Dufferin Hi-land Section - Hwy 89 & Hurontario Street (14.1 km) to Mono Centre Park (0.0 km) - July 3, 2025.

 Dufferin Hi-land Section - Hwy 89 & Hurontario Street (14.1 km) to Mono Centre Park (0.0 km) - July 3, 2025.

Hiking With Friends has spent a fair bit of time in some more northern sections of the Bruce Trail recently, and here's one more hike up there to enjoy together, as we visited the hi-lands (and beautifully smooth trails) of Dufferin County to travel just under 15 km from the roadside parking at Hwy 89 and Hurontario down to Mono Centre Park, which is just past the end of the Dufferin Hi-land Section (at Hwy 8/Mono Centre Road)...so yeah, technically we did cross into the Caledon Section for a few steps (but our Bruce Trail "passports" allowed us free access)...

After dropping some of the cars at Mono Centre Park, and a quick check by Andrew of HWF's "talk the talk while we walk the walk" communication system,  we assemble on Hurontario Street (the part without strip malls and traffic lights)...there's myself, Georgia (well hidden by my last minute lean in), Lesley (H.C), Steve R, Barbara, Andrea, Josie, Ivan, Renu, Faryde, Annette, Rita, Andrew, Marleen, Frances, Doug, Armin, Ron B, and Frank L making up our sizable cortege of 19 hikers today...

  It's a sultry summer morning with a humid haze hanging herewith...barely a breeze to ruffle the emerging leaves on the rows of cornstalks in the farmer's fields...

The early road walking allows for boisterous banter while walking abreast, until it's a right turn into the fields and forests and our single file single-minded mindset becomes the line of the day...

A short stop for a clothing adjustment became a stop for shorts of sorts as Frances helps Doug expose his underexposed legs for all to see...

 A cooling breeze has started to grace us with its refreshing presence and the humidity is actually dropping so we are getting into ideal hiking conditions, and our quicker than usual pace (especially for a group this large) is a testament to everyone being in pretty good hiking shape after a busy few weeks...plus, this is not a very technical route and there are few major hills or climbs...

"There's no sensation that compares to this...suspended animation, a state of bliss..."

Back on the road again, we start the walk to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park via 1st Line EHS...

We reach the park and it's just more of the same...gorgeous trails through peaceful forests...oh well, someone has to hike it...

We last did this hike on an amazing fall day in October '23 and I described it in that blog as one of our best hikes ever as a group...today is matching that level of enjoyment and you can sense it among us...

 

A refreshing break at McCarston's Lake is just what it takes, to shake the aches and have your thirst slaked...makes the short walk to the scenic rock cliffs and Jacob's Ladder...a piece of cake...

One of the coolest spots on the Bruce Trail, it's a trip back in time if you've got the time...and thanks to our great pace today, we do!

Followed shortly thereafter by the spectacular look out over the rolling countryside...

We squeeze on to a boardwalk bridge for one last group photo before we wrap up for the day...

It has been another great hike and this pastoral scene was a nice memory to take home with us after celebrating our arrival back at Mono Centre Park...

But not before a quick stop for some, at one of our new favorite haunts, the Mono Centre Brewing Co...

The End

"Thou Shalt Not Hike Without Friends"