S2E19 ”Tobermory" THE END of the 900km 550 mile journey
We made it to the final hike on the Bruce Trail. The day started with a starry sky and a crescent moon on the shores of Georgian Bay at Stormhaven, far up the coast in Bruce Peninsula National Park, where we spent the night. I woke up early for the sunrise on this special day - an unseasonably and amazingly warm and sunny day for late October.
Coffee and the sunrise started the day, and it would be yet another sunrise to sunset day of hiking. We packed up camp after breakfast and hit the trail, making our way down to the shore for an incredible coastline hike in the glorious morning sun - with the cool blue waters of Georgian Bay by our side.
We approached the Grotto, and at this time of year, and at this time of day, it retained it's natural glory with only a few visitors - today it was just another amazing spot, of so many, out on the trail. Even though it was almost November, the water, and more importantly the air outside was warm enough for a cold but survivable swim. Once last dip into the amazing turquoise water of Georgian Bay.
The journey up the coast continued through clifftop forests long battered by the elements, and long rocky beaches and coves, in and out of the trees still glowing in their autumn foliage.
We ate lunch in such a forest and then the hike turned inland, through some swamped sections, open plains, and back into some incredible deciduous landscapes that melted the heart with their beauty.
Out past Cabot Head, we returned to the coastline for a challenging and rocky finish for our weary bones. The Bruce Trail was not going to go out easy.
This was one of the greatest hikes of the entire trail - so much variety and intense beauty around every turn.
Once we passed the Bruce Peninsula Park Visitors Centre, we were on the last mile of the trail - heading slowly but surely into town, where we rounded a few corners and ended on a path to the cairn we had worked so hard to reach.
1 year and 7 1/2 months after innocently starting the trail one day in March, we tagged the cairn at the northern terminus, just as the sun was setting on the horizon, ending our incredible journey.
The End.
Thanks for watching!

Map Distance : 22.3 km / Start : km 144.7 Stormhaven / End : km 167 Tobermory
This episode features the songs “As Sure As The Water Moves Me” and "Down In The Valley" from the album that will follow “Vitality” - release date 2023, and "Bruce Trail Song" from the album "Vitality". Songs from the series are available for download at stevewelchontario.com and for streaming on all major platforms
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality / Upland / Steve Welch 2018– Entire Albums $9.99
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We've made it to ”Bruce Peninsula National Park"

We're on our last weekend of hiking to finish the trail. Day one starts at the end of a swamped Crane Lake Road at the southern boundary of the incredible Bruce Peninsula National Park. It was late October but the weather was spectacular, and the fall colours still embraced the landscape in golden glory.
We hiked through the marvelous land passing lakes and marshes with warm winds blowing and grasses dancing in the breeze as we approached the shoreline and the big blue beauty of the bay.
We stopped at High Dump for lunch on the shores of Georgian Bay, far up the Peninsula, almost at the end.
We were walking the ridge all afternoon, turquoise water below, blue sky above, great cliffs cascading into fall foliage and jumbled rock at the waters edge.
Our destination was "Stormhaven" where we were camping for the night - and we made it just before dusk, as usual.
We looked forward to a starry sky above and a morning sunrise by the water to start our final day on the trail.

Map Distance : 16.8 km / Start : km 127.9 Crane Lake Road / End : km 144.7 Stormhaven
This episode features the songs “Whales”, "Revitalize" and "Flawed and Proud" from the album that will follow “Vitality” - release date 2023. Songs from the series are available for download at stevewelchontario.com and for streaming on all major platforms
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality / Upland / Steve Welch 2018– Entire Albums $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.

Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and more.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach and visibility.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
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This incredible hike began at just off Cape Chin North Rd, as we entered a beautiful forest on a freshly cut trail on a hot summer blue sky day. I guess a new section of trail had been recently added which is great news. The trail was spongy and the trees freshly cut – and it was fun to walk.
Most of the day was high ridge walking with endless incredible views of Dyer’s Bay, the aquamarine water at the shoreline below, and the green trees soaking up the sun. The views were outstanding and the hiking amazing,
We stopped for a side trip to Devils Monument and walked down to the clear water for a refreshing swim. A good chance to refill water on a hot day from the spring gushing from the base of the cliff.
Late in the day we left the shoreline and headed inward eventually coming out of the woods at Lindsay Rd. 40 for a scorching late afternoon road walk through the countryside and later through the wetland on Crane Lake Road, which led us into Bruce Peninsula National Park, and our car.
There are two hikes left to end the trail, and the series, both in the incredible Bruce Peninsula National Park.

