Beaver Valley Section - Eugenia Falls (60.8 km) to Johnston's Side Road (74.3 km) - Sept. 20, 2022.

Beaver Valley Section - Eugenia Falls (60.8 km) to Johnston's Side Road (74.3 km) - Sept. 20, 2022.

 The Hiking with Friends group was back up north this past week in the Beaver Valley section of the Bruce Trail for the second of our 3, three day fall trips this season...culminating on the third day with a very special event (stay tuned for that!)...on this day, our mission was to walk from Eugenia Falls, just south of Kimberley, down and back up the valley to the parking lot on Johnston's Side Road, a distance of 13.5 km.

The bird's eye view of the route from the north shows the "U" shaped nature of today's hike...we will venture southward to the most southerly tip of the Beaver Valley section before turning northward back up the western side of the valley...we will be on the trail for just under 5 hours and as suggested by the elevation profile, need to climb 516 meters of vertical ascent...legs, prepare thy selves!..

After hitching up our gear at the Eugenia Falls Conservation Area parking lot, we are ready to get underway...in today's group, we have myself, Doug, Michael, Lesley, Muris, Arpi, our leader Steve, and Sandra, our sweep.

A few steps later, we are at the edge of a rather dried up, but still impressive, Eugenia Falls...

A better view of the falls, plunging 30 meters over the dramatic rock face, is afforded us a little further down the trail...we are travelling along what is called 'Cuckoo Valley' and following the Boyne River...

Lesley spots this little creature along the trail...

A 40 meter diversion on a side trail for a "magnificent view of the valley" seems like a good investment so we deviate momentarily from the main trail and head up the small hill to see what we can see...

It turns out to be "as advertised" and we linger for a bit enjoying the early morning sunshine before starting a rope aided descent into the valley...

We soon encounter another great vantage point which deserves a short break to appreciate...the weather is on our side again today and we soak up the beautiful countryside...

A quick update on the new boots ('cause I know that's really why you follow this blog)...they are super comfortable AND look really cool (in my eye)...a great combination...

We are now down in the lower part of the valley and pass through some lush meadows...

This amazing woman is marching ever and ever closer to achieving Bruce Trail immortality...all going well (spoiler alert...it did), she will be completing her End to End in just a couple of days...

We reach Rock Mills Creek and a quite beautifully constructed bridge from 2014 provides a great spot for our traditional pose...

It's out into the brilliant sunshine...summertime is lingering and we are soaking up the last few days of warmth...spoiler alert...it doesn't last the whole trip...

We briefly venture out onto Lower Valley Road before heading back into the forest...

We reach the very pretty Hoggs Falls and it's a perfect spot for our morning break...note the green moss growing across the face of the falls...very cool...

And what else makes for a better break than Arpi's tasty baked treats?..

Having dropped his walking stick down into the creek bed, Doug scales down the side using a conveniently placed, semi-hidden rope apparently placed there to access the pool below the falls by those wishing to take a dip...

 On our way again, it's back out onto Lower Valley Road and then a right turn onto East Back Road, where a small sign advises that we are at the southern most point of the Beaver Valley Section...

We start our journey up the west side of Beaver Valley...it's pretty warm and the hills are starting to take their toll on our legs...and minds...

We fjord a small stream with various techniques and levels of gracefulness (me less so...wasn't using poles today)...

A short break and then it's back to hiking...with another stream to negotiate...

Doug peeks through a split tree trunk...

We get another great view across the valley to what was our starting point at Eugenia Falls...some wild flowers attached to a blaze pole have withered and dried in the hot sun...

I could swear there was a hiker in this photo when I went to take it...I may have revealed what is apparently another example of an alien abduction zone...hmmmmm...

An attempt to capture a waterfall far below us proves a bit futile so we carry on with only a couple of kilometers remaining...

We finally reach Johnston's Side Road and make our way (wearily) to the top of our last hill (thank goodness)...

A sign in the parking lot advises that the section of trail we have traveled (from Hoggs Falls to here) was twinned with the Pacific Slope (Sendero Pacifico) Trail in Costa Rica in June 2015...we have enjoyed a great day and start to our latest trip...more trail to walk and hills to climb tomorrow, but for now, we look forward to dinner and some rest...see you then!

The End

(Meaford Scarecrow Invasion & Family Festival was in full swing)