to mention the Bruce Trail.

The famous trail, which snakes along the “Giant’s Rib”, the Niagara Escarpment, for nearly 900 kilometres, has numerous nearby access points with a wide variety of terrain and magnificent views, and two of the nine Bruce Trail clubs base themselves here.

You can be on the trail within minutes of leaving your door, with access to four different hikes within eight kilometres of Meaford Haven and many more nearby.

The Beaver Valley section winds 113 kilometres from Craigleith to Blantyre (southwest of Meaford), through fields and forests and along the edge of rocky cliffs, and offers hikers expansive views of Nottawasaga Bay (part of Georgian Bay) and the Beaver Valley. The Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Club schedules numerous hikes throughout the year in this section.

Hoggs Falls (Beaver Valley)

Beyond Blantyre, heading west and north, you’re into the Sydenham Bruce Trail Club’s “domain”, which extends all the way up to Wiarton on the Bruce Peninsula. The group develops, maintains (and hikes) the 170 kilometres of trail (plus side trails) in this section.

Syd Keeling Side Trail (Sydenham) by Jennifer Prior

In addition to its spectacular views and beautiful waterfalls, this section is famous for its ferns.

Visit the club’s websites to learn more about the different sections and help decide where you’d like to start. (And stay tuned for more hiking guides.)