Out & About #1043 | Glen Haffy Conservation Area + Palgrave Forest and Wildlife Area

Thanksgiving hikes are essentially mandatory at this point. Leading up to the long weekend, I had prepared accordingly by securing a CVC pass for access to TRCA destinations. In addition, my coworker that would be joining me for the first time would be readied through our lunchtime trip to Decathlon.

But, of course, maintaining punctuality is not my forte. Despite having announced a departure time of 7:30 AM, I ultimately departed twenty minutes late, then required at least ten minutes more to detour for gas. My weekend morning sluggishness and overall tardiness averaged a total delay of thirty minutes, though my hiking partner of the day was, shockingly, more than forgiving.

I had hurriedly tossed three footwear candidates into the back seat and slipped into my Birks out of haste; my Marauder socks would be on full display until we arrived at our first stop - which would be none other than indoor plumbing facilities. A McDonald's gas station accompaniment in Caledon had selected over the grimy, rundown Tims across the intersection. Much to my surprise, the two unisex stalls were spacious and quite clean. No missing mirrors or empty plastic water bottles would be found here.

Continuing northbound, we'd pull into Glen Haffy Conservation Area around 9:30 AM. A staff member greeted us at the toll gate. I presented the package I had obtained from the library in its entirety, then inquired whether additional proof was necessary for admission. She shook her head with a smile, silently confirming that the pass satisfied admission requirements, and simply asked if we'd be fishing today. I answered in the negative. "Well then you guys have a lovely day!" she responded, and waved us off.

Admittedly, there were some difficulties experienced in locating the trail head. Downloading the trail map for offline use the evening prior had been a well-informed decision, for the signal was weak on site. (That said, nowhere can beat Mono Cliffs as a dead zone.)

We eventually settled to park near the fishing pond, as it provided somewhat of a connection to the main trail. Spaces were identified with the presence of concrete wheel stops and provided on freshly mowed turf as opposed to gravel or asphalt. Instead, the latter materials were used to distinguish drive-able paths and interior (local) access routes.

​Descending down to the fishing pond, we found a handful of early birds with their rods casted, waiting patiently for a catch. 

View the full album HERE !

​The scenery was worth marvelling at, for early fall hues would be reflected in the clear, shimmering waters of the pond. Lofty, leafy structures lined the perimeter of the body of water, separated only by a narrow trail and a marsh at its northeast corner.

​By making our way around the fishing pond, we located a numbered trail marker. Post No. 7 would enable entry onto the Blue Trail, thus allowing for connections to the rest of the conservation area's designated nature trails.

I had initially proposed the shortest loop possible, under the assumption that trail posts were spaced substantially far apart, just like in the provincial parks. However, we arrived at Post No. 12 with tremendous speed. There had also been plenty of signage leading up to the checkpoint, primarily in the form of coloured arrows matching the trail map.

Continuing into the woods revealed customary autumn observations: crunchy leaves beneath one's feet, moss-covered logs, the occasional cluster of white funghi, and, of course, the stunning gradient of fall foliage high above. The landscapes were nicely varied, with some elevation changes and a decent amount of tree roots, rock, stout shrubs, etc.

The arrival of brisk fall weather had further enjoyment levels: Conditions were cool, yet not particularly chilly. Our brisk walk would be escorted by a light breeze - one that nipped at our noses and could summon sniffles, but didn't align with the descriptions of "wintry" and "cold".

​Nestled in areas with an abundance of tree cover, the Purple, Blue, and Green trails were positively breathtaking with the sun just peeking through the multitude of colourful leaves. Between Posts No. 12 and No. 3, we found a delicate creek, from which natural illumination incited a hypnotizing radiance.

As a result of our relatively swift pace and unexpectedly short separation distances between the trail posts, we resolved to derail from our original loop slightly. The Bruce Trail, coloured in violet, would be traversed between Posts No. 3 and No. 2. Along a segment that bordered the TRCA boundary, we heard rustles beneath fallen branches. While I would have normally dismissed the ripple for a squirrel or other small, suburban creature, my coworker expressed hesitation towards moving forward.
"It sounded like it had a force." she confessed.
Perched just outside the 1 metre radius of the area in question, I hovered in place, oddly overcome with secondhand anxiety. After a brief moment's exchange, we continued onwards, with me fervidly reminding myself that aggressive animals likely wouldn't appear so close to the road.

Retracing our footsteps from the Bruce Trail to the Red Trail, we'd find somewhat steeper paths while heading south. The goal had been to route back to the parking lot from Post No. 9, using Posts No. 8 and No. 5 as checkpoints. Adhering to the red arrows, we reached a clearing at Post No. 9. Crossing over the excessively sunny field, we continuously searched for additional signage, dabbing at perspiration forming along our foreheads in the meantime.

We'd find ourselves at Post No. 10 shortly afterwards, which led to a clearing with vehicular traffic and parked cars on both sides of the road. Separating Coolhans Side Road from the trail network was a wire fence, likely to enforce the TRCA boundary.

​Although we continued on a trail within the boundary lines, the route could not be found on the trail map. It was later learned that we had stumbled upon the Glen Haffy Side Trail.

