The Winter Wonderland at Hilton Falls
It was Boxing Day morning and I saw out my window a fresh coat of snow that had fallen overnight. The snowfall continued that morning with small snowflakes, gently falling from above. I had reserved my spot to hike at the Hilton Falls Conservation Area, since Boxing Day shopping was not on my agenda for that day. This popular hiking spot is located in Milton, Ontario and now requires visitors to book a 2 hour timeslot on the Conservation Halton Parks Reserved Visits website. Visitors are also required online to register their vehicle and pay their $6.50/adult fee. This website is easy to access and the site is not too far from anyone living within the GTA.
I knew my hike now would be a challenge with this snowfall; however, after arriving on site and having parked my car, I walked into a magical scene from a Holiday film. Immediately the infamous Christmas song started playing in my mind, as I walked into a “Winter Wonderland.”
I commenced my snowy hike on the Yellow – Hilton Falls Trail. One can download a map of the Hilton Falls Conservation Area on the website or click the link on the online ticket that will be sent to you. There are several trails at this location but I preferred this specific one to quickly get to the popular Hilton Falls. It is a bit of an uphill trail so be prepared to get your heart rate up and make sure to have proper winter boots with good grip, since the trails can be deep in snow or slippery. During the summers, the trees along the trails will be filled with lush green leaves; however, during this winter hike, I noticed the naked trees and thin branches covered with white bright snow.
Along the trail, one can also see lumps of snow fallen on branches and twigs that reminded me of balls of soft cotton balls and fluffy marshmallows.
As I continued along this trail, I was captivated by the winter scenery of the natural surroundings. As one looks down this trailway, the shape of the tree branches covered with snow up ahead, reminded me of going through an arched bridge.
The trail had many hikers, even families pulling their young ones while they sat on toboggans and sleighs. We also saw many visitors snow shoeing or cross country skiing on the deep snow towards Hilton Falls.
Having arrived at Hilton Falls via the Yellow - Hilton Falls Trail, I first took a glimpse from the top of the waterfall, where I saw the fast moving stream flowing through different shapes of rocks that were covered with fresh snow. This picturesque view was the ideal setting for a meditation session, as the sound of the peaceful stream was surrounded by the natural winter setting.
After going down some wooden stair cases that led to an observation deck, one can see on the opposite side of the Hilton Falls, a beautiful natural winter scenic portrait that reminded me of a cover of a Christmas card or Holiday postcard.
From the observation deck, you can capture an amazing photograph from the distance you are standing of the Hilton Falls.
Be mindful that this area gets really busy so it is a good idea to go early in the morning or even visit during weekdays where there might be less traffic than weekends.
Now I like taking photo opps with waterfalls and this natural winter settings made the right backdrop for my ideal shot.
However, be mindful that it is slippery and icy near the waterfall and it is not wise to get too close towards the falls or under the gigantic icicles that can be seen at the top of the waterfall. Also, safety is really important so if you are not an avid hiker or not used to winter hikes, I would not advise anyone to get too close to the waterfall. In fact, one from the observation deck or even from up above, can get a breathtaking view of the fast moving waterfall, surrounding by the breathtaking winter scenery.
From Hilton Falls, I took the Yellow – Hilton Falls Trail towards the Red Oak Trail and from there, hiked towards the Hilton Falls Reservoir. Along the Red Oak Trail, I saw many hikers pass by me but there was one cyclist on his bike with huge thick winter tires, riding up and down the hill towards the Reservoir. Right before the lookout point, I came across this stream that flowed into the Hilton Falls Reservoir.
On the opposite side of this stream, we came across the lookout point at one of the ends of the Hilton Falls Reservoir. The Reservoir was covered with white snow and is surrounded by the Niagara Escarpment and the Bruce Trail.
From this lookout point, I hiked along the Bruce Trail that merged into the Purple – Beaver Dam Trail; which led me back towards the visitor center and parking lot. I chose this trail rather than the Bruce Trail along the edges of the Niagara Escarpment, since it was safer and less icy. This trail was much more wide and clearer and it was also great to see the sun come out from the clouds and shine on the snow that fell all along on this trail. It just made this part of the hike much more special, witnessing the reflections of the sun and sparkling the snow along the final part of the hike.
Overall, this was my first winter hike of the season and a special one with the fresh snowfall that took place that morning. I highly recommend everyone to experience a winter hike, especially after a snowfall. The Hilton Falls Conservation Area is an ideal spot for a winter hike and booking tickets and reserving your spot online is easy and there are plenty of 2 hour spots to reserve throughout the day. If you are a skier or like snow shoeing then try these activities along its trails. Be mindful and aware of safety advisories and weather hazards. I would also suggest dressing appropriately like winter boots, snow pants and warm clothing. Otherwise, winter hikes are a lot of fun and I recommend everyone to take the opportunity to create your own odyssey at the Hilton Falls Conservation Area.