The Cascade Trail loop is one of the best-kept secrets our area has to offer, and it’s perfect for scenic yet heart-pumping fall hikes.
story by Laurie Stephens, photos by Kristie & Brenden Woods
Gazing down at sparkling water splashing over slate rock in a deep ravine, I stop to catch my breath. I am halfway up the aptly named Cascade Trail at Blue Mountain Resort, and the setting is serene. Surrounded by green foliage, I breathe in cool air infused with the smells of nature. Birds twitter over the hypnotic burble of the stream.
All of this beauty is tucked between two ski runs that are now golden with summer grass – a lush oasis in the middle of a ski resort, and one of the best-kept secrets of the area.
Whether it is 8 a.m. or 2 in the afternoon, a weekday or a weekend, hiking the Cascade Trail – one of four hiking trails at Blue Mountain Resort – is a great way to unwind while raising your heart rate.
This trail is no small feat of engineering. Stone slabs and cedar log steps line the path up the ascent, and every once in a while the trail weaves out of the forest onto the side of a ski run, where I catch breathtaking views of The Blue Mountains area and Georgian Bay.
Wooden bridges for downhill mountain bikers cross over the trail at two points on the climb, and I watch as some riders complete a switchback turn at a breakneck speed before clattering over the wooden planks and jumping into the air at end of the bridge.
As I recover my wind, two very fit women in their 50s make their way toward me, climbing with purpose. Sue Friebel and Heather Alma are “regulars” – Collingwood residents who feel fortunate to have such a treasure so close to home and take advantage of it whenever they can.
“It’s so good for the soul,” exclaims Alma.
Both women use the trail for workouts year-round, even snowshoeing up its length in the winter. Sometimes it’s just the two of them; other times they hike with their kids.
“You’re outside, you’re getting fresh air, exercise,” says Friebel. “We both cycle, we both hike, we love the outdoors. It gives us a balance.”
The four hiking trails at Blue Mountain rise about 700 feet up to the top of the Escarpment with varying degrees of difficulty. Cascade and Straight Up are the steepest, while Village Way switches back and forth in a more gentle climb. Another called The Grind is a multi-use trail that zigzags up the southern-most perimeter of the resort.
Visitors can choose to hike up and down the mountain on any of the trails or take advantage of a free gondola ride down that starts at 10 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. in the summer and 6 p.m. after Labour Day. The official hiking season runs from the May long weekend to Thanksgiving, seven days a week.
Mike Towers, Blue Mountain’s manager of bike and terrain parks, says the resort’s current trail system began with the construction of the Cascade route in 2009. Village Way had already existed, but the other routes were added to build hiking capacity.
“We’d had mountain bike trails for close to 20 years and then we noticed an influx in pedestrian visits, so we built some hiking trails,” says Towers, 38, a 10-year employee of the resort. “Blue Mountain saw an opportunity, after seeing the number of people who were using the gondola to go up the mountain, to give them another avenue to get down, as opposed to just coming down on the gondola. Or, you can hike up and take a gondola down.”
Towers’ crew of 10 perform weekly inspections and maintenance work on the four hiking trails, 16 downhill bike trails and 15 kilometres of cross-country mountain biking or multi-use trails. This work typically involves removing deadfall on the trail, fixing the cedar logs or rock steps if they’ve come loose, and simply making sure the trail is safe.
“Locals as well as a lot of the staff members on the resort use the trail too, and they all report back to us if anything is in urgent need of repair,” he says.
One of the more popular routes is the Cascade-Village Way loop. Hikers can start their climb at the bottom of either trail, and once at the top, walk along a section of the historic Bruce Trail, taking in panoramic views from the top of the Escarpment. During peak tourist season, about 300 to 400 use it daily. Mid-week, it’s very popular with the locals and specifically new mothers who are hiking with their children in front carriers or their backpack carriers, says Towers.
“But for the most part, it’s a whole gamut of people. No limitations.”