Map Distance : 18.2 km / Start : km 109.7 Cape Chin / End : km 127.9 Crane Lake Road
This episode features the songs “Done” and “Bateau” from the album “Vitality” available for download at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with the sixteenth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario:
“Cape Chin”
We begin this amazing hike after an overnight at Lion’s Head Beach Campground, and a delicious breakfast at “Rachel’s Restaurant” to fuel the day. The morning hike started with some sweet road walking (crushing miles) all right along the Georgian Bay shoreline – as the waves broke on the rock plateau and filled the air with it’s music.
We ducked into the “Forty Hills” and began our incredible journey up the coastline with the sun breaking out for us in fine form - on what was supposed to be a cloudy rainy day. Most of the day was spent in Smokey Head White Bluff Provincial Nature Reserve, and I won’t try to describe it here – other than it was stunning and epic as you’ll see in the video.
A special treat was the new trail section in Cape Chin, acquired by the Bruce Trail Conservancy in 2021, taking the trail right up along the edge of the Cape, where an old cottage / mansion sits in it’s first stages of decay, the house of the former owner of the land that was acquired. It is a remarkable place with an epic view and insane rock outcrop ledge overlooking Georgian Bay, with glimpses of Dyer’s Bay further up the coast.
We wrapped up our hike just before dark. The Bruce Peninsula is certainly proving to be a “grand finale” like no other on this great adventure along the Bruce Trail.

Map Distance : 22 km / Start : km 82.5 Lion’s Head Beach / End : km 109.7 Cape Chin North Road (Distance shortened vs map by new Trail Sections through Cape Chin – eliminating road reroutes)

This episode features the songs “Old Ontario” from the album “Vitality” and “Love Travels Far 2021” from the album “Upland” available for download at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Individual songs $0.99 / Entire Album $9.99

Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.

Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with the fifteenth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario:
“Lion’s Head”

We begin our epic adventure, a two day Bruce Trail Journey completing 45 km of difficult trail, at Rush Cove Road. There is a newly added Bruce Trail section where the former Barrow Bay Side Trail has become the official Bruce Trail route thanks to a stairway installed going up the escarpment, eliminating about 7km of road. It was a great hike to the beach and the jagged rocks and outliers were a sign of things to come on this amazing day.
Looping around Barrow Bay and Little Lake, we eventually entered the Lion’s Head Provincial Nature Reserve, but not before seeing a rare Bald Eagle soaring and fishing out in the bay. Entering Lion’s Head Park we were immediately warned of poison ivy, and were in the thick of it right off the bat. It’s all over the Bruce Peninsula, as I had found out the hard way on a previous hike, so we were careful and I was wearing long pants.
Dangers aside, we were soon into the magic country of endless clifftop views, and the familiar and stunning aquamarine water that hugs the shoreline of Georgian Bay.
The views just kept getting better and better and the trail hugged the cliff edge very closely – it’s a hike where you need to pay attention to every step, with the poison ivy and the steep cliff edge and deep crevasses. The best was yet to come though with the pinnacle of Lion’s Head lookout which was absolutely breathtaking.
Heading into town, we set up camp at the Lion’s Head Beach Campground and had a great dinner out at “Rachel’s Restaurant” – good food and friendly folks.

Map Distance : 23 km / Start : km 60.5 Rush Cove Rd. / End : km 83 Lion’s Head Beach
This episode features the song “No Robots” from the album “Vitality” and “See You Next Year” from the album “Steve Welch 2019” available for download at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Individual songs $0.99 / Entire Album $9.99

Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.

Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.

Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with the fourteenth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario:
“Jackson’s Cove”

The day started at Cape Croker campground waking up beside Sydney Bay to a light rain and deep morning fog. A perfect setting for hiking through the drenched forest and the over 1km boardwalk through the marsh leading to our first escarpment ascent.
The frogs chirped, the flowers were in bloom, and the beavers did whatever beavers do in the morning, as we made our way through the mist.
We had an amazing “rainforest hike” along the ridge with tall trees and birds chirping the whole way along Sydney Bay Bluffs and eventually out into Hope Bay and Hope Bay Road. We had a short jaunt down the road then back into the bush for what was some of the sustained toughest hiking on the trail so far. We had a long day (28km) and this was definitely going to slow us down. Lots of ups and downs and boulders and jumbled rock for miles, all the way to Jackson’s Cove Point.
The fog lifted and the sky opened up as we ate lunch on an incredible point looking out into Melville Sound. The hiking remained tough but with the sun out, a new day was born. The hardest hiking led ultimately to the best view on the trail so far, the incredible Jackson’s Cove Point Lookout.
We descended the escarpment, a long way down from such a great peak, right to the waters edge for a short beach walk and evening chill out session. We pushed through the remaining road sections to get back to our car just before dark.
What an amazing day!

Map Distance : 26.8 km / Start : km 33.7 Cape Croker Park / End : km 60.5 Rush Cove Rd.
This episode features the song “Well Fed” from the album “Vitality” available for download at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Also featuring “Sitar Drum Song” recorded at Turtleshell Studio and featuring Prosad Freeman on Sitar.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos
Check out Mike's latest adventures at : Mikeshike.ca

Get back on trail with the thirteenth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario:
“Malcolm Bluff”

At this point in the trail, and for the remainder, we would be in some astoundingly beautiful country.
Starting at Mallory Beach Side Trail, we embarked on another 50 km weekend with an overnight at Cape Croker Park.
The morning hike was a long stretch along the gorgeous ridge in Malcolm Shores Nature Reserve overlooking Colpoy’s Bay and this was a sign of great things to come that weekend, journeying up the shoreline.
We had fabulous hiking as we left the bluff and into some amazing forest country with occasional rock outcrops and crevasses. We had short stop at McIver Pond for a rest hiking through interesting meadow country as the wildflowers blew in the wind.
We made our way out to Jones Bluff with it’s spectacular view of the bay and Neyaashiinigmiing, and around the bend overlooking Sydney Bay, eventually descending the escarpment and wandering down Park Road into Cape Croker Park where we camped for the night – after a great meal of fresh caught trout at the Fish and Chips Truck at the campground. Delicious!

Map Distance : 23.3 km / Start : km 10.4 km Mallory Beach Side Trail / End km 33.7 Cape Croker Park
This episode features the songs “Window’s Open” (featuring Jason Lane on guitar), and “Awareness” from the album “Vitality” available for download at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with the twelfth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario:
“Skinner’s Bluff”
The day began a stone’s throw from the Slough of Despond side trail and the mid summer heat set the tone for the day. There was a “heat warning”, the temperature was in the mid 30’s C and with humidity it could reach 40 degrees. There were not any water sources high on the cliff- we were going to have to keep hydrated.
The hiking was great and the views from Skinner’s Bluff to out on the bay were dramatic as rainstorms moved across the water in the distance.
Sure enough the rain arrived and it escalated to a full blown thunderstorm. The glorious rain came gushing down cooling the air and the stifling heat. It was a great stretch along Skinner’s Bluff which led to Bruce’s Caves Conservation Area – I wish we had some time to explore the caves!
We hiked through fields, and past the Wiarton Airport and dried out as we walked. Once we got into Wiarton it began pouring again – but not before we ducked into a Subway for lunch. Good timing.
Wiarton Willie stood tall as the trail hugged the shoreline through Wiarton and into Spirit Rock Conservation Area, and up the Spiral Staircase to the escarpment ridge.
It looked like a smooth end to a long day with some easy and pleasant field walking through Colpoy’s Bay and across highway 9, but we were met with some rocky rumbly terrain, hopping from nub to nub on the escarpment ridge – tough going for our weary end of day bones – but we made it to our destination - Mallory Beach Side Trail.

