Pride on the Bruce Trail
We can’t wait to celebrate Pride with you!
The BTC is committed to preserving a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever. To make that a reality, we must do all that we can to help make the Bruce Trail and our organization a welcoming and inclusive space.
Whether it’s on the Trail or at a Pride event, the Bruce Trail Conservancy is excited to celebrate Pride season this June and beyond!
Below you will find a list of events that the BTC will be attending, as well as a number of hikes that are open to everyone, hosted by our BTC Clubs.
Interested in a BTC Pride badge?
Complete our online form, and we will send you one in the mail! Add the BTC Pride Badge to your hiking gear to help create an inclusive and welcoming space for all.
We also sell pins of the same design in the BTC Store. You can get yours here.
If stickers are more your thing, we hand out stickers with the same design at our booth at Pride events. If you see us, stop by and say hi!
Bruce Trail Conservancy is attending the following Pride events in 2026:
More details to follow!
More details to follow!
Pride-themed hikes and events hosted by Bruce Trail Clubs will be posted here once available.
Find more events and organized hikes by visiting our Online Hike Schedule
Past Pride-themed hikes and events
Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: Rainbow Hike
Location (Google Maps): Meet downtown Dundas for group shuttle to Christie Lake Conservation Area
Hike Leader(s): Doug O’Neill Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)
Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hr
Terrain: Dependent on Conditions, Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing
Distance: 7 KM or 12 KM (snowshoeing OR hiking TBD)
Description
Let’s pray to the snow goddess!
This queer-led, all-inclusive 2SLGBTQIA+ winter snowshoe OR hike (dependent on amount of snow) is designed to provide a safe, welcoming space for 2SGBTQIA+ hikers—including trans, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, Two-Spirit, intersex, asexual, allies and friends. Show up, be your authentic self—and have fun in the snow.
This outing is accessible by Public Transit or car. There will be a short car shuttle from downtown Dundas to Christie Lake Conservation Area
Beginner / novice snowshoers welcome! Plan to be outdoors for 2.5 hours.
Snowshoe Rentals are available at Adventure Attic in downtown Dundas. https://adventureattic.net/pages/rentals You must reserve in advance. ($12.50 per day). Note: MEC Burlington no longer offers snowshoe rentals.
To book snowshoe rentals: Call Adventure Attic (the sooner, the better) to reserve snowshoes. They have a limited number. Simply give them your weight and height to determine best fit. Do wait until the day before to put a hold on snowshoe rentals.
Must have icers if hiking Some members have extra. Please email hike leader at time of registration if you need to borrow a pair of icers—or if you have an extra pair to lend.
Washroom facilities: Marina washrooms at Christie Lake will be open during winter. No other facilities.
Note — later start time to accommodate those who are renting snowshoes from Adventure Attic, which opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Also, temperatures typically rise by mid-morning. We aim to depart by 10:30 a.m. latest to allow people time to pick up snowshoe rentals.
Meeting Place: We’ll rendezvous at 10:15 (for a 10:30 a.m. departure) beside Ed & Shawn’s Brewery parking lot (65 Hatt St., Dundas, off Sydenham). Gather by the benches outside the TD Bank. We’ll organize ourselves into a handful of cars for the short drive to Christie Lakes Conservation Area. If you arrive and it’s too cold to wait outside: Starbucks (46 King West) is a 2-minute walk from the meeting point, a few buildings up the street from Adventure Attic.
Car shuttle from Downtown Dundas:
To minimize costs and use fewer cars, we will carpool from the rendezvous spot in Dundas to Christie Lake. People can chip in to share the $11.50 entrance fee; drivers don’t pay. It’ll be a couple toonies apiece.
Getting to Dundas by Transit
HSR bus routes: 05–Head Street (via Downtown Dundas) or 5B–Pirie at Governors, depending on your origin. (Allow extra time if you need to pick up snowshoe rentals at Adventure Attic.)
What to Bring:
• Water (It’s very easy to get dehydrated in winter), snacks, and lunch, perhaps a hot beverage.
• Sunscreen (glare off snow will give you a winter tan), sunglasses, hiking boots, icers (a must) and, optionally, snow shoes.
• Dress in layers. You’ll warm up quickly when snowshoeing or hiking in snow.
Free Bruce Trail Rainbow badges and stickers for all participants! And likely a post-snowshoe beverage in downtown Dundas.
Hosting Club: Niagara
Category: In and Out
Location (Google Maps):
Quarry Road Parking Lot, Beamsville
Hike Leader(s): Angela Lytle Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)
Pace: Medium
Terrain: Moderate
Distance: 5-6 km
Description
Join the Niagara Bruce Trail Club, Bridges Niagara Immigrant and Refugee Services and PFLAG Niagara for a Rainbow-Welcome Hike at Cave Spring Conservation Area in Lincoln!
What is a Rainbow-Welcome Hike?
These hikes aim to bring 2S-LGBTQIA+ newcomers together with other newcomers and community members, friends and allies to enjoy nature and connect to the land and enjoy nature in all seasons.
It is an intentionally affirming space for people of diverse backgrounds and identities with a focus on 2S-LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Everyone is welcome.
We will have Bruce Trail PRIDE stickers for all hikers, and a limited number of PRIDE badges if you don’t yet have one!
Hike Details
Route: This hike loops from Quarry Rd in Beamsville along the Bruce Trail to Cave Spring Conservation area and back.
Terrain: The path to Cave Spring runs along the escarpment edge and is quite rocky and has some hills. We will adjust the pace to the group but be prepared for some rocky, uneven footing and clambering up and down. We recommend using hiking poles. Wearing good hiking shoes is a must and icy winter conditions on the trail require icers or micro-spikes. Carry water and dress in layers for changeable weather. The hike goes ahead rain, snow or shine unless there are dangerous weather conditions – the hike leader will contact you if anything changes.
