Trout Hollow Trail

Meaford, ON

The Bighead River runs through Trout Hollow in Meaford (first called Peggy’s Landing), named after the Trout family who built the sawmill there in 1850. The entrance to the trail is beside Bakeshop Bridge and has the remains of the Wm. Moore & Sons Flour Mill; originally built by Jessie T. Purdy in the 1840’s. Interpretive signage on the Trail is found at the ruins of the sawmill, grist mill, hydro dam and powerhouse, built by The Georgian Bay Milling & Power Company, and in all reminding us of the past. John Muir aged 26, was an early advocate for the preservation of wilderness, and worked at the sawmill from 1864-1866 before going back home to the U.S. If you walk from both ends you will see a good portion of the scenery that inspired John Muir in his studies and writing. He loved this area and spent most of his spare time in the woods learning from the plants and marveling at the mysteries of nature.Quote from John Muir about Trout Hollow. “We live in a retired and romantic hollow,” he wrote in May of 1865. “Freshness and beauty are everywhere — flowers are born every hour — living sunlight is poured overall, and everything and creature is glad — our world is indeed a beautiful one…” I would have to agree with John – 100%. Signing off, “Hiking with the Viking” p.s. my good friend Amy Phelan created a fantastic short film “John Muir at Trout Hollow”. Map Trout Hollow