Out & About #1047 | Downey's Run, Belfountain Conservation Area + Al Ferri Country Farm Market

Mother Nature's indecisiveness has extended our usual two-week autumn.

Temperatures ranged drastically throughout the week, from sunny and summery to gloomy and grimy to horrifically humid, i observed these atypical conditions with a watchful eye. When mercury levels stooped to reasonable values for outdoor activity, I set out for my ̶t̶h̶i̶r̶d̶ ̶  fourth conservation area visit of the season.

But before that, I planned a morning visit to Downey's. Having been unable to even enter the farm store in my last attempt, I resolved to adhere to an earlier slot.

At 9:41 AM, I pulled into the dusty gravel lot. Many others had thought to do the same. While the farm hadn't hit capacity yet, the grounds were slowly filling with people. The scene was, admittedly, somewhat ridiculous for the first hour of opening.

Thankfully, queuing for entry had not been required. I waltzed into the farm store, scanned the alcoholic section, and promptly secured a bottle of Apple Crisp wine and six-pack of assorted Apple, Strawberry-Apple, and Black Currant cider.

​Nearby were plush hanging monkeys, similar to those inhabiting my own humble abode, yet more shimmery (low quality fur) and more saturated (unweathered).

Around 10:15 AM, I pulled into Belfountain Conservation Area. The location was seriously strange, being immediately adjacent to a residential neighbourhood and small BIA area. Signage around the area forbid entry into the conservation area by foot, in addition to prohibiting parking along the road. In spite of these notices, I didn't think Belfountain was popular enough to draw such crowds. But boy, was I mistaken.

​After nearly missing the entrance, I backed up (safely) and drove up to the tollhouse. Upon presentation of my CVC pass, one of two on-site staff members took reference of the pass number and returned with a parking slip for placement on the dashboard. The vehicle permit was license plate-specific, and would grant permissions to reside for up to two hours from the time of issuance. The surprisingly short duration resulted in a raised eyebrow, however I reckoned I could complete the handful trails easily within the time frame.

​Belfountain had charged an excessive amount for day use parking and admission, though the reasoning was soon discovered.

In contrast to the natural surfaces (aka unpaved gravel lots) of Forks of the Credit nearby, parking would be clearly delineated using line paintings on permeable pavers. Spaces were extremely limited, which aligns with the conservation area's website notice: Reservations were encouraged, but not mandatory for entry if space was available.

Another aspect warranting note was the presence of indoor plumbing. Gender-separated facilities could be found at the south end of the parking lot in a fully furnished structure. Four stalls and three sinks with automatic sensors were found within. At the early hour, the stalls were still relatively pristine, though I'd imagine the cleanliness to degrade with time due to usage. Emerging from the sinks were ice cold streams of water, consistent with the overall lack of heating within the stalls themselves. Nevertheless, indoor plumbing is exceptionally rare and a luxury in most hiking situations.

​Shortly after I emerged from the washrooms, Belfountain saw an incredulous surge in traffic. The groups that had just arrived spanned a variety of demographics: Families with elderly, tribes of Gen Z looking to film content, and immigrant families wholly embracing tourist attitudes. The scene was underwhelming to say in the least, for I had not anticipated my visit to be infiltrated by non-hikers. For one to truly appreciate nature and all its offerings, solo sojourns strictly serve to provide exemplary, uninterrupted experiences.

​Descending the stone stairs down to the start of the trail, I soon learned that Belfountain adopted the format of an urban park, rather than a destination for avid hikers. The area was neatly maintained with almost perfectly level walking paths and no trash whatsoever.

​Combining a fountain, lily pool (former outdoor swimming pool), an artificial waterfall, mini suspension bridge, public art, boardwalks, and a number of family-friendly walking paths, Belfountain could almost be likened to a (much, much) smaller version of Capilano, albeit devoid of elevation, interaction attractions, and lush grandeur.

The Trail Map listed a total of five options:

1. Accessible Paths; 300 m
2. Riverside Trail; 200 m
3. Bide-a-Wee Trail; 100 m
4. Gorge Trail; 500 m - the only loop trail!
5. Trimble Side Trail; 400 m

Trail Map; Source: Credit Valley Conservation

I'd first roam along the West Credit River briefly, heading in the direction of the toll gate along the west segment. Throughout this stretch, I was interrupted constantly by other visitors, with even a loud couple "Excuse me!" ing over five times for photo assistance. Though I normally wouldn't have minded, the two-hour limit bound me to swiftness, and I was eager to roam according to my own schedule.

​Crossing over the river, I'd find the one-and-only Fountain and stone stairwells that would descend down to the dam and artificial falls.

I'd bypass the descent due to visitor volumes at the time and continue over the suspension bridge to connect to Gorge Trail in the meantime.

​Consistent with the trail map, the path was noticeably increased in difficulty level. That said, plenty of railings would provide adequate support, assuming moderate levels of hikers.
I must admit: I was less than enthralled at seeing a family invade a wooded section off the path and hang their cardigans on protruding branches before commencing a family photoshoot using their phones.

​The rest of Gorge Trail saw distinctly lower amounts of foot traffic, and reasonably so in consideration of the visiting demographic. I'd chance across familiar faces while roaming about, and this was particularly obvious in a couple with two white dogs that I chanced across multiple times during the visit. It was, in essence, the same four to five parties occupying the conservation area for the entire two-hour allocation period.

​Transitioning from Gorge Trail to Trimble Side Trail from Station 8 was the highlight of my short-lived expedition. Marked with a CVC Trail Rating of 4, it served to quell the very desire I had entered the premises embracing: To hike.

