El Camino Maitland (El Camino del Sinuoso Rio Maitland) is a 2-day hike along the entire Maitland Trail (with some minor detours). It’s modelled after the somewhat-more-famous Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage from southern France through the north of Spain to the Atlantic Ocean.

 

THE HIKE:

 

The hike is a 2-day hike along the entire Maitland Trail that happens on a weekend in September every year.

 

The Camino will mostly follow the whole Maitland Trail from the trail head near Auburn to Goderich. With the Camino detours, the trail is almost 50.6 km. At registration time, there are options to hike shorter distances (Saturday – 16 km or 11 km; Sunday – 13 km). 

 

The Trail follows the beautiful, winding route of the lower Maitland River, and includes areas of ecological significance. You’ll traverse narrow trails, wide rambling trails, hills both up and down, through forests, past farmland, river vistas, autumn meadows, and towering forests. You may see wildlife – toads, salamanders, snakes, ravens, robins, and eagles. Our trail is beautifully natural. That means that you’re also likely to encounter bees, wasps, spiders, and other prickly stingy things, and possibly rain. Be prepared for a fun adventure.

 

Hikers under 18 years of age are welcome, but they must be accompanied on the hike by an adult.

 

Whichever length you choose, your days will look like this: 


 

On Saturday morning, check in at the Benmiller Community Hall, then be shuttled to the start point. When you’re finished hiking for the day, you will check out from where you started from, so we know you’re safely off the trail. 


 

On Sunday morning, check in at the beach pavilion in Goderich, then be shuttled to your start point to begin your hike back to Goderich.

 

Along the route there will be check points where water and snacks will be provided. The snacks available won’t provide enough fuel for your hike, so make sure you bring enough food to meet your needs for the day. Check points will also have basic first aid equipment. 

 

If you must cut your hike short, you will be shuttled back to your car. The best part about the check points are the friendly faces who provide sincere encouragement and have a genuine interest in how the hike is going for you. They’re all volunteers who make this event possible. Awesome!

 

Under no circumstances will hikers be allowed to start the longest hike after 8:30 am.

The Saturday hike finishes at 5 pm, and the Sunday hike finishing at 4pm.

 

For safety reasons, all hikers must be off the trail by those times. If it looks like you won’t make the cut-off, you’ll be invited to hopscotch to the next check point.