Outdoors with Kids Log

Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, Cataract Falls, Bruce Trail Day Hike

• Posted on April 18, 2007 at 2:11 PM
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Dad with Sophia and buddy Chris with Celeste near Cataract Falls

Activity: On Sunday, April 15, 2007, my family and I drove to the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park near Caledon, Ontario, Canada.

Location: The Park can be reached in an hour from Toronto by driving North on Hurontario Street (Highway 10) north of Brampton until one reaches Forks of the Credit Road. Turn left (West) onto Forks of the Credit Road to McLaren Street. Turn right on McLaren Street (North) and drive for approximately 3.5kms. The entrance to the park is on the West side of the road.

Description: The hike begins by passing around Kettle Lake and rambling through some rolling wide open glacial meadows. The gentle hills are formed of glacial till and one can see for several kilometres in each direction across the undulating terrain. This is a refreshing change from forest hikes where the scenery is limited to trees on either side. The trail eventually leads to the main Bruce Trail where the hiker has the option of one of several side trails. We turned to the right (northwest) and proceeded in the direction of Cataract Falls. The trail traces the top of the Credit River valley. The scenery is interesting as the drop to the valley floor is quite steep in places. Eventually, one can hear the thunder of the Falls and steps lead the way down to a bridge where the first of two sets of impressive waterfalls can be seen. The town of Cataract lies above the falls on the other side of the train tracks on the opposite side of the river valley. The trail continues south east along the bottom of the valley beside the river, passing the ruins of an ancient power station, and leading to another superb lookout. There is an observation area complete with bench and a plaque outlining the history of the area at this spot. We took the opportunity to have lunch and hot chocolate while enjoying views of the 40 foot waterfall below, and the sheer grey sandstone and shale walls of the opposite riverbank. Our hike continued along the river valley. The route continues beside the river bank past grassy meadows and excellent places to rest or pic-nic. The trail eventually reaches the Brimstone Side Trail which takes one back to the main Bruce Trail and the parking lot.

Gear used: We anticipated temperatures of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius with a high possibility of rain. We dressed our three year old in poly undergarments and a poly turtleneck, with nylon tights and wool pants on her bottoms. She wore a nylon quilted shell jacket with a hood, a wool hat and mittens. Our twins wore their usual "onesies" underwear with fleece pants and tops, covered with one piece "snowsuits" for lack of a better term. My wife and I were both layered for the weather possibilities and had each brought a waterproof shell in case of rain. We also had a rain poncho for our 3 year old.

We carried the babies in Snuglis, and I carried my 3 year old in a Mountain Equipment Co-Op Happytrails Child Carrier. This carrier is an excellent product in my opinion. It has comfortable, fully adjustable suspension; a body harness to keep the child snugly in the seat in the case of a bumpy ride or spill; a detachable and spacious "pod" style backpack that sits neatly integrated in the rear of the carrier and has volume for much more than a few diapers; additional storage pockets; a detachable rain hood; and a moveable stand that makes loading and unloading your tot a simple affair. I also carried a pair of telescopic trekking poles to increase stability and safety on the inclines and declines.

Rating and difficulty: This is a superb day hike for families and hikers of all levels of experience. The only possible difficulty is the requirement to descend and climb out of the river valley which might be strenuous for persons with hip or knee problems. Otherwise, the variety of scenery and the transition from glacial meadows to deciduous forest to lovely cedar stands along the Credit River is as enjoyable a hike as I have done in Ontario. The distance is listed on the Bruce Trail website as 6.2 kilometres.