Note: There are no toilets on this route.
***Please arrive by 9:50 to check in with the hike leader for departure at 10.
Meet at the parking lot on Quarry Road in Beamsville.
Note parking is limited so please carpool with others if possible. When the small lot is full, there is roadside parking along Quarry Rd.
Hosting Club: Caledon Hills
Category: General
Location (Google Maps): Hockley Valley Provincial Nature Reserve, Map 18. To reach the meeting point, drive north on Hwy 10 from Orangeville and turn right onto Hockley Road. Continue approximately 5 km east until you see the parking area on your left, directly across the road from the Black Birch restaurant.
Hike Leader(s): Dylan “Lana” Hubbard Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)
Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hour
Terrain: Strenuous – hilly with steep climbs and some poor footing
Distance: 15 km
Description
Join us for a 14-15 km hike through the Nature Reserve, known for being one of the most challenging and hilly sections of the Bruce Trail. Get ready for a workout.
We will be hiking at a moderate pace and please bring icers. Also bring a lunch!
We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment. This hike is an 2SLGBTQIA+ safe space, and everyone is welcome to join us!
Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: Rainbow Hike
Location (Google Maps): Meet downtown Dundas, corner of Sydenham and King
Hike Leader(s): Doug O’Neill Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)
Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hr
Terrain: Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing, Slippery and Steep Sections, Strenuous – Hilly with steep climbs and some poor footing
Distance: Approx. 12 km
Description
This queer-led, all-inclusive 2SLGBTQIA+ hike is designed to provide a safe, welcoming space for 2SGBTQIA+ hikers—including trans, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, Two-Spirit, intersex, asexual, allies and friends. Show up, be your authentic self—and have fun in the snow.
This hike is accessible by Public Transit or car. No car shuttles are required. We’ll begin hiking from our rendezvous spot in downtown Dundas, and follow the trail back to the starting point. (Everyone is invited to join us for a post-hike coffee/sugar hit in Dundas.)
Icers are required for this hike. Please contact Hike Leader now (right after you register if you need to borrow a pair. Limited supply. Just click on the “contact hike leader” button above.
Meeting Place: We’ll rendezvous at 9:45 a.m. for a 10 a.m. departure beside Ed & Shawn’s Brewery parking lot (65 Hatt St., Dundas, off Sydenham), next to the TD Bank. Parking is free on Saturdays. The lot is accessible from Sydenham.
Getting to Dundas by Transit
Choice of two HSR bus routes: The 05–Head Street (via Downtown Dundas) will let you off at King & Sydenham (across the street from where we meet); the 5B–Pirie at Governors will drop you off at Governors Road and Ogilvie (then it’s a 7-minute walk to King & Sydenham.
What to Bring:
• Water (It’s very easy to get dehydrated in winter), snacks, and lunch, perhaps a hot beverage.
• Sunscreen (glare off snow will give you a winter tan), sunglasses, hiking boots, icers (a must) .
• Dress in layers.
Today’s hike is dog-friendly. Note: dogs must be leashed the entire time, and owners must pack out their dog’s waste. Visit “Dogs on the Bruce Trail” for further information. https://brucetrail.org/dogs-on-the-trail/
No washroom facilities on this route. Arrive early and use the loo at Starbucks, just a 2-minute walk down King Street from our meet-up spot at King & Sydenham.
Free Bruce Trail Rainbow badges for first-time Rainbow hikers!
Questions? Simply click “Contact Hike Leader” on the registration form.
PLEASE DON’T BE A NO-SHOW Plans change. C’est la vie. But you don’t want your hiking group waiting around for you if you’re not coming. Very simple solution: Cancel your Bruce Trail hike registration by logging into the BTC website, go to your “My Hikes” section, find the hike, and click “cancel”; if it’s last minute (under 24 hours), you can also email the Hike Leader directly as a courtesy to the volunteers.
Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: Rainbow Hike
Location (Google Maps): Meet at the base of the Wentworth stairs
Hike Leader(s): Shayne Ward Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)
Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hr
Terrain: Dependent on Conditions, Easy – Mostly flat and usually good footing
Distance: 10km
Description
Join us for a leisurely loop and stellar views through the Hamilton portion of the Bruce Trail and Mountain Brow Blvd/Mountain Park Ave.
This queer-led, all-inclusive 2SLGBTQIA+ hike is designed to provide a safe, welcoming space for 2SGBTQIA+ hikers—including trans, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, Two-Spirit, intersex, asexual, allies and friends. Show up, be your authentic self!
Please plan to arrive for 9:45am as we will leave at 10am prompt. We will depart from the base of the Wentworth stairs and walk the paved portion of the trail/Rail Trail to the Margate Stairs (380 stairs, metal with traction and rails). We’ll go up the stairs and take Mountain View/Concession/Mountain Park back to the Wentworth Stairs (498 stairs, metal with traction and rails) and walk down the stairs to end where we started.
Please pack a lunch! Plan for a lunch break at the top of the Margate Stairs. There is a water fountain and benches there we can catch our breath before finishing the brow and Wentworth stairs.
This outing is accessible by car or public transit. Parking available on side streets, start of hike is accessible by HSR Bus #05 (Delaware) at Wentworth Ave.
Dogs are welcome on this hike! For everyone’s safety and enjoyment, pups must be fully trained and kept on a non-retractable leash at all times. Please ensure you pack out all your dog’s waste.
What to Bring:
• Water, snacks, and lunch, perhaps a hot beverage.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes/runners.
• Dress based on weather.
Free Bruce Trail Rainbow badges and stickers for all participants!
Questions? Simply click “Contact Hike Leader” on the registration form.