Map Distance : 26.7 km / Start : km 158.1 Colpoy’s Range Rd. / End km 174.4 end Sydenham Section and 10.4 km into the Peninsula Section to Mallory Beach Side Trail
This episode features the songs “Can’t Take It With You” and “Everybody” by Loyal Sun Dogs from their debut album. Visit Loyalsundogs.ca for more info on this amazing band.
The episode includes a song from the archives “Lake Lavielle” and and instrumental remix of the song "Fine Thread" to start things off.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99 at stevewelchontario.com
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with the eleventh episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario:
“Kemble Mountain”
This fantastic hike full of variety took us toward the great Georgian Bay shore across fields, and country roads, deciduous forest, open meadows, and over jumbled escarpment rock.
We started the day hiking up the Dawson Road side trail to get to the Bruce Trail where we ended last episode. The day began with a giant puffball mushroom at the side of the trail. There were lots of “trail feathers” along the way as we journeyed through Lindenwood Management Area, popping out eventually at Lundy Road.
After a short road stretch we came upon a glorious apple orchard grassy meadow marsh, with a sign letting us know we were in “bear country”. After a short apple fight, we continued on our way, sampling the various kinds of apples that were hanging just above our heads and dropping occasionally on the trail.
Eventually we started ascending Kemble Mountain, a large rock outcropping that looks as though it may have been an island long ago. We passed the Birch Camp where we ate our lunch in the emerging sun, and continued along some mossy cliffs and jumbled rock.
We came out of the woods to another meadow and apple orchard flanking the trail and more delicious apples. Some beautiful evening sunshine ended the day as we made our way up the notorious Colpoy’s Range Road section and up the escarpment to Skinner’s Bluff, near the Slough of Despond (which somehow we managed to get past).
Map Distance : 26.1 km / Start : km 132.2 Dawson Road Side Trail / End : km 158.1 Skinner’s Bluff
This episode features the songs
“Hang In There - Instrumental” (originally from the album Steve Welch 2019)
“The Man Who Trusts in God” from the album Vitality
“Time” written and performed by Dan Richard
“Time and Time Again” written and performed by Kenny Phelps
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire “Vitality” Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with the tenth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario:
“The Glen”
The day started with some road walking on a hot summer day as we passed the last homes of Owen Sound and walked out into the rural countryside.
Soon we ducked into the forest for some escarpment cliff walking – an area with many deep slot crevasses to walk over, a common theme through the Owen Sound trail sections. We popped back out on the road and made it to a rail trail section surrounded by peaceful farms. Making our way toward The Glen, munching on the occasional ripe raspberry along the way.
The Glen was a very cool section with some sweet hiking. The escarpment horseshoes around a giant wetland and the trail hugs the top of the escarpment ridge the whole distance. The hiking was relatively flat with great scenery and dramatic cleaved escarpment rock crevasses and giant islands created by them resting heavily.
It was a hot day – with not a lot of water sources – there was a nice spring off the rail trail but not much else. Lots of water below the cliffs but not on top.
We made it to Lindenwood Road and soldiered on to our end point – the Dawson Road Side Trail where we ended another glorious day on the Bruce.
Map Distance : 26.1 km / Start : km 106.1 Derby-Sarawak Townline / End km 132.2 at Dawson Road Side Trail
This episode features the song “Hot and Sunny” featuring Jason Lane on guitar, from the album “Vitality” out now and available at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
The second feature song came from the vault – the retro classic, “Blackfly”
“Blackfly, I’ll always know, where you are is where I should go. Behind your wall of hardship, lies delight.”
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with Part 2 of the ninth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario.
"Inglis Falls"
My sister lives right off the trail in Owen Sound and we had spent the night at her place so we could get an early start on the day and pound out 7 km or so before stopping back for breakfast. The day started with some amazing crevasses and giant chunks of the escarpment cleaved off and standing as erratics in the foggy morning mist.
We hiked some great countryside approaching Owen Sound and made it up the observation tower for a view of the city and the Sound. There was challenging jumbled rock and shale hiking from there – some tough technical hiking in this stretch - and we definitely earned our breakfast.
We picked up a couple more folks to hike with to Inglis Falls – my parents – both in their eighties and still hiking the escarpment. Our pace slowed a bit but it was amazing to hike with family – including my sister Donna and her partner Greg on this beautiful stretch – which led to the best waterfall so far on the trail – the magnificent Inglis Falls.
We said goodbye to my parents and sister and Greg, Steve and I continued for more Bruce Trail awesomeness as we got into “West Rocks” and “Springmount Forest” for some sweet ridge walking overlooking the forested and green Owen Sound below.
Our last stop included another great waterfall : Jones Falls, as we entered the Pottawatomi Conservation Area up to km 106 where we ended the day’s hike at Derby-Sarawak Townline.
Crossing Highway 21, we saw a sign for “Tobermory” and the Tobermory Ferry the Chi-Cheemaun which travels from Tobermory to Manitoulin Island. It was another milestone reached as we were officially past Owen Sound and about to begin the incredible, unforgettable, challenging, awe inspiring hike up the Bruce Peninsula to the finish line.