​A wooden ladder had been positioned over the wire fence to enable crossover for further exploration - a temptation we did not deny.

Alas, our impromptu detour merely guided us towards a perfectly paved section of Glen Haffy Road instead. Attempts to explore the adjacent wooded area ultimately ended in vain, for the area featured hazardous protruding branches, peculiarly soft terrain. and a continuous wire fence that led us to question whether we were unintentionally trespassing on private property. After all, we had spotted a shrine at the corner, just a few metres north of Glen Haffy Road and Coolhans Side Road.

Out of the corner of my eye, a quad of port-a-potty-like installations were spotted. Could it be??

Three of four stalls were locked, with one even rotated perpendicular to the rest. The one bearing a dark grey exterior opened to reveal the stench of feces and trails of bird poop along the toilet paper dispenser. In spite of the foul odours and a sink that did not provide water, the dispenser was fully stocked with fresh rolls of toilet paper.
Out of desperation, I succeeded in utilizing the port-a-potty. It was remarkable milestone indeed. I'd later slather my hands in sanitizer and experience aggravated patches of redness as a consequence. Either way, the situation was preferable to no bathroom at all.

​Traversing along the vehicular access paths was easier than fathomed. Save the rare dust cloud ignited by passing vehicles, the trek was actually quite comfortable. The conservation area was maintained exceptionally well, boasting lush greenery and level asphalt surface with beaming line paintings.

Trail Map; Source: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)

​Our stay averaged three hours, spanning from 9:38 AM to 12:14 PM. During these early hours, we only chanced across two fellow trail users, both of which were friendly and greeted us while we continued in the opposite directions. Most of the conservation area's visitors appeared to head directly towards the fishing pond instead.

I was unable to track the entirety of the hike due to an unstable connection. Snippets of the hike would be captured using my watch and phone.

The planned itinerary involved a second hike - or walk, rather - at Palgrave Forest and Wildlife Area. Nearby food options would be limited. When Google Maps had directed me to an eatery that no longer existed, I routed back to Tim Hortons, the most reliable source of sustenance in all the nation, be it urban or rural, populated or deserted.

​I took to a gratifying Turkey Bacon Club, while my coworker a Peppermint Tea and Croissant with Butter and Cheese. The latter was, undoubtedly, a secret menu item aware only to past employees. Also secured were two Old Fashion Plain donuts that would serve as our snack later on in the day.

Palgrave Forest and Wildlife Area was comparatively suburban to Glen Haffy. The trails could be accessed from three parking areas:

1. A roundabout off Finnery Side Road
2. A gravel lot off Duffy Lane
3. A gravel lot off Hwy 50

Uncovered and seemingly temporary was the first option. The roundabout was also further from the rest of the trail network, prompting us to continue onto Duffy's Lane to reach the centremost point.

​The Duffy's Lane lot was compact, likely capable of fitting no more than fifteen vehicles at once. While there was no shortage of spaces available at our time of arrival, a handful of vehicles were noticed to have parked along the wooded side of the lot, towards the south.

​Unlike Glen Haffy, Palgrave was complimentary to access and completely unmanned. A trailhead, inclusive of trail map, was positioned between the parking lot and Post No. 24. These numbered markers adopted a consistent appearance as that of Glen Haffy - unsurprisingly, given that both areas fell within TRCA jurisdiction.

​This site would feature a higher number of insects, such as suburban caterpillars and mosquitoes, and a few ducks in the wetlands.

​The route would proceed as follows, commencing from and concluding at Post No. 24:

• Double Track Trail: 24 → 25 → 17
• Oak Ridges Moraine Side Trail: 17 → 16 → 15 → 14 → 13 → 10
• Oak Ridges Moraine Trail: 10 → 9 → 8 → 7 → 6
• Double Track Trail: 6 → 26 → 25 → 24

Trail Map; Source: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)

Palgrave was notably busier than Glen Haffy, though occupied primarily by those on bikes and e-bikes. These sightings aligned with in-situ trail conditions, for most of the paths were narrow, relatively flat, and devoid of tree roots or sedimentary deposit. rocks.

An impressive number of side trails would emerge at nearly every node. These forks had not been marked on the trail map, though were likely to connect back to the main trails after some meandering. We decided against pursuing curiosity this time around, for the aim was to depart at or shortly after 3 PM. 

View the full album HERE !

Besides the sizable crevices in the boardwalks and overpasses, the area was indeed family friendly. Amidst comfortable temperatures, one could roam endlessly without tiring of repetitive views. Majority of the trails were interconnected, enabling one to continuously explore or trim the trip short if needed.
We steered clear of the prominent curves of the Single Track trail, with the reason being not steepness nor difficulty level, but its staggering length of 13.4 km. Even at my speediest, the stretch would require a minimum of one hour to complete.

Effortlessly blitzing from one numbered trail marker to the next, we completed our trip in just 75 minutes.

Another port-a-potty was spotted near the trail map, though I reckoned we'd survive until returning to civilization.​

Read Part 2 HERE !