The Halton Outdoor Club upcoming events

Hiking Nordic Walking – Shell Park (14 May 2026)

Thu, 14 May 2026 17:30:00 GMT

HIKE TITLE	Nordic Walking – Shell Park
DATE	Thursday, May 14, 2026
HIKE LEADER(S)	Sue Elias
LEADER EMAIL AND CELL NUMBER	fselias@cogeco.ca 416-556-2638
MEETING TIME and START TIME	Meet: 1:30 p.m. Start: 1:45 p.m.
MEETING/ PARKING LOCATION	Shell Park – 1^st Parking lot on the right 3307 Lakeshore Rd W, Oakville, ON L6L 6S6
MEETING MAP (link)	Shell Park Google Map
ENTRANCE FEES	N/A
DISTANCE	Approx. 5-6 km.
DURATION OF HIKE	1.5 - 2 hours
SPEED Leisurely: 3 km/hour or less Moderate: 3-4 km/hour Fast: 4-5 km/hour	Moderate
ELEVATION GAIN Low: mostly flat - a few hills Moderate: some ups and downs High: lots of hills, steep and/or long	Low
TERRAIN Easy: wide trail, usually good footing Moderate: some areas of tricky footing Challenging: rugged trail with tricky footing	Easy
TYPE OF HIKE: i.e. Loop, There & Back or Combination	There & Back
GENERAL ROUTE DESCRIPTION Points of Interest and Special Notes	From the park, we head east and take the trails to Shelburne Park then from South Shell Park go west to Burloak Waterfront Park. On the way back, we will take the multi-purpose trail on Lakeshore Rd W. back to Shell Park. Depending on weather, we may add in the trail to Spruce Park, between Burloak and Great Lakes Blvd.
Other Specifics to Your Hike i.e. social to follow hike	This is a Nordic Walk so bring your telescoping hiking/walking poles with rubber booties. Sue will review the Urban Poling technique for Nordic walking for anyone interested. Sue is a certified Urban Poling Instructor. Check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-fuF1pUaws Get a full body work-out.
REGISTRATION is required and opens 2 weeks prior to the hike.	Up to 10 hikers may register. Leaders appreciate early registration, but you can register at the last minute. Please join the waitlist if the hike is full.
CANCELLATION	• If your plans change, please self-cancel as soon as possible so that other HOC members may take your spot. • The club may cancel due to bad weather that may impact the safety of participants or due to low attendance.
WHAT TO BRING	• Wear supportive hiking boots with good tread. • Hiking poles are not mandatory, i.e. if you don’t want the full body benefits • Dress in layers according to weather; wear/bring waterproof rainwear. • Bring snacks and enough water for the duration of the hike. Sun and bug protection as required

GUIDING NOTES:

HIKE PACE - Leisure: 3 km/hr or less. Moderate: 3-4 km/hr or Fast: 4-5km/hr. All paces are average and depending on the terrain.

TERRAIN - Easy: mostly flat and usually good footing (i.e. rail trails, Confederation Park, Bay Front Park), Moderate: some hills and/or poor footing (Bruce Trail, Dundas Valley, etc.) and Challenging: steep hills and strenuous footing (Bruce Trail, some trails in Short Hills, Dundas Valley and Red Hill Valley). Please note variations can be expected with weather conditions.

Registration is required for all events, and you will have to agree to the waiver of participation when registering.

Attention Past Members: You are not entitled to two trial activities. Please renew your membership to take advantage of all that the Club has to offer.

