Christie Wildlife Area

The morning fog was just starting to lift as Rosie and I headed down the trail at the Christie Wildlife area. I had found this spot completely by accident, driving north on Middletown Road just north of Regional Road 8. Fortunately, I had spotted the small parking lot on the left side of the road and now as luck would have it, we were exploring a new trail.

This beautiful marsh area feeds into Christie Lake and features a relatively short and mostly flat perimeter trail that follows the shoreline of the marsh. I can imagine that this area is teeming with wildlife during the spring and summer months but with it now being mid November it was quiet with the exception of some song birds and a few groups of ducks, mostly mallards occupying the water.

Exploring the trails, we walked through stands of cedar and pine transitioning into maple and other deciduous trees on the western shoreline. The trail was mostly grass covered and well marked and features a bridge where the trail begins the returning portion.

You can see by my GPS that I made one small error requiring me to backtrack when I realized I was off course but other than that the walk was enjoyable and quiet.

Returning, I made a mental note to definitely plan on a returning as I would love to see the landscape during the winter, spring and summer seasons as well.

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Sulphur Springs

For my recent birthday, my parents presented me with the book, Touring the Giants Rib, A Guide to the Niagara Escarpment by Lorina and Gary Stephens. Fully aware of my love of hiking in this area, they always know how to find me gifts that help to feed my passion for the outdoors.

Flipping through it, I stopped on a description of Sulphur Springs and realized that although I frequently drive by and hike through this area, I know very little of the history of this unique spot.

During the late 1800s, the Sulphur Springs Hotel with its mineral spa was a popular summertime destination. The sulphur waters were believed to have wondrous curative powers and as a result they attracted visitors from far and wide. The hotel closed in 1910 after two severe fires. Although the hotel is gone, the fountain that supplied the sulphur water remains.

Stopping the car along the side of the Sulphur Springs Road, the first thing you notice is the distinctive sulphur smell. Plaques on the fountain provide some information on its heritage as well as some detail into what makes this water so distinct.

This site is easy to find while driving on Sulphur Springs Road between Ancaster and Dundas and can also be accessed from the Main Loop Trail while hiking in the Dundas Valley. You will find it while hiking the area between the Trail Centre and the Hermitage site.

This is just another unique feature that makes the Dundas Valley such a rich and interesting place to explore.

Don’t forget, for more photos and hiking information, you can visit my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dundas-Valley-and-beyond/120774278042380

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Fall Hike to the Hermitage

One of my favorite areas of the valley to visit in the fall is The Hermitage. This ruin that dates back to before 1855 has a very interesting history and is particularly picturesque when surrounded by the vibrant colours of autumn.

The Hermitage can be found while hiking from the Dundas Valley Trail Centre and is located on the Main loop. This trail is a favourite of mine, filled with rolling hills, streams and moss covered rocks. There is also a small parking area at the Gatehouse Museum that provides for a shorter trail.

If in this area, step behind the Gatehouse Museum to see the Hermitage Cascade. This beautiful cascade waterfall is 13 feet (4 metres) in height and is very pretty.

On a recent visit, we started at the Hermitage Cascade, than followed the trail as it meanders towards the ruins of what was at one time an elegant estate.

According to the historical plaque at the ruins, stones used in construction were quarried from local sites, the red bricks from the Dundas Valley and the limestone sills from the Credit River Valley. The Hermitage had several owners before it was acquired by George Gordon Leith in 1855.  After George’s death in 1901, his daughter Alma Dick-Lauder bought the estate from the rest of the family and lived there until 1934, when a fire broke out during a party and burned the house down. Even after this fire, Alma continued to live on the site, building a modest home within the ruins where she lived until her death in 1942.

With the surrounding tree’s rich in red and yellows, the front facade of the home provides some indication of how majestic it once was. This is an interesting area to visit as you wonder around the remaining walls of the house and its outbuildings.

With its rich history and beautiful surroundings, a hike into this area is always worthwhile.

Don’t forget, for more photos and hiking information, you can visit my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dundas-Valley-and-beyond/120774278042380 Happy hiking!!

Crooks Hollow Conservation Area Revisited

The only disappointment I experienced last weekend revisiting Crooks Hollow was realizing when I got there that I had neglected to put a memory card in my camera meaning I would have to rely on my iPhone for any photos taken.

I last visited this area back in July and you can see my blog post on that visit in the archives from July 14, 2012. At that time I had been impressed with the work that had been done in removing the dam and re-naturalizing the area. Now, a short time later, I am happy to report that it looks even better. The marshland is well along in establishing itself and the area is teeming with songbirds and butterflies.

On this day, I walked first from the parking lot, along the creek to the observation bridge and then returned the same way enjoying the dragonflies and birds along the trail.

With the day being so nice, I decided to continue in a westerly direction along the Crooks Hollow trail as it meets the road and then links up with the historical Darnley Mill ruin. Turning in along the entrance there I followed the trail stopping to enjoy the somewhat drier than usual Darnley Cascade, then crossing the Christie Lake Dam and following the shoreline of the lake. I stopped to admire this snake that was sunning himself in the trail and then continued a short distance before returning.

I have to say that I really enjoy this area and left making a mental note that I would like to return in the near future and hike the entire perimeter of Christie Lake, something I have not tried in the past. Stay posted for more detail and hopefully some better quality photos.

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Fall Hiking on the Spring Creek Trail

Although there is no bad time to be hiking in the Dundas Valley, there is something special about the fall. The cool clean air, lack of bugs and distinctive crunch of leaves underfoot always remind me that another summer has come to an end and that the days of winter are not far away.
My dog Rosie, who is a frequent hiking companion of mine seems to prefer the fall as well and loves to run through the crisp leaves of the forest floor as she explores the valley.

This past weekend we walked the Spring Creek trail as it runs east from the Trail Centre. This centre is a replica of a Victorian train station from a bygone era and even features a section of track with a 1929 executive coach car and a 1931 baggage car that were donated by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

The centre features a snack bar and interpretive centre and often displays the artwork of local artists’ and photographers. Trail maps can be obtained there and it is a good launch point from which to explore various parts of the valley.
The Spring Creek trail which is just over 3 km in length starts at the Trail Centre, follows the Spring Creek valley eastward, crosses Sanctuary Park, and ends at Warren Park.

On this particular day, we left the Trail Centre walking through sun-dappled Carolinian groves with an elevated view of Spring Creek below. We stopped to watch a group of four deer peacefully grazing and were entertained by a number of black squirrels busily preparing for winter.

At times the forest changed to sumac and to marshland heavily populated with red-winged blackbirds and other song birds. Often times on this trail, we spot wild turkeys, various varieties of snakes and woodpeckers.

One of my favorite trails, the Spring Creek Trail often becomes my default trail when I feel the need to get in the valley but am limited for time. Close to home and always changing, I know I'll always see something new, no matter how frequent I visit.