"Hiking Old Baldy" a Thornbury Travel Page by windsorgirl

As you drive along County Rd 13 at the base of the Beaver Valley, you will see the Niagara escarpment rising to the east and west . Most of the escarpment is tree covered except for this very noticeable "bald" spot. Hence, this is how Old Baldy got it's name. When you see this white limestone outcropping near the town of Kimberly, you will know that your turnoff is near. Old Baldy rises 152m above the Beaver River.

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The beginning of the hike will take you through a sunny meadow. In May, there was a carpet of yellow spring flowers. Notice the white marker on the fence post, these blazes will mark your path along the Bruce Trail.

These beautiful mushrooms were just off the path.

The path soon enters a tall deciduous forest of maples, oak and birch trees. The ground was literally covered with trillium in bloom, and ferns.

This is the first viewpoint that you will encounter. You will be looking west across to the other side of the Beaver Valley and the town of Kimberly. You can see the ski slopes of Talisman Ski Resort on the other side. Don't stop at this viewpoint, there are several more further down the path.

Old Baldy is undoubtably the best place for a panoramic view of the Beaver Valley and in the fall, you will be awestruck by the ribbons of red, yellow and orange leaves as far as the eye can see.

There were many spring flowers in bloom at the end of May when we made our first hike. We saw a carpet of white trillium at the base of the forest in addition to these beautiful and delicate wild columbine.