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Paddling Exploring the Minesing Wetlands (16 May 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Paddling Title	Exploring the Minesing Wetlands
Type of Trip	Day Trip
Date	May 16
OVERALL RATING FOR THIS TRIP	GRADE C (INTERMEDIATE)
SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THIS TRIP Skills required to deal with the following anticipated conditions.	Grade B (Comfortable Beginner) Comfortable forward stroke; Comfortable reverse stroke; Comfortable turning strokes; Able to perform assisted rescue as swimmer within 2 attempts and as a rescuer *
Anticipated Trip Conditions
Wind	Grade A (Beginner) Light; 10 kms/hour
Waves, Breaking Waves, Swell	Grade A (Beginner) Under 1 foot waves; No breaking waves (Waves up to the deck seam; water glassy to rippled; no whitecaps)
Current	Grade B (Comfortable Beginner) Mild currents; Up to 2-3 kms/hour
Open Crossings	Grade A (Beginner) No open crossings
Landing Type	Grade C (Intermediate) Steeper slope; narrower landing zone; rocky; slippery; OR Docks
Landing Frequency	Grade C (Intermediate) No more than 5 kms between landings
Total Distance Per Day	Grade C (Intermediate) Up to 20 kms
IMPORTANT HOC TRIP RATING INFORMATION AND CANCELLATION	We can only anticipate what the trip conditions will be prior to the trip; and they are subject to change based on the weather information for that day; therefore, the overall trip rating and the required skills needed to safely attend the trip, may be upgraded on the day of the trip. This eventuality includes the possible cancellation for some or all its participants; or the postponement of a trip for the following day. By signing up for a club trip, the participant assumes the risk that such a cancellation may occur, even as late as on the shoreline. HOC Paddling Trip Rating Tool-2024-02-29
Important Trip Details	GUIDED TRIP OF THE MINESING WETLANDS - FREE SPIRIT TOURS The Minesing Wetlands are renowned for their wildlife, history and flooded forests in early spring. However, it must be approached cautiously as it can become a maze where even the most adventurous could get lost. For a sneak peak of what can be expected, check out this article - turn to page 52: https://www.escarpmentmagazine.ca/summer-2024/ THIS IS A LONG DISTANCE TRIP WITH RISK OF NO LANDING BREAKS IF WATER LEVELS ARE HIGH; 5-7 HOURS LONG. Please consider your kayaking experience, health and ability to sit in your kayak for the duration of the trip. Muddy and slippery launching conditions expected. Cold water immersion clothing will be required (wet or dry suits) given time of year and duration. SHORT plastic kayaks are recommended, ideally not longer than 15 ft. Short Kayaks are available for rent at an additional fee directly with Free Spirit Tours. WHAT TO BRING: Lunch snacks water change of clothes / towel dress for the weather Mosquito repellent or gear if preferred Sun protection Please note a minimum of 4 participants is required for this trip to proceed, otherwise it may be cancelled.
Body of Water	Minesing Wetlands (Willow Creek)
Registration Opens	Outfitter trip - 5 weeks before trip date
Registration Opens on this date (at 12:00 am)	Friday, April 17, 2026
Name of Volunteer Trip Leader(s)	Gabriela Sebestyen & Free Spirit Tours
Email of Volunteer Trip Leaders(s)	solis.sebestyen@gmail.com
Contingency Email, Name	solis.sebestyen@gmail.com
Trip Address	2302 George Johnston Rd #2234, Minesing, ON L9X 1C2 (Willow Creek Canoe Launch)
Google Pin of Parking	Willow Creek Canoe Launch
Paddling Vessels Permitted	Recreational kayaks not permitted
Google Pin of Boat Launch	Willow Creek Canoe Launch
Arrival time - To get boats, equipment ready for launch	8:30 AM
TIME - SHORELINE SAFETY MEETING (PRE-LAUNCH) (PDFs on; Kayaks, equipment on the shore, ready to go)	9:00 AM
Maximum number of paddlers including leader(s)	6
Boat Rental Available	Yes
Boat Rental Details	Contact Free Spirit Tours directly to arrange at your own additional expense: info@freespirittours.ca
Bathroom Facilities	Portapotty
Trip Safety Requirements, What to Bring	Kayak with sealed fore and aft bulkhead compartments unless the paddle has been specified to permit recreational boats; Inflatable boats are not permitted; A properly fitting PFD or lifejacket must be worn at all times while in your kayak; Inflatable PFDs are not permitted: One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long; One (1) bailer OR One manual bilge pump; One (1) pealess whistle; If paddling before sunrise or after sunset or in periods of restricted visibility like fog, one (1) all-round light (A light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees); For multi day trips, one (1) magnetic compass (handheld or deck); For kayaks over 6m (19’8”): One (1) watertight flashlight with working batteries AND Six (6) flares of Type A (Rocket parachute flare), Type B (Multi Star flare) Type C (Hand flare) Type D (Smoke Signal), however, only two (2) can be Type D; A minimum of one spare paddle per 2 participants; A spray skirt is required unless you are in a recreational boat (a boat which lacks either a fore or aft sealed bulkhead) or on a Grade A trip; Each participant must have completed their wet exit practise within the past 12 months Please note the club does not provide equipment. If rentals are noted above, it is at the expense of the club member. Please read the details.
Trip Cost Per Participant	$91
Incidental Costs	Additional expenses may arise on this trip and the participant assumes the financial responsibility. These are costs which have not been factored in the trip budget and will typically, but not exclusively, entail unforeseen expenses, such as evacuation, ambulance, treatments, food, lodging due to illness.
Trip Cancellation Policy - Trips Under $100	No refund unless your spot is filled from the waitlist. Should you qualify for a refund, a $5 cancellation fee will be applied. To cancel your trip at any point; you must email the Club Manager: manager@haltonoutdoorclub.ca or phone: 905-634-2012

