Short Hills Provincial Park is a day-use park with six trails and the Bruce Trail traversing its 735+ hectares. The Swayze Falls and the Black Walnut trails accommodate hikers, mountain bikers or horseback riders. For a hikers-only experience, try the Scarlet Tanager, Hemlock Valley, Terrace Creek and Paleozoic Trails. Two waterfalls are situated within the park.
From the parking lot, the wheelchair accessible Paleozoic Path leads to a lookout platform at Swayze Falls, where Twelve Mile Creek drops over the Escarpment. Follow the graveled path to complete the 20-minute return hike to the falls. The trail leads through a forest and meadow where butterflies enjoy wildflowers and blue-winged warblers provide background chorus from the brush.
Take a longer walk by following the horse trails into the wooded valley of Twelve Mile Creek. In the Spring, colour covers the forest floor as masses of trilliums and other native flowers bloom.
To get to Short Hills Provincial Park, take Highway 20 from the QEW through the village of Fonthill. Continue on Hwy. 20 for a few kilometres past Fonthill to Effingham Road (32/28). Turn right (north) and go 6.2 kilometres through beautiful farmland with old country homes and vineyards. Turn right at Roland Rd.
