Discovering the trails at Bronte Creek Provincial Park
This is the trail that started it all. It was the first forest walk we took, just when parks and trails were beginning to re-open. This is the walk that inspired us to start making this a (mostly) weekly thing and gave birth to this bucket list challenge. I talk a bit more about the inspiration behind this bucket list challenge in the welcome post on the blog. But the Cole’s Notes version is that my sister was going to run the 5K in the virtual Ottawa Race Weekend in honour of my dad (who we’d just lost to COVID the week before) and we wanted to walk 5K with her in solidarity. So I did some quick research to find a trail that would be open and it turned out Bronte Creek was just opening back up for day use that weekend. And it felt so good to be out, to be spending time as a family, and to be getting a much-needed dose of nature.
Maybe it felt so good because we’d been cooped up for a couple of months, resorting to biking up and down the sidewalk for outdoor time. Maybe we were just thrilled to be breaking up the monotony of being at home 7 days a week, just the 4 of us and to be getting a change of scene. Maybe it was because the past couple of months were so full of stress from adjusting to the pandemic shutdowns and from the grief of having to say goodbye to Grandad. Either way, it felt amazing to get out there and do something together as a family and spend some quality time together. We also probably just needed a little bit of peace and tranquility – no better place to find it than in nature.
We’d been to Bronte Creek before. We came here a few years ago to check out the Maple Syrup Festival – T’s birthday is in March and always falls during March Break so it was a perfect family outing to celebrate his birthday that year. But that time, we stuck to the area around the Spruce Lane Farm House and Children’s play barn where most of the programming was taking place and we didn’t venture off into the trails at all.
Since this was our first outing and I hadn’t yet decided to do this bucket list challenge, I didn’t do as much research into the trails and we just sort of flew by the seat of our pants. We ended up parking in Lot A and joining Maiden’s Blush trail, then we veered off onto the Barrier Free trail. We took a minor detour up a hill to get a good look at Lake Ontario and then went back down and finished the loop on the Barrier Free trail before heading back around to catch the other side of the Maiden’s Trail loop.
What was great about this spot is that we were able to take accessible trails the whole way (other than the climb up the hill) so we were able to bring the wagon along in case the kids got tired. We weren’t sure if the boys would be able to do a whole 5K. But they were fine! And we did about 4.5km in the end. In fact, they probably had more in them but we needed to get home to get them fed lest we create a messy, cranky evening for ourselves! Anyway, we never brough the wagon to any of our trail destinations after that because we knew they could do it just fine. But if you have accessibility needs, or have a small baby or toddler and babywearing isn’t a thing you do, then Bronte Creek is a great place to go. The accessible trail has plenty of fun little surprises to offer, which we weren’t expecting because I hadn’t really done much research.
At the trailhead we encountered a massive 300-year old White Oak tree (according to the plaque in front of it). The on the way back along the Maiden’s trail loop we passed through an adorable little fairy village. The kids LOVED that part. We also got to see a falcon or hawk (I don’t know my birds! But I am sure it was a beautiful bird of prey of some kind). We think it had just caught its next meal because we were very close and the kids are not exactly stealthy but it was reluctant to fly away. We thought it might be injured but then one of the boys noticed it seemed to be holding something in one of its talons. We observed it for a little bit then went on our way to leave it in peace. But it was pretty close encounter and a great way to finish the afternoon.
I’d like to go back at some point to check out the trails that run along the ravine, now that I know we’d be able to enjoy them properly. But ultimately it was a great choice for a (unofficial) first trail destination on our list. Still, I feel like I can only give ourselves half a check mark on this trail destination since we didn’t see the ravine itself. Maybe we’ll head back this fall to check it out …
What you need to know to plan your visit
Managed by: Ontario Parks
Hike Length: 4.5 km - follow in our footsteps
Sun Exposure: Goldilocks - Perfect balance of shade and sun exposure
Bug-o-meter: Bug free!
Trail Style: Paved or gravel paths, Accessible trail
Wayfinding: Wayfinding wasn’t the best since the trails aren’t really marked, and there is no indication which trails you are crossing at the different intersections. So it’s easy to get turned around. But the trail system in this area is also pretty simple, so if you have a copy of the downloadable trail map then it’s relatively easy to navigate your way through.
Key Features & Little Surprises: Fairy village on “Gnome Road”; 300-year old White Oak Tree; late 19th-century farmhouse
Hot tip: Worth a little extra detour to check out the old Farm House and barn. Kids will like to see the animals and the house itself is also kinda neat.
Parking & Logistics: When we went they were not charging day use rates because it had just re-opened after the COVID shutdowns. But normally you have to purchase a day use pass, which you can do from the guardhouse at the entrance.
Driving time: >1h