Hiking Waterfall Series - Canterbury and Sherman Falls (16 May 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 13:15:00 GMT

The difficulty of a hike is determined by the speed, distance, elevation gain and terrain. Please read the template to determine if the hike is right for you. More descriptors are included in the Guiding Notes below the template.

HIKE TITLE	Waterfall Series - Canterbury and Sherman Falls
DATE	Saturday, May 16^th, 2026
HIKE LEADER(S)	Ellen Kennedy and Paul Toffoletti
LEADER EMAIL AND CELL NUMBER	Ellen.Kennedy12@gmail.com 905-630-1057 / Paultgroups@gmail.com 289-230--2038
MEETING TIME and START TIME	Meet at 9:15am for a 9:30am start time
MEETING/ PARKING LOCATION	Meet at Municipal Parking Lot 10A (blue sign) located at 334 Wilson Street East, (behind Old Firehall Arts Centre) Ancaster, Ontario (pay parking)
MEETING MAP (link)	334 Wilson St E - Google Maps
ENTRANCE FEES	Parking fee is $2.00/hour or $10.00 daily fee. Pay by Passport app or online via QR code. Credit/debit card tap and payment by coin options are also available.
	Approx. 6.5 to 7km
DURATION OF HIKE	Approx. 2.0 Hours
SPEED Leisurely: 3 km/hour or less Moderate: 3-4 km/hour Fast: 4-5 km/hour	Moderate
ELEVATION GAIN Low: mostly flat - a few hills Moderate: some ups and downs High: lots of hills, steep and/or long	Low to Moderate elevation, main trail is flat although there are descents and ascents on parts of trail including a steep descent to Sherman waterfalls.
TERRAIN Easy: wide trail, usually good footing Moderate: some areas of tricky footing Challenging: rugged trail with tricky footing	Moderate with dirt path, hills, exposed tree roots and stone, stream crossing and possible muddy sections. 5.5 km on trail, 1.5 km on sidewalk.
TYPE OF HIKE: i.e. Loop, There & Back or Combination	There and back including a small loop, Limited drop-out opportunities.
GENERAL ROUTE DESCRIPTION Points of Interest and Special Notes	Greater Hamilton is noted as “The City of Waterfalls”, boasting over 100 waterfalls, most of which plunge over the Nagara Escarpment. The Waterfalls Hike Series introduces hikers to the most popular of these stunning features. Enjoy a morning hike in Dundas Valley on the Heritage Trail and the Bruce Trail to view Canterbury and Sherman waterfalls. Canterbury is a smaller but beautiful terraced-ribboned cascade while Sherman is a high curtain terraced fall from Ancaster Creek. There will be a brief stop at Sherman Falls to enjoy the view and your snacks.
Other Specifics to Your Hike i.e. social to follow hike	Post-hike option at Tim Hortons.
REGISTRATION is required and opens 2 weeks prior to the hike.	Up to 18 hikers may register. Leaders appreciate early registration, but you can register at the last minute. Please join the waitlist if the hike is full.
CANCELLATION	• If your plans change, please self-cancel as soon as possible so that other HOC members may take your spot. • The club may cancel due to bad weather that may impact the safety of participants or due to low attendance.
WHAT TO BRING	• Wear supportive hiking boots with good tread. • Hiking poles will be helpful. • Dress in layers according to weather; wear/bring waterproof rainwear. • Bring snacks and enough water for the duration of the hike. • Sun and bug protection as required

GUIDING NOTES:

HIKE PACE - Pace refers to the speed of walking. Rest stops are not figured in to the overall pace, however they are figured in to the duration of the hike. These paces represent an average and may vary depending on the terrain, weather, group size, etc.

