A Journey to Sibbald Point

Last week I went on my first long walk of the summer. It was atypical for two reasons. First, the combination of the short distance (28 km) and flat terrain meant that the hike wasn’t very challenging. Second, the first 25% of the walk followed the same path I took when I hiked through Keswick last year, which reduces the amount of time spent exploring new territory. Despite these concerns, this was among the most relaxing and enjoyable hikes I’ve taken.

I take the Go bus to Willow Beach, a small suburb located northeast of Keswick, along the southern coast of Lake Simcoe. The bus travels along Metro Road, a two-line rural highway that cuts through the vast forests of York Region’s town of Georgina. I walk north to Lake Drive, perhaps the GTA’s most scenic road, which runs for several kilometers along the Lake Simcoe shoreline. Although I hiked along Lake Drive with Nathan last summer, it was towards the end of an exhausting 44-km walk, and we were rushing to reach the final Go stop. Thus, unfortunately I didn’t have a chance to enjoy the scenery back then. This time, I walk slowly and appreciate the canals running through Willow Beach, the sharp curve bisecting the forest near Salvation Army Road, and the white sand beaches at De la Salle Park.

I arrive at Jackson’s Point, a community of cottages and full-year residences, around noon. Indeed, a large street-level sign, located on a traffic island at the town’s main intersection (Dalton & Metro) proudly proclaims that this community was “Ontario’s first cottage country”. (I tried to research this but I can’t find any evidence that supports or refutes this; for all we know, communities in Huntsville or the Kawartha Lakes might be making the same claim). There are several parks in the community; the largest one, Bonnie Park, recedes into the shore of Lake Simcoe and features a large boating facility. There are few amenities in town; I’d imagine most residents primarily shop in Sutton. Overall, Jackson's Point has a lot of nice scenery, but there's not much to do.

Sutton, the second-largest town in Georgina (after Keswick) is unique because it is not located along the shore of Lake Simcoe; instead it follows the Black River south towards Highway 48. I walk south along Dalton Road; although there are a number of small plazas, there are still a few undeveloped patches. It’s strange to see a plaza with Mac’s, Sobeys and Tim Hortons located next to a forest. I take a quick break at the Peter Gzowski library (named for the eminent Torontonian broadcaster) and read the newspaper. I pass through downtown Sutton via High Street. This area features numerous small stores and restaurants located in rustic buildings.

I walk northeast towards Sibbald Point Provincial Park, a 225-hectare nature reserve located in rural Georgina. The vast tract of land, formerly owned by the Sibbalds, a Scottish family that immigrated to Canada in the 1830s, was sold to York Region in the 1950s (later sold to Ontario). I was looking forward to this part of the hike because the park combines two of the town’s best features: dense forests and a Lake Simcoe beach. Unfortunately, Sibbald Point is fairly disappointing. The hiking trails are poorly marked and, disturbingly, often seem to lead directly into families’ camp grounds. The only easily-navigable route is the park’s main, paved road, which has little to offer in terms of scenery. Although the long, sandy beach at the northeastern edge of the park is nice, it’s excessively noisy and crowded. Indeed, I found it impossible to read, admire the view, or continue hiking along the shoreline. I would have been much better off spending a longer time at the quiet public parks on Lake Drive (free), rather than spending $11.85 to come to an overcrowded provincial park.

I exit the park and walk along Hedge Road. It’s similar to Lake Drive because it also runs directly along the coast of Lake Simcoe. However, the majority the coast is privately owned and is therefore fenced off, so there are fewer chances to enjoy the scenery. There are a few interesting landmarks along Hedge; St. George’s Anglican Church, constructed by the Sibbald family in the 1870s, stands at the eastern edge of the road. The small but elegant church was instrumental in allowing the SIbbald family to develop the Georgina (and former North Gwillimbury) region.

Another highlight, The Briars golf club, is located just east of Sutton. (Coincidentally, Jade was playing golf on this course during the afternoon I went on the hike. Considering all the hiking routes I was considering, all the golf courses in the GTA, and all the days her company could have selected a golf day, it’s an amazing coincidence that I passed by her).

I get dinner at Lake Simcoe Arms, a higher-end restaurant in Jackson’s Point. Afterwards, I find a small, quiet, public beach (Jackson Point’s best kept secret), read a few of Franz Kafka’s short stories, and watch the sun set. Overall, this was a relaxing start to the summer hiking season.