On a sunlit Saturday afternoon, I start out with my family at the bottom of the Cascade Trail, just behind the South Base Lodge on Gord Canning Drive. We briefly stop to watch cross-country runners making their way across the face of the hill, taking part in the annual North Face Endurance Challenge that features races ranging from five kilometres to 50 miles.
Then we are into the woods, and it becomes apparent the Cascade Trail experience is for all ages and all fitness levels, from families and first-timers to ultra-fit regulars. It’s steep in places and the constant rate of ascent is a workout; depending on your pace and fitness, you’re either a little out of breath or you’re panting and sweating profusely.
As we climb alongside the ravine, we encounter Heather and Beauford Rego, a couple in their 30s from Barrie. They are walking down Cascade with their two children – Liam, two, and Ella, eight months – in newly purchased backpacks.
Heather, a former Collingwood resident, tells me not to be fooled by Liam being in a backpack: “He hiked all the way up by himself, and did it the last two times before as well. He even wore his Superman cape today to be faster.” When asked why they keep coming back to this trail, Heather spreads her arms wide. “Look at this! It’s serenity in here. It’s exercise. You feel like you’re hiking in B.C.”
Close to the top, we are stopped in our tracks by the stunning view to our left: the stream cascading over a five-metre rock wall into small pools you can wade into just off the trail. A family of four catches up to us as we take in the scene. They are the Lynds from London, Ontario: Matt, 41, Kristin, 38, and daughters Charley, 11, and Katie, nine.
They discovered the trail by chance last year during their annual trek to visit grandparents in Collingwood. Kristin says they often go to the top of Blue Mountain to take in the view. Last year they spied the trail from their vantage point.
“We just kind of stumbled upon it,” says Kristin. “We tried it, and it was a good memory, so we’ve come back to do it again.” Even the kids are enthused. “It’s just really fun to be out in nature,” says Charley.
We finally emerge at the top of the Cascade Trail onto the historic Bruce Trail. A Kubota all-terrain vehicle with a First Aid sign stands ready to transport anyone who needs medical assistance. A nearby lookout is edged by a cedar rail fence, and a large group of people lean on it to look out over Georgian Bay. The view is spectacular, with Christian Island and other land masses across the Bay in clear sight.
On our walk towards the Village Way Trail where we will descend, we come upon Ontario’s first-ever chair lift. A plaque tells us it was built in 1959 and was used by
Blue Mountain until 2000, when it was replaced by the Southern Comfort Chair at a cost of $3.1 million.
We share the Bruce Trail with dozens of tourists speaking different languages and mountain bikers who have come up on the gondola to ride the downhill trails. Large pockets of poison ivy can be seen alongside this section before you arrive at the top of the Village Way Trail and start to descend, but they are easily avoidable.
The route down is more like a switchback trail – a little easier than Cascade, and certainly a lot easier than Straight Up. But the surface is slick and tricky at times, and I am grateful for my hiking boots that give me better footing. Hiking poles, which I chose to leave at home this day, would have been a help.
Along our descent, we are once again engulfed in green, but the stream in the gulley alongside us is almost dry. Chirping birds claim this little haven and it’s easy to imagine for a few minutes more that you are deep in wilderness. Then a group of seven young men celebrating a bachelor party by hiking up Village Way pass us by, and we begin to catch the sounds of the Village and other Blue Mountain activities.
We hear the squeal of those racing down on the Ridge Runner Rail Coaster that runs beside the lower part of Village Way. A few metres later as we reach the bottom, we watch as resort visitors tread along a high ropes course or ride down one of the Wind Rider Triple Zip Lines.
The leisurely hike up and down has taken us more than 90 minutes (although it can be done in less than an hour if you’re focused), and a cold beer is waiting for us on one of the patios in the Village. The serenity of the Cascade and Village Way trails makes way for the sights and sounds of a very busy Village. We listen to an announcer congratulate the runners finishing the North Face run, some of them having taken nine hours or more.
