-----------------------------------------------------------
Please make note of the clue written on my green caching card next to the logbook. You will need this information to complete the final cache: "Hermitage History Series - Final" GC69FMP
-----------------------------------------------------------
HISTORY LESSON: In 1865, George Leith sold 10 acres on the west side of Sulphur Springs to his daughter and her husband – Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Wright. The trail you are one was part of this acreage, or was at least adjacent to it. I wasn't able to determine for certain. However, on these 10 acres the Wright's built a large eighteen room home. On the north side of Sulphur Springs Road, there is a mineral spring, once thought to have curative properties, which had long been used by local settlers and Indians. The Wrights sold the property in 1870, and in 1880 the house was turned into a hotel. It was used as a summer spa with the mineral water as the main attraction. The water was pumped uphill to the hotel by a steam engine, where it was used for bathing and drinking. The hotel suffered two severe fires and was permanently closed in 1910.
THE SULPHUR SPRINGS HOTEL
-----------------------------------------------------------
Series Overview (identical for all caches)
Welcome to the Hermitage History Series. It composed of 9 traditional caches and 1 final mystery cache. While finding these caches, you will visit some beautiful spots, including the Hermitage ruins, and in each traditional cache you will find some details that you will need to collect to complete a field puzzle for the final. You can do the caches in any order despite the way I have numbered them. The numbering does not have any significance for the final puzzle.
Your adventure will take you along Dundas Valley Trails near the historic Hermitage ruins and its Gatehouse Museum. You will travel short sections of the Headwaters trail, the Main Loop (part of the Bruce Trail) and the Homestead trail which is a short loop. All trails are relatively wide, and on fairly even ground suitable for family outings. I’ve seen people with rugged strollers on these trails. Note that there is a significant hill to get to caches HHS #1 and HHS #2, but the view is definitely worth it!
You can see a map of the area below. Note: the Hermitage itself is located near the top right corner of this map on the north side of the road labeled ‘Private drive”. Don’t worry, you won’t be trespassing. The private property is further to the east and is marked. Entrance to parking is at the bottom of the map where it says ‘Hermitage Cascade’
I hope you enjoy these trails and learning about the history of this area.
Note: Parking is available at the Gatehouse Museum on Sulphur Springs Rd in Ancaster and has been waypointed in the cache listing for the final (link is above). Please note that there is a self-service fee policy in effect of $10 per car.
MAP OF THE TRAILS IN THE LOCAL AREA:
