Glen Haffy Side Trail — A Trail to Find Tranquillity
The Glen Haffy Side Trail follows a north-south axis along the eastern edge of the Glen Haffy Conservation Area. The word “Glen” comes from Scottish Gaelic and Irish, meaning “a narrow, deep valley.” The name “Haffy” may be associated with James Haffey, an early Irish settler whose family farm once stood near what is now the main entrance to Glen Haffy Conservation Area.*
Into the Side Trail
Along the white blazes of the Caledon Hills main Bruce Trail, at Coolihans Side Road, a single blue blaze quietly branches off from the white-blazed main route. Together with the Main Trail, this blue blazed Side Trail forms a walk that brings together local history, restored landscape, and the quiet character of the countryside.
Along the Road, Into Memory
The trail begins in the south along Glen Haffy Road, passing farmland, fences, and small rural details that reflect the quiet character of the area. After crossing Highway 9 and following the Mono-Adjala Townline, walkers come upon a plantation of pines. These trees stand as a living reminder of an earlier period, when poor land use and deforestation left parts of the region vulnerable to drifting sand.** The planting of the pines was part of a broader effort to stabilize and restore the land, adding an important historical, early ecological layer to what is now a peaceful stretch of trail.
Over the Stile, Into the Forest
From there, the trail leaves the road, crosses a wooden stile, and enters the forest. It descends into the Humber River valley, where a small bridge offers a tranquil place to pause in the shade of hemlocks, surrounded by the calming sound of the river. Beyond the bridge, the trail climbs steeply to a ridge, where the landscape opens to views of farmland and forest before continuing through mature hardwood woodland. In spring, this section is especially rewarding, with wildflowers adding seasonal colour to the forest floor.
A Trail Remembered
The blue blazes end quietly, and the Side Trail rejoins the Main Bruce Trail. Though modest in length, the Glen Haffy Side Trail is memorable for its quiet beauty, layered history, and the sense of stillness it offers along the way.
References:
* Town of Caledon. Cultural Heritage Landscapes Inventory: Section 9. Town of Caledon,
www.caledon.ca/en/living-here/resources/Documents/recreation-leisure/Cultural_Heritage_Landscapes_Inventory_Section9.pdf. Accessed 17 June 2024.
** Ross, Nicola. Dufferin County. Foreword by Sheldon Anderson, Dundurn Press, 2003.