Map Distance : 23.1 km / Start : km 83 Sideroad 15 / End km 106.1 Derby-Sarawak Townline
This episode features the songs “Bruce Trail Song” and “Lost In Everywhere” from the album “Vitality” out now and available at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with Part 1 of the ninth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario.
"Inglis Falls"
My sister lives right off the trail in Owen Sound and we had spent the night at her place so we could get an early start on the day and pound out 7 km or so before stopping for breakfast back. The day started with some amazing crevasses and giant chunks of the escarpment cleaved off and standing as erratics in the foggy morning mist.
We hiked some great countryside approaching Owen Sound and made it up the observation tower for a view of the city and the Sound. There was challenging jumbled rock and shale hiking from there – some tough technical hiking in this stretch - and we definitely earned our breakfast.
We picked up a couple more folks to hike with to Inglis Falls – my parents – both in their eighties and still hiking the escarpment. Our pace slowed a bit but it was amazing to hike with family – including my sister Donna and her partner Greg on this beautiful stretch – which led to the best waterfall so far on the trail – the magnificent Inglis Falls.
We said goodbye to my parents and sister and Greg, Steve and I continued for more Bruce Trail awesomeness as we got into “West Rocks” and “Springmount Forest” for some sweet ridge walking overlooking the forested and green Owen Sound below.
Our last stop included another great waterfall : Jones Falls, as we entered the Pottawatomi Conservation Area up to km 106 where we ended the day’s hike at Derby-Sarawak Townline.
Crossing Highway 21, we saw a sign for “Tobermory” and the Tobermory Ferry the Chi-Cheemaun which travels from Tobermory to Manitoulin Island. It was another milestone reached as we were officially past Owen Sound and about to begin the incredible, unforgettable, challenging, awe inspiring hike up the Bruce Peninsula to the finish line.

Map Distance : 23.1 km / Start : km 83 Sideroad 15 / End km 106.1 Derby-Sarawak Townline
This episode features the songs “Bruce Trail Song” and “Lost In Everywhere” from the album “Vitality” out now and available at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with the eighth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario.
"On The Road To Owen Sound"

We were lucky once again to have blue sky to walk under as we trekked from Bayview Escarpment Nature Reserve right to the border of Owen Sound.
There was a lot of road walking in this section - all on quiet peaceful country roads with the giant sky and big views all along the way. It was an amazing rural countryside walk, and like all Bruce Trail hikes, it had it’s own personality and impressions to make as we walked on through.
We ducked into Sydenham Forest East along the way and into the woods again near the Pines Side trail – the weather made everything fine and this was a cool section along short cliffs shimmering in the sunlight.
The last section was a real beauty – the trail through the KOA campground was still closed (closed in winter) so we walked up Sideroad 15 and into the back end for a gorgeous walk in the late day sun through an awesome forest and creek behind the campground.
A great day with good friends! And we made it to Owen Sound! Quite a milestone, and the first “big city” on the trail since Hamilton. As it turns out the trail takes a wide berth around Owen Sound so we never got too close to the city – but that’s a story for next episode – where we hiked to the incomparable Inglis Falls.

Map Distance : 27.8 km / Start : km 55.2 St. Vincent-Sydenham Townline / End : km 83 Sideroad 15

This episode features the songs “Good Morning”, “Paddling” and “Heavy Water” from the Remnants debut EP “Riverspeed”, Performed by Steve Welch, Kenny Phelps, Nathan Martin and Fijl on drums, recorded at Purple Shag Studios and engineered by Jake Janzen.

Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.

Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with the seventh episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario.
"Bognor Marsh to Bayview"
It was a beautiful frosty morning in April when we entered the Bognor Marsh. The hiking was perfect through this muddy wetland, as the ground was just frozen enough early in the day to keep us from sinking. We hiked around the magnificent marsh and then up the escarpment to the ridge where we had a sustained ridge walk overlooking the peaceful Silent Valley below.
Beautiful hiking on a beautiful day – lots of crevasses, and weaving through mossy outcrops as the early Spring sun shone it’s best on the scattered snow that remained.
We hiked through the community of Woodford which led to a cool hike through more crevasses, and lime kilns and stone ruins to the St.Vincent-Sydenham Townline. We had already hiked a long way along the rocky ridge but had a lot more miles to go as the clouds rolled in.
Into the muddy rocky Bayview Escarpment Provincial Nature Reserve for more ridge walking and some great views of Georgian Bay as we were getting close to Owen Sound. We walked along the border of the military base which we thought may have been the source of the loud cannon blasts we had been hearing at times in the Beaver Valley hikes.
Once again we stumbled to the finish line – another great day out on the trail.

Map Distance : 25.8 km / Start : km 29.4 Bognor Marsh / End km 55.2 St. Vincent-Sydenham Townline
This episode features the songs “Turtle Gulch” and “So Many Days” from the album “Vitality” out now and available at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with the sixth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario.
We awoke just off the trail at Ambrose camp where we spent the night – in one of the few official camping sites along the trail so far. It was a great night and we were excited about the day – hiking to the Bognor Marsh over some amazing countryside.
The day began with an encounter with a big ol’ porcupine hiking on the trail. I had seen it’s companion the night before close to camp. We hiked together for a while until it veered off the trail down into a rocky crevasse.
We were in the “Rocklyn Creek Management Area” and crossed the creek on a fine bridge before entering some dramatic high hill country, with the wind blowing strong and some light rain attempting to fall.
Rocklyn creek is hard to describe, and impossible to capture in photographs or video. It’s sort of like a natural zen garden of mossy cascading waterfalls flowing down a long sloped hillside. It’s quite a magical place.
We got a little confused with the trail going through Walter’s Falls Management Area – the trail to Walter’s Falls is now a side trail, not part of the main trail, and the main trail sticks to the roads through the area which wasn’t what our map said. After stopping for a roadside lunch break to recalibrate we discovered we were right on track.
The walk down Holland-Sydenham Townline was awesome – the sky opened up with some dramatic clouds, the wind was blowing and the vultures soared – the sky was endless as we walked through the rural landscape. We crossed the Bighead River and then made our way up what we dubbed “Heart Attack Hill” which led to another official BT campsite- “Bighead Campsite”.
Somewhere a bit further on we walked through a great old woodlot with what looked like old growth maple and beech trees – beautiful giants that escaped the axe. We dipped briefly into Massie Hills Management Area and then to the long end of day road walk to Bognor Marsh with our feet burning for the last few km of a great 50 km weekend.
Map Distance : 27.8 km / Start : km 1.6 Sydenham / End : km 29.4 Bognor Marsh
This episode features the song “Time to Find” from the album “Vitality” out now and available at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)

Get back on trail with the fifth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario.
"Blantrye"

This was the start of an epic two day Bruce Trail adventure with an overnight at one of the few official camping spots along the Bruce Trail : “Ambrose Camp”. It was a gorgeous day as we continued up the Beaver Valley with it’s vast landscape and views.
We had some road sections on this blue sky sunny morning - which were easy going and fun. We were soon rewarded by the lovely Webwood Falls, also the site of some old mill ruins.
As we walked through the subsequent fields, the birds – crows and vultures and hawks – were playing in the winds and celebrating the gorgeous spring weather, along with us.
We came across some great cliff formations, and a creek that sunk underground only to emerge at the base of the cliff shooting out of cracks in the rock. We were excited to stop at the famous “Blantyre Pub” for some fish and chips and a couple of pints before camp but alas it may have just been a rural myth.
We arrived at camp an hour before sunset – just enough time to set up, start a fire, and cook a fine dinner. There was a great spring fed creek at the camp for some refreshing water. With the tractors humming in the fields through the night we slept well.