​The Trimble Side Trail was narrow and sloped towards the edge of the foundation. Tree roots would occasionally protrude; a section of boulders would also emerge within the first third of the segment. There were a handful of numbered wooden steps (read: elevation) and even a moderately steep ascent similar to Mono Cliffs' South Outlier Trail starting point.

​As the trails did not loop, those retracing their steps back to Belfountain would come face to face with those entering. The tightness made for uncomfortable encounters, often involving stepping into nearby shrubbery. Hiking etiquette was not to be found here.

View the full album HERE !

​Frankly, it hadn't dawned on me that there was an extended version of this map to detail the route of the Trimble Side Trail as it departed the Belfountain Conservation Area lands for the Willoughby Property. Departing Station 8, I hadn't captured an image of the extended route due to oncoming traffic. Researching afterwards, I'd learn the existence of the: Willoughby Trail, Crow's Nest Side Trail, and the Trimble Side Trail spanning at least 2.0 km.

Source: Ontario Hiking Blog (https://ontariohiking.com/belfountain-conservation-area/)

​Reaching Station 9 was the most blissful moment of the morning. It was serene yet vibrant, with patches of sunlight glazing over the scene. But I knew I couldn't continue onwards - just one hour remained until expiry of my parking permit. Grudgingly, I began to head back. The couple with two white dogs did the same.

​The distance between Stations 8 and 4 were ridiculously minimal. With my newly acquired buffer, I headed towards the "Caves". Obnoxiously tall stone steps led the way down. Sporadic showers would ensue over the course of my stay, turning wood and stone surfaces slippery. Needless to say, having a firm grip on the railing was critical. 

​The Caves were interesting, and, truthfully, a tad eerie. Meanwhile, the artificial falls sputtered mist on bystanders. The rushing waters made it ideal for practicing long exposure experiments.

​I resolved to conclude the trip along Riverside Trail. Braving the hoards of people stalled on the suspension bridge, I crossed over to find the covered lookout deck and Lucky the Fox. At this point, an unexpected downpour fell upon the conservation area. I had readied myself accordingly in a waterproof jacket and footwear, but, of course, there were many others that had not anticipated such climatic changes.

​Slowly but surely, groups would meander their way back to the parking lot was the two-hour slot came to a close. Climbing the staircase once again, a dew-covered maple came into view. Pressing myself against the railing, I made my greatest attempt to protect the specimen while not obstructing impending traffic. Again, other visitors expressed confusion towards my sudden stop, but quickly recognized that media was being captured and continued on their way.

Not all visitors were respectful, however, with one lady audibly commenting "That's useful" while passing by. She summoned a chuckle from her partner, but an otherwise undetectable glare from yours truly.
"So is your comment." I thought, fuming internally. "Is anything really 'useful' at the end of the day? Are you even useful?"

​My stay at Belfountain could be characterized as rushed and unenjoyable - complete with noise pollution and unwarranted commentary by tourist parties. The facilities and infrastructure themselves were incredibly impressive, as were the courteous staff members. It was merely a matter of fellow visitors and the horribly restrictive visiting period that had me irked. Ten minutes before collective permit expiry, two members of staff had already took their position in the lot, ready to ticket those that had overstayed.

​The nearest Tim Hortons would assume my lunch stopover. Compelled by the week's mobile offers, I'd take to a Crispy Chicken Craveable Sandwich and Sour Cream Glazed Donut.

Both were quite tasty, and heartier than any McD's creation. The bathrooms, on the other hand, were oddly compact - as if one accessible stall in the corner had been forcibly split into two stalls and a sink.

Next up on the agenda was Al Ferri and Sons. A successful visit last year had incited a visit for fresh produce.

The store layout had been modified, with the Country Apple Store now operating from a warehouse at the rear instead of the indoor gallery.

​Physical changes aside, the farm market continued to offer the widest assortment of apples I'd ever laid eyes on - and in various sizes as well! All were very fairly priced and, of course, extremely fresh.

Ginger Gold, as an early season variety, had vanished from the crates, but were replaced with shiny, red-fleshed species instead. A 1/2 peck (the equivalent of 5 lbs) of Honeycrisp set me back just $11.65, while 1/2 peck of Bartlett Pears - with the "Large Fancy" label, whatever that is to indicate - at $6.95. Both were exceptional finds, affirming once more Al Ferri's hidden gem status. Although its coordinates aren't exactly convenient, their impressive variety, superb quality, and swift service successfully differentiate them from the rest.

​A 3L jug of cider was also procured for $5.95. This rendition was comparable to Albion Orchards, albeit a tad sweeter than desired. We enthusiastically depleted the container's contents nevertheless.

​My last agenda item of the day was Costco. Of course, I could have opted out of the chaos altogether until return of my browsing partner, but household tissue supply was running low.

In hindsight, perhaps the stressful occurrence could have deferred after all, for the Heartland location had been depleted of facial tissues at the time of my visit.

​Navigating through the aisles on a Saturday afternoon was as painless as stepping on the sharp end of a nail barefoot.

​Obstructed aisles, people around every corner, and the absence of a self checkout line had already contributed to an excruciating experience. This was further heightened by an elderly man making multiple attempts to cut in front of me in line, claiming he had "only one" item, then shoving aside my items on the conveyor to make room for said singular item.

In a world where queues exist for fairness, some shoppers simply don't get the memo. Moreover, incessant entitlement prevails, eradicating any and all morsels of human decency.