The Hills of Headwaters: Headwaters

Estimated distance: 220 km/137 mi.

Post-card perfect scenery and high-end boutiques only 30 minutes from the edge of Toronto make this a favourite destination for drivers who like to poke around antique and specialty shops, enjoy great scenery and a fine meal. Convinced they would find gold in Caledon's hills, fortune-seekers began to arrive in the area in 1818, but found that the real wealth lay in the power of the river to turn millwheels that ground grain, cut lumber and wove textiles.

Old mills -- be they ruined or restored -- are one of the outstanding features of this area, known for its fast-flowing trout streams and rushing rivers. A century ago many of those rivers powered mills, today they draw fly fishermen and nature lovers. Alton's 1881 knitting mill is now impeccably restored as the Millcroft Inn and visitors can glimpse the ruins of an abandoned power plant and a dramatic 25-m (80-ft.) waterfall in Forks of the Credit Provincial Park.

The Bruce Trail draws lots of serious walkers, but there are also many gentler paths that still offer great Niagara Escarpment scenery near Belfountain and in Forks of the Credit Provincial Park without a gruelling hike. Mono Cliffs has a very popular trail system, especially Cliff Top Trail, with its great lookouts and spectacular fall colours.

Stroll across the swing bridge at the Belfountain Conservation Area and listen to the thundering West Credit River rushing over the dam below you. Don't forget your camera because this is a breathtaking place to visit. Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic or a peaceful afternoon of fishing.

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