QEW High Falls Loop
The Ganaraska Trail in Queen Elizabeth Wildlands QEW offers some of the most rugged and ‘primitive’ trail hiking experiences around. When I have been been on the West side I found solitude, lovely seldom used campsites, and pleasant walking.
I also found significant navigation challenges with trail blazing that is often hard to follow.
Conditions
• This trail is rough as this is a less accessible section of the Ganaraska Trail. As a result it gets less use and less maintenance.
• Bugs can be bad in QEW. Head-nets are highly recommend as well as bug spray.
• Campsites (if they exists) are primitive and the are no privies/thunder-boxes so cat-holing skills are important.
• The trail will be overgrown and invisible in sections. Often times the only signs are the trace on a GPS.
There are two free maps I recommend for use with your cell-phone when offline.
- In the "Avenza maps” app download the “Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park Backcountry Map” from the store.
- Using the "Ondago" app download the map, "Ganaraska - Wilderness"
Logistics planning spreadsheet
Please fill this out when you sign up.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XLaCZaz9M2TIsTrpZZ8baK0_naI0zhH2Wu_dw6KhLZk/edit?usp=sharing
The parking lot is small so minimizing the number of cars is important. Please add your details to the trip planning spreadsheet ASAP so carpools can be arranged.
The itinerary
Distances are not given because they are variable. The hiking will be a steady pace from about 10AM - 6PM. It won't be fast but we will not be stopping much.
Day 1, Saturday:
We will start in Queen Elizabeth Wildlands leaving from the Victoria bridge trailhead at 10:30 AM. Below are driving directions from downtown Kitchener to the trailhead.
https://goo.gl/maps/6eeUWxWxjo62
We will hike west along the Ganraska Trail west and camp somewhere on the ‘High Falls’ Loop section of Trail’.
Day 2, Sunday:
The destination is variable based on how fast the group and trail are but likely we will aim for somewhere east of Hiker’s Graveyard to make a shorter day on Monday.
Day 3, Monday (Victoria Day):
We will hike back to Victoria Bridge somewhat scratched up. We may be there early or late afternoon depending on where we camp Sunday night.
Money
QEW does not has any fees. You should expect to split the cost of gas with your driver and fellow passengers.
I am collecting $10 as a deposit, I will return it to all who attend the trip.