Map Distance : 23.6 km / Start Sideroad 22C : km 102.5 / End 119.9 End Beaver Valley Section and 1.6 KM into the Sydenham Section at Ambrose Camp where we spent the night.
This episode features the song “Bring It Back” featuring Jason Lane on guitar, from the album “Vitality” out now and available at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com) Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with the fourth episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario.
"Beaver Valley"

It was a beautiful day in the valley – snow still lingered and the ground was muddy after a couple of days of rain. The ski slopes were still active – during ski season the trail is rerouted around the Beaver Valley Ski Club, where the trail normally travels in the summer. We took the Valley Crossover Trail past Wodehouse Creek and the Beaver River, and up along the ski hills on the Kimberley Forest Side Trail, and back onto the Bruce Trail.
It went from cold to warm to cold again depending on where you were on the trail that day and if the sun was out. With wet feet in the snow we had to keep moving.
We hiked through the Wodehouse Karst area and came upon a ranging floodwater creek churning down the hillside – something that would normally be a trickle of water. The Beaver River below swelled with the runoff coming in from all sides.
The trail led to some beautiful valley vistas, through fields just thinking about waking up as winter slowly let go of it’s hold on the land. The winds blew strong across the fields up high in the valley.
The hiking was challenging – and exhausting – trudging through the crumbling snow and muck – but the day was glorious and the hiking grand. We made it to what felt like the mouth of the Beaver Valley – or maybe we still had another day to go to finish “The Beast”. Yes, we still had one more day to go.

Map Distance : 23.6 km / Start Road 30 : km 78.9 / End Sideroad 22C : km 102.5
This episode features the song “When Will You Learn?” from the album “Vitality” out now and available at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Also featured is the song “Poor Creative Man” performed by "Atlas" : Steve Welch, Kenny Phelps, Josh Gabriel, Ryan Allen Dave Rozell and Fijl on drums, recorded at Turtleshell Studio in Breslau Ontario.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Albums $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

The Christmas Season starts off right in Mildmay Ontario as the Who's from Whoville and the Grinch roll into town for the annual Christmas Parade - for his heart had grown ten sizes that day - and the town came alive with Christmas cheer. Tune in for "It's That Time Of Year! A Small Town Ontario Christmas II" and be Merry!

Get back on trail with the third episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario.
"Eugenia Falls"

Spring had sprung and the trilliums were in bloom for a breathtaking hike through Eugenia Falls. This was a spectacular section we had been looking forward to and the falls still flowed strong with spring runoff in its beautiful cascade into the Cuckoo Valley below.
The day was perfect – sunny and blue skies all the way.
Past Eugenia Falls (where we met up with an old friend!), we continued through a beautiful woods to a second falls : Hogg’s Falls. A perfect spot for lunch.
Soon we reached the most southernly point of the Bruce Trail in the Beaver Valley – we had hiked 68 km into the Beaver Valley section to reach the bottom – now to hike up the other side and back to Nottawasaga Bay.
We started the hike up the Western flank of the valley in it’s glowing Spring forests to where we ended the day at Road 30.

Map Distance : 21 km / Start : North St. Eugenia : km 58.3 / End Road 30 : km 78.9
This episode features the song “Vitality” featuring Jason Lane on guitar, from the album “Vitality” out now and available at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Get back on trail with the second episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail, A Journey Across Ontario.
Hiking "Old Baldy" in the Beaver Valley.

Episode two starts with a beautiful sunrise over Old Baldy, the iconic escarpment cliff face that towers above the Beaver Valley, near the town of Kimberley Ontario. We make our way up the treacherous ice and the steep cliffs and the valley opens up behind us.
The clouds roll in and the wind picks up as we summit and explore the Mac Kirk side trail taking us to the cliff and our first real view of the magnificent Beaver Valley - which we will be hiking in for days - down one side and up the other to complete this section.
We are two episodes into the second half of the trail – Season Two. Season One ep. 1-19 covers the first half of the Bruce Trail from Niagara to the Blue Mountains.
Learning from our last hike, which ended as we fumbled our way to our car by moonlight, we took on a shorter day this day, hiking through the snow drifts, slush and late winter flooding.
Beautiful scenes abound and there were many fast flowing creeks and bulging waterfalls surging over the escarpment rocks and ice, and into the valley below.
We made it to North St. in Eugenia – looking forward to our next hike in the series through the incredible Eugenia Falls and Cuckoo Valley. Eugenia Falls is closed for the winter as it is very dangerous with ice and snow and the steep cliffs – so we would skip this section and return in the Spring. So with Episode 3, in the magnificent Eugenia Falls, the trilliums will be out and the sun shining bright.

