First Day Hike – Beaver Valley

January 1, 2019 – out with old and in with the new.

While many were couch sitting and nursing a self-inflicted hangover from way too much New Year’s revelry, there were those of us and many of us for that matter who headed out for what has become known as “The First Day Hike.”

“First Day Hikes” from what I’ve now learned, is somewhat more of a formal endeavour than I thought. The idea of a coordinated “First Day Hike” originated in Boston in 1992. This year Ontario Parks is the first international participant in the “First Day Hike” movement, with hiking events at many of the provincial parks throughout Ontario.

Nevertheless, we adopted the moniker “First Day Hike” and headed out on our own to the Beaver Valley.

Heading out the door at 11:36am and at a balmy minus 6 degrees C, our adventure was to take us over to a section of the Bruce Trail located in the Beaver Valley area of Grey County near to the Beaver Valley Ski Club.

This particular section of the Bruce Trail has become a favourite of ours over the past couple of years. It has relatively easy access from two separate roadways(one paved and one a gravel country road). The trail through here, as it is in numerous sections of “The Bruce”, offers plenty of terrain changes, all combined with exciting features to catch your imagination along the way. And to obviously stop and take pictures of. That goes without saying!

The above picture, I swear must be the most photographed abandoned farmstead in this area of Ontario. There is hardly a month goes by, that on either Instagram, Twitter or Facebook someone doesn’t post a shot of this place. In fact, Lynn takes a photo of it just about every time we drive by. I’m sure she had a dozen shots of this place in her collection. For those who want to know where it is, it’s located of Grey County Road 31, just west of the Osprey-Clearview Townline.

With pit stop along the way and somewhat snowy and slick road conditions west of the Village of Duntroon, we arrived at the trailhead around 1:30pm.

After getting ourselves organized and Katie packed in “The Bag”, off we headed along the trail.

From the parking area, the trail follows a flat, yet meandering path until it reaches the top of the large ravine that contains a tributary that feeds the nearby Beaver River.

A few pictures from the beginning of the hike.

Along the creek bottom.

Lynn doing her thing and quite well I must admit.

 

Four of Lynn’s shots from the creek bottom.

A fun stylized pic of the shot above.

 

Katie and I posing at the bridge crossing that leads to a series of switchbacks.

And to ultimately this. The trail leads passed this location. I think a lot of people just continue on by even when they hear the water. You sort of need to search for the falls and such through the trees.

Lynn and I visited here three or four times in the past two years.

 

Lynn captured a cute puppy out on the trail

As Katie was starting to shiver and get cold we headed back to the car and set off to check out a number of other cool spots in the Beaver Valley area.

Strangely, this has become one of Lynn’s favourite spots on the Beaver River to shoot photos at. It is a canoe access point to the Beaver River

There was a lot of water, albeit frozen in the surrounding forest which comprises a component of the Beaver Valley Lowland Management Area. The wooded area surrounding the bridge is very low and I suspect quite prone to flooding.

Even beavers take New Year’s day off. Statutory holiday regulations I’m thinking.

As time was moving along, we got back in the car to start the journey home. A few more pictures from the return trip.

The sun is setting to bid farewell on the first day of 364 more farewells to come.

This old car located in a farmer’s field adjacent to the roadway is one of the very first pictures Lynn captured when she first started into photography. I’ll have to take some time and search through her pictures to see if I can find the first shot from here.

And of course, it isn’t Canada if you don’t follow a snowplow at some time during a trip in the winter.

Although not a long time spent out on the Bruce Trail, it was still a great way to spend the afternoon. Discovering that Katie will ride along in “The Bag” certainly opens up the opportunity to get out on more adventures in the upcoming weeks.

As I mentioned before, the Beaver Valley and Grey County have become our default go-to spot when it comes to hiking and other adventures as well. The whole area contains a wealth of places to hike and explore for a day and when you’re hungry or thirsty, there are more than enough restaurants, pubs and spots to satisfy any craving you might have.

I would encourage you to get out, even today for an outing in this area of the province.

If outdoor activities aren’t your ideas of a great afternoon, there are quaint shops, stores and restaurants located throughout all the towns and villages in this area and they’re open and waiting for you to stop by.

Just head on out. You’ll have a great time and believe me, you won’t be disappointed.

Thanks for stopping by.