With 34 free offerings for outdoors enthusiasts to sink their teeth into, the 21st iteration of the Hike Haliburton Festival will be a good one says lead organizer Thom Lambert.
The event has been a fall staple for many people for decades, and this year is no different Lambert said, with offerings more than 85 per cent full. He said most love the fact the event is led by people from the community for the community.
“Probably the most unique thing about the festival is that the location and content of each hike is completely dependent on volunteers. We don’t have a list of set hikes we would want to offer and then go looking for somebody to lead them – people come to us with ideas, which has led to some wonderful outings,” Lambert said.
“I’ve been doing events like this for most of my professional life, some 35-plus years, and I’ve never seen another event that is so completely volunteer driven as this one is,” he added, noting Hike Haliburton has around 60 volunteer guides.
This year’s hikes will run Sept. 19 to 22. There are opportunities for people to visit the Ganaraska Trailhead, enjoy the canopy tour and other experiences at Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve, a journey through the Frost Centre lands, and exploration of popular sites like the Dahl Forest and Barnum Creek Nature Reserve.
There will also be smaller excursions at Waverley Brook Farm, Miner’s Bay Lodge, Irondale Heritage Church, and Abbey Gardens.
“We’ve got everything from backcountry hikes that are going to take a group out for seven hours to some of the County’s more rugged terrain, and then we have what I call ‘frontcountry’ hikes, which are the other end of the spectrum and more for beginners,” Lambert said. “We also run a couple of hikes that have more of a wellness focus, much more of a slower walk through the woods.”
For those looking to challenge their mind as well as their legs, one of the hikes features a writing workshop. Led by author Brenda Peddigrew, the two-hour, 1.5-kilometre circuit will see participants stop at several prominent locations around Little Hawk Lake and write excerpts about what they see. Participants are required to bring their own materials.
There’s also a horse-themed experience at Abbey Gardens. The ‘Runs with the Stars Storywalk and Paddock Pals meet and greet’ will see author Heather O’Connor lead visitors on a tour of the space that houses Ojibwe horses Maple and Sammy and their sidekick Flapjack, while stopping to read storyboards installed earlier this year.
“We’ll be here with the horses, if there’s enough people, we’ll take them out and people can take pony selfies and have a good time,” said Laurie Sweig, one of the event’s volunteers. “The ponies are becoming quite the sensation in the area.”
Hike Haliburton provides a big boost to the County economy at a time when most cottagers are packing up for the season. Lambert said he’s led several events where participants have driven hours to attend.
“People plan around this weekend to make sure they’re in the Highlands for Hike Haliburton,” he said.
To register for an event, visit festival. hikehaliburton.com.
