Winner of Bronze Medal in Canada-East, Best Regional Non-Fiction at the IPPY Awards, 2025 Travel the Bruce Trail in day hikes with Loops & Lattes author Nicola Ross Best known for her detailed Loops & Lattes hiking guides, Nicola Ross has inspired tens of thousands of people to lace up their boots and explore Ontario’s trails. In 40 Days & 40 Hikes , this adventurer, author, and environmentalist sets herself a new challenge: to hike the Bruce Trail from Niagara to Tobermory in her own creative way. In 40 cleverly crafted day-loops, Ross covers over 900 kilometers mostly following Canada’s longest marked trail, taking you with her on an insightful journey to the Niagara Escarpment’s remarkable sights. As Ross walks, she reveals stories of the trail’s flora and fauna, geology and history. The Bruce Trail becomes the central character as she ponders her role in protecting the fragile corner of the planet that, she contends, is entwined in her DNA. Despite long days on the trail, encounters with bears, ticks, and a deadly derecho, her passion for her beloved Niagara Escarpment mounts as she explores Ontario’s “ribbon of wilderness.” Perfect for hikers, non-hikers, and anyone who loves an adventure, 40 Days & 40 Hikes is both a captivating travelogue and a useful companion for those who Ross will undoubtedly inspire to follow in her footsteps. “Throughout 40 Days & 40 Hikes , Ross wears her affection for the trail and the rich Niagara Escarpment ecosystem on her merino wool sleeve.... She tackles the Bruce Trail in a new way, so that readers don’t have to.” — Literary Review of Canada “Casual and experienced hikers alike will enjoy this unconventional memoir/travelogue/nature guide. Also ideal for readers who seek out opportunities to champion conservation and are curious about Canadian natural wonders, history, and landmarks.” — Library Journal “Nicola slows the pace down so we can re-live the best parts of the trail … If you want to expand your knowledge of the trail, this is a very interesting and enjoyable read.” — Toronto Bruce Trail newsletter “Throughout 40 Days & 40 Hikes , Ross wears her affection for the trail and the rich Niagara Escarpment ecosystem on her merino wool sleeve... She tackles the Bruce Trail in a new way, so that readers don’t have to.” — Literary Review of Canada “At first glance, you might think 40 Days & 40 Hikes by author and environmentalist Nicola Ross is a simple travel guide ... however, it offers much more, weaving together 40 day loops with unforgettable stories, poems, illustrations, and quotes. Each page celebrates the Bruce Trail and the flora, fauna, and ecosystems it holds.” — Hamilton City Magazine “Nicola Ross is a captivating ambassador for the Bruce Trail, blending education and entertainment to showcase the trail’s rich history and natural beauty. 40 Days & 40 Hikes also doubles as a unique and clever guide for those eager to experience the trail for themselves.” — Nancy East, Chasing the Smokies Moon: An Audacious 948-Mile Hike — Fueled by Love, Loss, Laughter and Lunacy Nicola Ross is a National Magazine Award–winning journalist and the bestselling author of six Loops & Lattes hiking guides, with over 50,000 copies in print. She lives with her partner, Alex, in a converted sawmill (circa 1857) in Caledon, Ontario. Day 1 Queenston Heights / Laura Secord Start Time: 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2022 Trailhead Weather: Cool, dull, threatening rain, though none came Distance: 16 km Elapsed Time: 5h BT Section: Niagara BT Map: #1 Main BT Walked: 0 km to 5.3 km Ascent: 437 m / Descent: 408 m Side/Other Trails: Sir Isaac Brock Side Trail, Laura Secord Legacy Trail Flora/Fauna of Note: American robins ( Turdus migratorius ), Northern cardinals ( Cardinalis cardinalis ), Downy woodpecker ( Picoides pubescens ), Hairy woodpecker ( Leuconotopicus villosus ), Eastern wood-pewee ( Contopus virens ), Eastern towhee ( Pipilo erythrophthalmus ), coyote ( Canis latrans ) In which I learn Niagara Falls is no match for an etiquette teacher and her cat; Laura Secord didn’t need a cow; Canadian history isn’t dull and nature could use all the friends it can get. Staring at green luminescent letters that read “No Overnight Parking,” I asked the machine in Queenston Heights Park, home to the Bruce Trail’s southern terminus, “What do you mean no overnight parking? It’s 7:30 in the morning and I’m here to begin my adventure.” When cursing wouldn’t convince the machine that night didn’t end until 10 a.m., I realized that hiking the Bruce Trail “my way” might be a dream — already a ticket dispenser was dictating my plans. I jumped back into my car and headed downhill toward the village of Queenston. Finding a more enlightened ticket dispenser, I parked my car and hoisted my daypack into place. With my GPS, notebook and pen in hand, my slightly altered journey had begun. * * * The blue blazes of the Sir Isaac