Sweetwater Badge

Sweetwater Badge Hike Series
Sweetwater Badge Description .PDF

1 – Hockleycrest Hike

Special Note: From Dec 1, there is a network of cross country ski trails north of Sideroad 5. Parts of the Main Trail are marked for skiing only. There is an alternative trail marked with white blazes. It veers off to the left as you head north just after the gazebo near km 46.5.

Option A:

Parking: Parking Lot on Mono 5 Sideroad, north side of the road. 43.974055, – 79.984988. From Airport Road, north of 9 turn east on Mono 5 Sideroad.
Hike Description:
1) Main Trail north to Airport Rd (45.7-48.8) (3.1 km)
2) Double back to Hockleycrest Side Trail (48.8-48.2) (.6km)
3) Hockleycrest Side Trail south to Main Trail at 47.0 (1.6km)
4)Main Trail back to parking (47.0-45.7) (1.3 km)
Total km: 6.6km
Photos Required: 1) Modern tapping method along the trail 2) Sugar shack 3) Row of old maples along Hockleycrest ST

Option B:

Parking: Parking Lot on 7th Line immediately east of Airport Road. 43.960477, – 79.97979773.
Hike Description:
1) Take the 7th Line Parking Access Trail to the Main Trail at km 43.3 (.25 km)
2) Hike north on the Main Trail from 43.3 to 48.2 (4.9 km)
3) Take the Hockleycrest Side Trail from this north junction south to junction at 47.0 (1.6km)
4) Take the Main Trail back to the 7th Line Parking Access Trail, (47.0 to 43.3) (3.7 km)
5) 7th Line Parking Side Trail back to your car (.25 km)
Total km: 10.7km
Photos Required: 1) Modern tapping method along the trail 2) Sugar shack 3) Row of old maples along Hockleycrest ST

2 – Terra Cotta Hike

Special Note: Park maps are posted at the parking lot kiosk and along the trails. Maps are also available to download at cvc.ca.

Option A:

Parking: At Terra Cotta Conservation Area (entry fee) 14452 Winston Churchill Blvd, Halton Hills. During Maple Syrup in the Park (an annual festival), there may be an additional fee to enter parts of the park. However, you can make the festival part of your day out. 43.722496, -79.956865.
Hike Description:
1) From the main parking lot, take Terra Cotta Lane (purple conservation trail markers)
2) Turn left onto McGregor Spring Pond Trail (pink markers)
3) Quick left at the Vaughan Trail (yellow markers). Along the way, the main Bruce Trail mergers onto this trail. Follow the white blazes to the stile. (Do not leave the conservation area.) Continue on the Bruce Trail to the Bruce Trail Terra Cotta Side Trail. Follow the blue blazes. (Note: Eventually, the Terra Cotta Side Trail exits the conservation area. Do not leave.)
4) Follow the second entrance of the AF Coventry Trail (orange markers) back to the parking lot. On the other side of the parking lot, head towards the Welcome Centre.
5) Take the Wetland Trail (black markers) to the right. From this short loop trail, you can see the Rae Horst Sugar Shack.
Total km: 6km
Photos Required: 1) Rae Horst Sugar Shack – near P3 and the Wetland Trail

Option B:

Parking: On east side Winston Churchill where the Caledon Trailway (Terra Cotta Side Trail) crosses (6 parking spots – more spots further south on Winston Churchill near King. 43.717845, -79.941749
Hike Description:
1) Caledon Trailway to Graydon (.33)
2) Graydon to Vaughan (2)
3) Vaughan to McGregor Spring (1.6)
4) Terra Cotta Lane to P1 (1.2)
5) P1 to Wetland Trail with stop at sugar shack (.4)
6) Double back Terra Cotta Lane to Forest Meadow Lane (1)
7) Left on Graydon to Caledon Trailway
8) Caledon Trailway back to Winston Churchill (2.3)
Total km: 9km
Photos Required: 1) Rae Horst Sugar Shack – near P3 and the Wetland Trail

3 – Island Lake Loop

Special Note:  Park maps are posted at the parking lot kiosk and along the trails. Maps are available to download at cvc.ca

Option A:

Parking: P5 – Island Lake Conservation Area – 673173 Hurontario Street, Mono. From Hwy 10/24, turn east on Hockley Rd. Stay straight at the bend to take 5 Sideroad. Turn right on Hurontario. Parking is at the end of the road. 43.938440, -80.0850400.
Hike Description:
1) Turn right on Vicki Barron Lakeside Trail towards North Dam. Follow trail around lake until post 33. Turn right on trial link.
2) Turn right on Memorial Forest Trail on east side of P2, down to Post 26.
3) Turn left and the Memorial Leaf Wall is on right. Stone Tree Wall a little further along on the right. Follow to P4.
4) Follow trail link under Sugar Bush sign.
5) Turn right at sugar shack and follow Sugar Bush Trail around loop back to shack.
6) Follow straight to post 11.
7) Follow trail link to post 10.
8) Right on Vicki Barron Trail. Follow trail around until back at parking lot.
Alternate: Turning left at sugar shack could cut almost a km off total hike. (8.5 km)
Total km: 9.5km
Photos Required: 1) Sugar shack 2) Overhead ‘Sugar Bush’ 3) Stone Tree Wall 4) Memorial Leaf Wall

Option B:

Parking: Island Lake Community Trails North Entrance Parking Lot – 246306 Hockley Road. From Highway 10/24 turn east onto Hockley Road for 400 metres. The parking lot is on the right-hand side. Note: This parking area has fewer spaces than the other lot. 43.94664, -80.099701.
Hike Description:
1) From the parking lot, take the Island Lake Family Trail. At Station 51 signpost, continue straight onto the Vikki Barron Lakeside Trail.
2) Follow the signposts along this trail to Station 10 signpost. At this trail intersection, turn left and follow this trail to the Sugar Bush Trail.
3) Take the Sugar Bush Trail towards the sugar shack. Follow the trail in a counterclockwise direction. As you pass the sugar shack for a second time, take the linking trail at Station 20 to the Memorial Forest Trail.
4) Turn left at Station 22 signpost to follow the Memorial Forest Trail in a clockwise direction.
5) At the Station 30 signpost, turn left and continue to a park road.
6) Turn left onto the road and continue hiking. Before the bend in the road, turn left at Station 33 signpost and continue along the Vikki Barron Lakeside Trail to Station 51 signpost.
7) Veer left and take the Island Lake Family Trail back to the parking lot.
Total km: 12km
Photos Required: 1) Sugar shack 2) Overhead ‘Sugar Bush’ 3) Stone Tree Wall 4) Memorial Leaf Wall

4 – Forks of the Credit Hike

Option A:

Parking: Southwest shoulder of Willoughby Rd and Escarpment Sideroad. From ON-10, head west on Escarpment Sideroad until meet Willoughby Road. 43.831244, -79.980588.
Hike Description:
1) Head south-west on main Trail from Willoughby Road. Turn right at first fork in main Trail, off Puckering Lane.
2) Follow main Trail around and into the valley. Just past the washroom, there is a good spot by the Credit River for a break and photo.
3) Follow the main Trail along the former Dorothy Medhurst Side Trail to McLaughlin Rd. (15.9 to 8.4) (7.4 km)
4) Continue north-east now on the main Trail past McLaughlin Road and back to Willoughby. (14.4 – 15.9) (1.5 km)
Total km: 8.9km
Photos Required: Credit River Note: This transportation route was a gathering spot – a place where trading goods, like maple sugar, happened.

Option B:

Parking: North of the intersection of Cataract Road and Mississauga Road at the Elora Cataract Trailway Trail Head. 43.813120, -80.028656. From ON-10 head west on Charleston Sideroad/Peel Regional Rd 24 for 5.5 km. Turn left onto Mississauga Rd and drive for 1.0 km. Park on the west shoulder.
Hike Description:
1) Head east on the Elora Cataract Trail to the Mill Pond Side Trail. (1.2 km)
2) Follow the Mill Pond Side Trail to the main Trail. (1.6 km)
3) Turn right on the Main Trail and follow it to the Cataract Side Trail. (11.7 – 11.2) (.5 km)
4) Go out and back on the Cataract Side Trail. (1.1 km each way) (2.2 km)
5) Follow the main Trail south, just past the washroom. There is a good spot by the Credit River for a break and the required photo.
6) Follow the main Trail along the former Dorothy Medhurst Side Trail to the junction of north and south bound trail (9.5 & 13.3) on Puckering Lane. (11.2 – 9.5 km) (1.7 km)
7) Turn left on the southbound trail, and follow back to the Mill Pond Side Trail (13.3 – 11.7) (1.6 km)
8) Follow Mill Pond Side Trail to the Elora Cataract Trail. (1.6 km) 9) Take Elora Cataract Trail back to roadside parking. (1.2 km)
Total km: 11.6km
Photos Required: 1) Sugar shack 2) Overhead ‘Sugar Bush’ 3) Stone Tree Wall 4) Memorial Leaf Wall

5 – Glen Haffy Hike

Option A:

Parking: Coolihans Sideroad east of Airport Rd. 43.941369, -79.934650
Hike Description:
Out and Back hike plus loop 1) Take Glen Haffy Side Trail north to Highway 9 and back to Coolihans. (4.0 km)
2) Follow the main Trail north to the Conservation Area Red Trail at Post 9 (.3 km).
3) Note the Red Trail and Main Trail follow the same trail until Post 4. At Post 4, leave the main Trail and follow the red loop back to Post 9. (2.7 km)
4) Return on the main Trail to Coolihans. (.3 km)
Total km: 7.3km
Photos Required:  1) Maple-lined laneway at Briardale Farm on Glen Haffy Rd, just south of Highway 9 2) hiker hugging giant maples on main Trail

Option B:

Parking: Coolihans Sideroad east of Airport Rd. 43.941369, -79.934650
Hike Description:
Loop Hike 1) Take Glen Haffy Side Trail north of Coolihans, following the blue blazes. When crossing HIghway 9, take extreme care and continue to the right and then left onto Mono-Adjala Townline. The side trail heads off the road on the left after 670 m. The side trail ends at the main Trail at km 41.6 (4.8 km)
2) Return south on the main Trail crossing Highway 9 at the lights (Airport Road and Highway 9 intersection). Continue south on the main Trail to Coolihans Sideroad. (41.6 – 35.0) (6.6 km)
Total km: 11.4km
Photos Required: 1) Maple-lined laneway at Briardale Farm on Glen Haffy Rd, just south of Highway 9 2) hiker hugging giant maples on main Trail