Mind the poop!

Exploring Mono Cliffs Provincial Park

I wanted to change it up again this week and I’d had a mental flag on Mono Cliffs from reading about it in some listicle somewhere. After our experience at Kelso and seeing how much the boys enjoyed exploring the fissures in the Escarpment, I thought they’d get a kick out of Jacob’s ladder, a short side trail that takes you down through a little canyon in the escarpment. I was also excited to check out another local Provincial Park. To be honest, I hadn’t realized how many provincial parks were so close and within reach. I always associated the provincial park system with the more well-known parks like Algonquin Park and Sandbanks. It was only once I started doing some research for our bucket list that I realized there are a good half dozen or so provincial parks around us. Looking forward to exploring them all!

Mono Cliffs is a great trail destination that runs through a variety of landscapes, so it makes for a less monotonous walk because you are always looking at new surroundings. We took the Carriage trail to the staircase that takes you up onto the escarpment and then joined the cliff-top side trail so we could check out Jacob’s ladder before joining the McCarston’s lake trail and then the Lookout trail before looping back on the Walter Tovell and Spillway trails (check out the trail map).

OK, so I definitely think that Mono Cliffs has real potential – for all the reasons I described above it’s a lovely trail destination. I’d read somewhere while doing research about the park that folks were flocking to the site from the city because the park (and picture of Jacob’s ladder in particular) had been featured in articles on sites like Narcity. This particular reviewer’s take was that the destination is a bit underwhelming and not worth the drive. But I disagree. It’s true that Jacob’s ladder is a really small area and if you are only going to Mono Cliffs because you are expecting the whole trail to be like that, yeah I could see how you might be disappointed. And while Jacob’s ladder is definitely a not-to-miss highlight of the experience, it isn’t all the park has to offer. There are also beautiful panoramic views that you can catch from lookouts perched up on the escarpment, there’s a huge staircase that takes you up to the top of the escarpment, and there are some lovely trails that wind through different types of forested areas – from birch groves to cedar and fern growing out of the rock faces. So I definitely think it is worth the drive and wouldn’t discount it on the basis that Jacob’s ladder is only one small feature of the park, but it is fair to warn folks to manage expectations about what the experience actually is at Mono Cliffs.

So all the things I just said are true and it would have truly been a great experience… Except for two things that sort of put a damper on things: Mosquitoes and horse poop. Yup. The area has a number of ponds and wetlands which meant that the mosquitoes were out in full force (we visited in late June, which is also peek mozzy season – I probably should have known better!). And the mosquitoes were particularly numerous and vicious when we went down into the little canyon at Jacob’s ladder because the area down there is nice and cool and damp, which meant we couldn’t really enjoy the experience as we rushed to get back out and away from the little buggers.

I also hadn’t quite registered that some of the trails are for shared use for horses. Which is cool. I love horses; used to ride them throughout childhood and in my teen years. Taking a horse out on the trails honestly sounds like a dream to me. But it isn’t so fun for the pedestrians sharing the trails. Not only do you have to watch your step, but on a hot summer day the smell sort of festers and lingers in the air. The kids were NOT impressed and there was much moaning about both the mosquitoes and the smelly horse poop. Like I said, it put a bit of a damper on things. Nothing ruins a peaceful forest walk like a pair of kids whinging the whole way! Ha! You can avoid the horse poop, though, if you choose your path wisely and avoid those shared us trails. But we didn't think to avoid them... so... our walk was a bit more poopy than we would have liked. And honestly we might have missed out on some of the sights if we'd gone a different route.

All to say, in hindsight I think we would have had a much better experience had we timed our visit to Mono Cliffs for the fall, after mosquito season. In the cooler air, the manure also wouldn’t be so offensive. You’d still have to watch your step, but at least the smell wouldn’t hang in the air the way it did on a hot summer day. Actually, I bet this spot would be spectacular in the Fall with all the trees in full colour. I can only imagine what the views are like here in the Fall. So if you are planning to check it out, I’d recommend waiting for the Fall. If I could have a do-over, I’d definitely save this one for something in mid-October. But alas, we have so many more cool places to discover so we may not be heading back for a while!

What you need to know to plan your visit!

Name: Mono Cliffs Provincial Park

Managed by: Ontario Parks

Trail Network Connections: Bruce Trail

Hike Length: 5.3km - Check out the trail map to follow in our footsteps

Trail Style: Packed earth/natural surface

Wayfinding: Wayfinding is pretty good here. The trail map is quite good and there is some signage at trail junctures so it's easy enough to navigate. Note: Jacob’s ladder isn’t marked on the trail map (although I marked it on ours), but there are signs for it on the trails.

Sun Exposure: You’re covered. It’s a primarily covered forested area, although some trail sections are more exposed. Bring the sunscreen, but you will be in shade most of the time.

Bug-o-meter: Definitely avoid bug season and bring bug spray!

Key Features & Little Surprises: Make sure to check out Jacob’s Ladder and the stairs climbing up the escarpment on the Carriage Trail.

Hot tip: If you are planning to visit, aim for a Fall hike to avoid mosquitoes and stinky horse poop. We also stopped in at the adorable Main Street Ice Cream Shoppe in Caledon East on our way back for a bit of a treat (mostly to make up for the mosquitos and horse poop).

Parking & Logistics: No need to reserve in advance at this park and there is no admission fee. But parking is paid.

Driving Time: 1hr +