Map Distance : 13.3km / Start km 45 Sideroad 7b / End North St. Eugenia 58.3
This episode features the song “Spirit Guide” from the album “Vitality” out now and available at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Individual songs $0.99 / Vitality – Entire Album $9.99
Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and even some BT related merch.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel – it really helps the channel grow and for the videos to have more reach in the algorithm.
Help Support Independent Music and Film
Steve Welch (stevewelchontario.com)
Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

Back on trail with a spectacular winter adventure in the "Kolapore Uplands" - the inaugural episode of Season Two : End to End Hiking The Bruce Trail - A Journey Across Ontario.
(Turn on CC for words and lyrics).

The season starts on a bitterly cold January day as we embark on the second half of this amazing 910km 550 mile trail. A trail that follows the Niagara Escarpment from the Niagara River, across Ontario to Tobermory where the escarpment meets Great Lake Huron. Season One ep. 1-19 covers the first half of the Bruce Trail from Niagara to the Blue Mountains. Season Two begins at Kolapore in January and ends at the Northern Terminus in October. Set to the music of Steve Welch with songs from the new album "Vitality" and more.

After a calamitous start to the day we head out into the winter wonderland, approaching the vast Beaver Valley. Metcalfe Rock stands out as a magnificent marker.
We were not sure what to expect with long distance winter hiking – not enough snow for snowshoes but it was enough to slow us down. We may have taken on too much for our first winter hike – we ended up walking back to our car by the light of the moon.
After a great lunch at the Mill Creek bridge we hiked through Duncan Crevice Caves Provincial Nature Reserve with it’s great views across the valley and back toward Metcalfe Rock.
We ran into some challenging hiking late in the day over snow covered jumbled boulders at the base of the escarpment near McCluskey’s Rock which was a good test for our weary bones. We were rewarded with some easy ridge walking and an incredible view of the beautiful winter sunset across the Beaver Valley as the daylight came to an end.
An incredible day in so many ways to start Season Two.

Map Distance : 21.2km / Start km 23.8 Kolapore / End km 45 Sideroad 7b

This episode features the song “Winter Song” featuring Jason Lane on guitar, from the album “Vitality” out now and available at stevewelchontario.com and on all major platforms.
Download individual songs for $0.99 or Vitality – Entire Album $9.99

Thanks as always to the many people, past, present and future who work tirelessly to create, maintain and improve our trail systems. And thanks to the landowners who share their beautiful land. It is very much appreciated.
Check out all episodes and original music from Season One at stevewelchontario.com where you will find links to music videos, adventure films, blogs and more.
Also, subscribe to my channel! – it really helps creators and for the videos to have more visibility on YouTube. Its an easy and free way to show your support.

Other Social Media / Facebook : Steve Welch | Facebook / Instagram : Steve Welch (@stevewelchontario) • Instagram photos and videos

A song about a man who sees another man who trusts in God, and looks at him first with scorn and then with envy.
"I want to learn more but he seems to have left me out here on my own.
Am I really alone?"

From the album "Vitality" released in 2022 and available at stevewelchontario.com.
Head to the site for videos, blogs and more. Check out the Hiking The Bruce Trail End to End Series - one of the inspirations for this song. Season Two on now with weekly episodes!

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Video filmed in Mildmay Ontario

A clip from Season Two Episode One Hiking the Bruce Trail End to End
Kolapore Uplands
19 episodes in Season Two : 450 km A Journey Across Ontario
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Old Ontario - An iconic rockin' homegrown tune coming down from the clifftops and up from the valleys, across the deep water and through the fields and small towns with the spirit of the great land called Ontario.
Featuring Jason Lane on guitar.
From the album "Vitality" available at
stevewelchontario.com

The lead song from the album "Vitality" is an Ontario backcountry reggae special "Promoting Vitality, Inspired by Nature" with the video filmed in the frozen Great White North and the sunny Mayan Riviera in Mexico. Whatever the weather, whatever the season, it's time to live and promote a vital life again.

Featuring Jason Lane on guitar : https://loyalsundogs.ca/

Download "Vitality" at : stevewelchontario.com

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