Leisurely: 3 km/hour or less.

Moderate: 3-4 km/hour

Fast: 4-5 km/hour.

TERRAIN – This refers to the footing on the trail itself and is influenced by the presence of rocks, roots, step-ups and step-downs, as well as the width of the trail. Please note variations can be expected with wet or icy conditions.

Easy: wide trails, may be paved or hard packed, mostly good footing, i.e. rail trails, waterfront trails

Moderate: some tricky footing, i.e. Bruce Trail, Dundas Valley, Conservation Areas, RBG trails

Challenging: significant areas of tricky footing (some parts of the Bruce Trail, some trails in Short Hills, up and down the escarpment).

ELEVATION: This refers to the accumulated elevation gained over the course of the hike.

Low: route is mostly flat but may include some gentle ups and downs

Moderate: route has hills, a few may be steep and/or long, but also some flat areas

Challenging: route has lots of hills, some of which are steep and long and few areas that are flat

Attention Past Members: You are not entitled to two trial activities. Please renew your membership to take advantage of all that the Club has to offer.

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Paddling Point Abino Lake Erie (16 May 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Paddling Title	Point Abino Lake Erie
Type of Trip	Day Trip
Date	Saturday, May 16,2026
OVERALL RATING FOR THIS TRIP	GRADE B (COMFORTABLE BEGINNER)
SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THIS TRIP Skills required to deal with the following anticipated conditions.	Grade B (Comfortable Beginner) Comfortable forward stroke; Comfortable reverse stroke; Comfortable turning strokes; Able to perform assisted rescue as swimmer within 2 attempts and as a rescuer *
Anticipated Trip Conditions
Wind	Grade B (Comfortable Beginner) Light to Moderate; 11 to 20 kms/hour; Wind noticeably affects movement of the paddler
Waves, Breaking Waves, Swell	Grade B (Comfortable Beginner) Waves up to 2 feet; Small breaking waves Waves up to armpit; light to moderate chop; scattered whitecaps)
Current	Grade A (Beginner) None or mild
Open Crossings	Grade A (Beginner) No open crossings
Landing Type	Grade B (Comfortable Beginner) Pebble; more steep; sand bars
Landing Frequency	Grade A (Beginner) No more than 1 km between landings
Total Distance Per Day	Grade B (Comfortable Beginner) Up to 15 km
IMPORTANT HOC TRIP RATING INFORMATION AND CANCELLATION	We can only anticipate what the trip conditions will be prior to the trip; and they are subject to change based on the weather information for that day; therefore, the overall trip rating and the required skills needed to safely attend the trip, may be upgraded on the day of the trip. This eventuality includes the possible cancellation for some or all its participants; or the postponement of a trip for the following day. By signing up for a club trip, the participant assumes the risk that such a cancellation may occur, even as late as on the shoreline. HOC Paddling Trip Rating Tool-2024-02-29
Important Trip Details	This paddle is dependant on favourable wind. Also the paddle duration will be wind dependant. If the wind allows we will paddle past Point Abino lighthouse and paddle to the wreck of a barge off Sherkston Shores. If the wind direction does not allow us to paddle to the wreck we will paddle towards Crystal Beach and stay in the bay. Dry Suits are mandatory for this paddle.
Body of Water	Lake Erie
Registration Opens	Day trip - 2 weeks before trip date
Registration Opens on this date (at 12:00 am)	May 2, 2026
Name of Volunteer Trip Leader(s)	Paul Humber, Peggy Humber
Email of Volunteer Trip Leaders(s)	lumdig58@gmail.com
Contingency Phone, Name	Paul Humber 905-932-4067
Trip Address	715 Point Abino Rd. South, Fort Erie
Google Pin of Parking	https://maps.app.goo.gl/HSsvtk2zyTVwJ8W57
Paddling Vessels Permitted	Recreational kayaks not permitted
Google Pin of Boat Launch	https://maps.app.goo.gl/HSsvtk2zyTVwJ8W57
Arrival time - To get boats, equipment ready for	9:30 AM
TIME - SHORELINE SAFETY MEETING (PRE-LAUNCH) (PDFs on; Kayaks, equipment on the shore, ready to go)	10:00 AM
Maximum number of paddlers including leader(s)	12
Bathroom Facilities	None
After Paddle Leisure Time
Go to Restaurant After Paddle	To be determined
Trip Safety Requirements, What to Bring	Kayak with sealed fore and aft bulkhead compartments unless the paddle has been specified to permit recreational boats; Inflatable boats are not permitted; A properly fitting PFD or lifejacket must be worn at all times while in your kayak; Inflatable PFDs are not permitted: One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long; One (1) bailer OR One manual bilge pump; One (1) pealess whistle; If paddling before sunrise or after sunset or in periods of restricted visibility like fog, one (1) all-round light (A light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees); For multi day trips, one (1) magnetic compass (handheld or deck); For kayaks over 6m (19’8”): One (1) watertight flashlight with working batteries AND Six (6) flares of Type A (Rocket parachute flare), Type B (Multi Star flare) Type C (Hand flare) Type D (Smoke Signal), however, only two (2) can be Type D; A minimum of one spare paddle per 2 participants; A spray skirt is required unless you are in a recreational boat (a boat which lacks either a fore or aft sealed bulkhead) or on a Grade A trip; Each participant must have completed their wet exit practise within the past 12 months Please note the club does not provide equipment. If rentals are noted above, it is at the expense of the club member. Please read the details.
Trip Cost Per Participant	None
Incidental Costs	Additional expenses may arise on this trip and the participant assumes the financial responsibility. These are costs which have not been factored in the trip budget and will typically, but not exclusively, entail unforeseen expenses, such as evacuation, ambulance, treatments, food, lodging due to illness.
Trip Cancellation Policy - Day Trips, No Cost	For day trips with no cost, please self cancel. Go to the club website. From the menu, select: ATTEND EVENTS > HOW TO SELF CANCEL

