The Bruce Trail is an expansive, region-spanning trail through the oldest forested ecosystem in North America, brimming with history as well as modern recreation. Grimsby's connection to the main trail is also called the John Norton Trail, named after a First Nations man involved in helping push American forces out of Grimsby during the war of 1812. Walking the full trail to connect to the Bruce Trail by scaling the Escarpment is a demanding hike, featuring several sets of reinforces stairs that wind past a small waterfalls, but the lower level of the trail that leads to the stairway has only a moderate incline and runs alongside the Forty Mile Creek that's accessible through a few steep foot paths and features wide, flat rocks for playing or picnicking on.

The John Norton Trail is named after the man who led a band of First Nations Peoples in helping push American forces out of Grimsby during the war of 1812. This trail had long been used by the First Nations Peoples to access the Forty Mile Creek as well as the Bruce Trail by then, and continues to be respected as a historical locations today.

This section of forest is a home for several notable species of birds such as hawks and bald eagles, though the dense and forest and tall trees doesn't lend the area well to bird-watching. The Niagara Escarpment is also a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and has the oldest forested ecosystem in eastern North America. In the spring, along the forest floor, you can find white trilliums blooming, which are the official flower of Ontario.

The area is maintained and marked by the Bruce Trail Conservancy.

The initial section of the trail has a moderate incline, featuring some debris like rocks and roots that you must watch for despite the trail being fairly wide and well-travelled. The stair section is well-maintained and clear but very steep, with several sections in a row.

Bruce Trail Conservancy website – www.brucetrail.org