News – Page 9 – Dive To Escape

Owen Sound is located on the most southerly part of the Bruce Peninsula and is the last major town/city you travel through to Tobermory, Ontario, Canada. I find that too many people race through Owen Sound because there looking forward to hiking the Bruce Trail on the peninsula. Others are looking to get to Sauble Beach to enjoy some sun and often overlook the fun and enjoyable day one can have hiked the many trails in and around Owen Sound and stop in and visit some of the shops in town. To get to Owen Sound: From the GTA, one can take the 401hwy to 400 Hwy to HWY 89. Follow this highway till you get to highway 6; this will take you right into Owen Sound. From the GTA, one can take away 401 to 410, which will tune into hwy. 10. Stay on this hwy. 6, and this will take you right into Owen Sound. Link to google maps From the GTA to Owen Sound Once in Owen Sound, you will have options depending on what you want to do with your day and how much time you have allocated for adventure. Map showing the relative distance of each hicking site from Owen Sound. Map not to scale credit: google maps. Harrison park / Inglis Falls Image of Inglis Falls, Weaver's Creek and Map to Harrison Park from Owen sound Map Credit: Google Maps Harrison Park is located right in the heart of downtown Owen Sound, and I feel it is an excellent spot often overlooked by people visiting Owen Sound. It has excellent amenities with a full-service restaurant, Ice cream shop, paddle boat rental, a splash pad and playground. Harrison Park also has a campground, bird sanctuary, and pool. With these amenities, one could spend the better part of the day just enjoying the river and the petting zoo, but there is access to some easy trails that will take you to view some pretty picturesque falls. Harrison Park was also the last stop of the Underground Railroad with the Black History Cairn, a monument to the formerly enslaved people who settled in the area. Commemorative Carin to the underground railroad recognizing the role of settler Canadain played in helping formerly enslaved people from the south find refuge in Owen Sound. Click here for more information on Black History in Harrison Park. Once you have explored all the amenities, I recommend the first short walk/hike to Weavers Creek Falls. These are secluded minor falls just a short walk from behind the pool. These falls look like something straight out of a storybook with fallen trees and tones of moss growing everywhere. You won’t want to miss out on getting a selfie, but any photographer will have lots to work with here as it is pretty picturesque for just a short walk from the parking lot. Once you have visited the Weavers Creek falls and feel like you still have some hiking in you, I strongly recommend the 5km loop to Inglis falls from Harrison Park. The trail is well marked and mostly flat, with only two areas where there is a little bit of a climb. The path will change from dirt to gravel when you nearThe GrayBruce Conservation Authority. Here there is a garden displaying many of the native plants in the area with signs describing them, and this is a nice little break spot if you need it, or you can continue till you get to Inglis Falls. Inglis Falls usually will have an ice cream truck or some refreshments there. There is also an information center if you want to plan any other trails, as a few trailheads start at Inglis Falls that will lead to different paths that I haven't explored yet. I recommend you take Inglis falls; there are many photo opportunities here. One can also get familiar with the area’s history through the many plaques in and around the falls. When Hiking back to Harrison park, one doesn’t have to take the same route you came as the tail loop will take you along a different path. You can see more of the beautiful hardwood forest and some of the geological formations that make the Bruce Peninsula such a picturesque place. Indian falls Indian falls are just a short drive from downtown Owen Sound. You will pass Kelso Beach on your way there, which is always a nice place to visit. Map of how to get to Indian Falls from Owen Sound, Image of Indian Falls and picture of the river flowing from the falls. Free parking and public bathrooms are available once arriving at the Indian Falls Conservation area. One can decide one of two ways to see the falls depending on your appetite for adventure. First, one can follow the marked trail to the top of the falls. This path will be a short 20-30 min hike that is well marked. It will have some areas with a boardwalk and steep stairs to climb. Suitable footwear will help as the tail can sometimes be tricky and steep sections. Once at the top of the falls, you will see why it was worth the short steep climb. You will have a great view of the half-moon craters formed by the falls. You will also see all the sediment layers that the falls have worn away over time. The second way to see Indian falls, my favourite way to do it, is to walk along the river to the bottom of the falls. This path is less travelled and will reveal little gems that not everyone gets to see. It can easily navigate walking up the river following the river banks, but I recommend you bring some water shoes and walk up the middle of the river the water is very cool and fresh. The river rarely gets deeper than 1-2 feet in small pools. Other than that, it's generally 6” deep. So if you're quiet as you walk up the river and keep your eyes peeled, you will have the opportunity to see all kinds of life here, everything from garter snakes, water snakes, bullfrogs, giant toads, painted turtles, snapping turtles and tons of birds. If seeing a lot while life isn’t your thing, just stomp your feet and be loud; most animals will be gone before you get there. Please be mindful that there may be people there to see wildlife. If you bring a waterproof action cam on a selfie stick and put it into the deep pools, you will often find young trout trapped in the shallows hunting. Often in the spring, when the water is high, one will find skeletons of deer, raccoons, and skunks that have been washed over the falls or fallen, but I am always surprised by the amount of life I get to see here—one of my favourite spots that I visit several times a year. Click here for more information on Indian Falls Jones falls and the Pottawatomi Conservation Area Image of Jones fall from above and the Pottawatomi River, map of how to get to the Pottawatomi/ Jones Falls Conservation Area Jones falls trail is located just outside of its Owen Sound and depending on how you plan your day, you could save this trail for the end of the day before getting on the road to head home. Pottawatomi River and Jones Falls Conservation area information Plaque and Map. Image of the Pottawatomi River and a picture of a Garter snake seen on a hike in the conservation area. Jones falls is located in the Potawatomi conservation area. The trailhead has more than one location to start the trails The easiest way to find the routes is just off the parking lot of the Potawatomi information center. Here will be a map where one can decide if they are just going to take the short 10 min walk to Jones Falls or if they are going to take the 3km hiking loop ending at jones falls. I would recommend the loop as it takes you through various natural settings. The trail starts in a pine forest then changes into a Carolinian forest with hardwoods and lots of leafy plants, which opens up into a meadow with many beautiful wildflowers. Along this trail, keep your eyes open as you will see large cracks in the ground. These Dolomites cracks store, water slowly splits up the bluff. This trial will end at Jones Falls. So feel free to cool off and laze in the Potawatomi river at the top of the falls before heading back to your car. Because of the ease of access and the beautiful view, I recommend these falls. Just like Inglis falls, you will notice that there are many other trails to be explored in the Potawatomi conservation areas, so take note, and maybe you will want to come back to Owen sound and follow a different path as they all have new things to discover. Click here for more information on Pottawatomi and Jones falls Conservation area As you can see, not far from downtown Owen Sound, one can find some fun and easy trails to visit and see another side of the beautiful city of Owen Sound. I would recommend you plan a weekend of staying in Owen Sound and exploring the trails and waterfront in the area. If you're visiting the city because of a hockey tournament or a college fair, any of these single trails could be enjoyed in a few hours if you're looking to spend some time outside. I'll be visiting many of the other trails in and around Owen Sound as I do. I'll rate and recommend them to you, so please visit back for more Owen sound hiking adventures.