Most users of the trail system at Blue Mountain tend to climb it on their own schedule. But if an organized activity is more your style, there are two guided hikes you can take.
Columbia Sports conducts a one-hour guided hike for families every day in July and August, starting at 10:30 a.m. from its store in the Village. And Iwa Spa, next to the North Face store, hosts First Tracks Yoga, a 40-minute guided hike every Wednesday and Friday that heads up Village Way at 8:30 a.m. and is followed by a 40-minute yoga class overlooking Georgian Bay. Both of these hikes feature a free gondola ride down the mountain.
First Tracks Yoga, a play on first tracks skiing, was the brainchild of Patti Kendall, director of marketing and events for the Blue Mountain Village Association. It is now in its third year and is growing in popularity with about 15 to 30 visitors and local residents, mostly adults, taking part in each session.
“It’s open to everybody and people can bring their own towel, yoga mat, whatever you want to carry, as well as water and proper hiking shoes,” says Kendall, who has been with Blue Mountain for 13 years. “After the class, they are free to discover the trails at the top or take the gondola ride down for free, which is a really nice way to end it all with the vistas of Georgian Bay. When people come and do it, they’re pretty blown away by what an amazing experience it is.”
Another one of Kendall’s creative ideas is the Guitar Trail event, now in its fourth year.
“It’s almost like a scavenger hunt of artists,” she says. “We have musicians around the pond and in different places in the Village and then all the way up the Village Way hiking trail. At the top, you’re likely to discover interactive drumming or something else happening.”
The pool of musical talent this year included quirky youngsters, local music teachers and professional musicians who play live music in the Village during the week, says Kendall. The event concluded with a concert in the Village at 4 p.m. featuring Alan Frew from the ’80s Canadian rock group Glass Tiger. All artists are paid for their performances.
The Guitar Trail event is increasing in popularity – it drew 300-500 people last year, and was awarded Best New Festival 2014 by Festivals and Events Ontario. Kendall is now recruiting volunteers from local high school programs to help manage the surge in attendance.
She says the resort wanted to find a way to connect the Village, the mountain and the local music community – and to inspire local young artists as well as promote some of Canada’s top performers. The result is a totally unique experience for Blue Mountain guests and local residents.
“We had a couple of groups last year who just happened to be here on a girls’ weekend – some were from the States – and they just said, ‘I don’t understand why everyone in Ontario doesn’t do this, because it’s just so much fun,’ ” she says. “To stop and listen to the artists as well as then complete the scavenger hunt, you just can’t find it anywhere else.” ❧
Hiking Safety
Hiking is great for the mind and body, but it also has its share of hazards, so it’s important to plan ahead and take some precautions for your trek.
Footing can be tricky in the best of conditions – even when it’s dry in the open, under the canopy of the trees the trail can remain wet and slick in some areas for days after a rainfall. Add a little dew or rain to the experience, and that can make for slippery rocks, logs and dirt.
Four years ago, Blue Mountain put gravel down on all hiking trail surfaces from top to bottom to provide a little more traction, says Mike Towers, manager of bike and terrain parks. “But the biggest protection is proper footwear, like a good, sturdy hiking shoe or boot,” he advises. Hiking poles can also help with traction and balance.
In addition, wear clothing that is appropriate for the weather and always carry a water bottle to stay hydrated, especially on hot days. Other handy items include a cellphone, protein bar, bug repellent, sunscreen and band-aids for blisters (or even a small medical kit).
The best way to carry all of these items is to strap on a fanny pack or backpack, leaving your hands free to help with your balance on a climb or descent, with poles or without.
And finally, stay on marked trails, watch for changing weather conditions, and NEVER hike alone. Even if you are in good shape, mishaps can happen.
Blue Mountain has posted a number of signs with safety tips and a phone number for medical emergencies along the trail routes, so if you experience an issue or come across someone who has, you can call to get help quickly.
