Hike FullFurnace Falls: Ghost Villages, Abandoned Railways and Lost Mines

A backcountry ramble through the mining sites of southern Snowdon Township active between 1870-1887. The tour will explore 4 mine sites, 2 railway lines, a colonization Rd. and the lost village of Furnace Falls: complete with smelter and marble quarry! All these sites were abandoned by 1887.  Suitable for adults and teens.  No dogs please

HIKE #: 114

DATE: Saturday, September 21

START TIME: 1:00 pm

DURATION: 2.5 hour, 5km

LOCATION: Victoria Iron Mine

RATING: Moderate/Challenging

MAXIMUM # 30

AMENITIES: Parking, shelter

LEADER: Guy Scott

LEADER BIO: Guy Scott is a local historian who enjoys “re-discovering” lost parts of our past. He has led numerous historical bus tours and Ghost Walks. While writing a series about the Snowdon Iron Mines for the Kinmount Gazette, he discovered some long lost sites of the Great Iron Rush of the 1870s. Using clues dredged from old newspapers and documents, this hike will retrace many of these sites, abandoned over 125 years ago, but still visible. Bring your camera!

DIRECTIONS: From Haliburton take Hwy 118 to Tory Hill . Turn right on County Rd  503 to White Boundary Rd  just south of Furnace Falls park. Turn left/east on White Boundary Rd and follow the signs to Victoria Iron Mine on Lot 20, Concession 1 Snowdon (turn left/north). Distance from Haloburton is approximately 45 km.  From Minden take Hwy 35 south to County Rd 121. Turn left and follow 121 to Kinmount.  In Kinmount turn left/east and follow to White Boundary Rd. Turn right and follow the directions above. Distance from Minden is approximately 30 km.  GPS coordinates: N 44.8128, W 78.6516