CANCELLED Hiking Oakville Urban Hike #2 – East Fourteen Mile Creek (16 May 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

HIKE TITLE	Oakville Urban Hike #2 – East Fourteen Mile Creek
DATE	Saturday, May 16, 2026
HIKE LEADER(S)	Ion Bertume
LEADER EMAIL AND CELL NUMBER	ib8250753@gmail.com (437) 484-4884
MEETING TIME and START TIME	Meet at 9:30 for a 9:45 start
MEETING/ PARKING LOCATION	Parking lot at the North-West corner of Reeves Gate & Upper Middle Rd West (to the west of Third Line)
MEETING MAP (link)	Reeves Gate & Upper Middle Road
ENTRANCE FEES	None
DISTANCE	Approx. 8 km
DURATION OF HIKE	Approx 2.5 hours
SPEED Leisurely: 3 km/hour or less Moderate: 3-4 km/hour Fast: 4-5 km/hour	Moderate 4 km/hr
ELEVATION GAIN Low: mostly flat - a few hills Moderate: some ups and downs High: lots of hills, steep and/or long	Low: None
TERRAIN Easy: wide trail, usually good footing Moderate: some areas of tricky footing Challenging: rugged trail with tricky footing	Easy: Mostly level terrain with some sidewalk
TYPE OF HIKE: i.e. Loop, There & Back or Combination	Loop
GENERAL ROUTE DESCRIPTION Points of Interest and Special Notes	Follow East Fourteen Mile Creek into East Fourteen Mile Lands in Oakville
Other Specifics to Your Hike i.e. social to follow hike
REGISTRATION is required and opens 2 weeks prior to the hike.	Up to 15 hikers may register. Leaders appreciate early registration, but you can register at the last minute. Please join the waitlist if the hike is full.
CANCELLATION	• If your plans change, please self-cancel as soon as possible so that other HOC members may take your spot. • The club may cancel due to bad weather that may impact the safety of participants or due to low attendance.
WHAT TO BRING	• Wear supportive hiking boots with good tread. • Hiking poles will be helpful. • Dress in layers according to weather; wear/bring waterproof rainwear. • Bring snacks and enough water for the duration of the hike. Sun and bug protection as required

GUIDING NOTES:

HIKE PACE - Pace refers to the speed of walking. Rest stops are not figured in to the overall pace, however they are figured in to the Duration of the Hike. These paces represent an average and may vary depending on the terrain, weather, group size, etc.