Relaxing at Turkey Point Beach

Taking a short break before school resumes, this week we spent five sun filled fun days at a cottage in Turkey Point.  Although a deviation from my usual pattern of finding hiking trails to explore, I have to admit that at this time I was continually drawn to the beach and spent as much time there as I could.

Getting up with the sun, I took pride in being the first one on the beach each day, arriving just as the colour in the sky was changing and enjoying a magnificent sunrise that seemed to be taking place for my enjoyment alone.

What an amazing way to start the day! With a fresh coffee and in the company of a dog that seemed to enjoy it as much as I did, I looked forward to this soul cleansing ritual each morning.

After spending the day swimming in the warm waters and catching up on reading, we would often return for an after dinner stroll and a few times returned late in the evening to catch the sight of the moon reflecting off the waters.

With the interesting tide pools, warm sand and stunning sunrises, this beach is well worth visiting.

Next week, more hiking in the Dundas Valley. For more pics and info, visit my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dundas-Valley-and-beyond/120774278042380 Happy hiking!!

Urquhart Butterfly Garden – A Treasure in the Valley

As if the endless trails and waterfalls weren’t enough, Dundas is also home to the Urquhart Butterfly Garden. Named after pioneering entomologists Dr. Frederick and Norah Urquhart, who after forty years of patient research solved the mystery of the migrating monarchs, construction of Canada's first municipal butterfly garden began in 1994.

Located in Centennial Park on the banks of the Desjardins Canal, it is heavily planted with nectar and foliage plants needed by butterflies and their caterpillars. It is maintained without the use of pesticides, many of which are detrimental to butterfly populations.

The garden now consists of six large raised beds, each approximately 75 × 35 feet, as well as the adjacent bank of the canal. All are planted with shrubs, perennials and annuals.

On any given day as I walk the meandering paths of the garden, I will spot a variety of butterflies and other insects. The selection seen depends on the season and so is always changing and interesting. There is a kiosk on site which houses a number of interpretive panels identifying many of the butterflies and plants you will see here, illustrating butterfly metamorphosis and explaining how to create butterfly-friendly yards at home.

According to their website, the garden is the brainchild of local businesswoman Joanna Chapman, who in 1992 catalyzed the formation of a group known as the "Butterfly Coalition". Members of the Coalition secured funding, identified an appropriate site, solicited contributions in kind from many local businesses and individuals, gained the support of the Town of Dundas and devoted many hours of their own time to planting and maintaining the garden.

Being at the site of the canal, there are always opportunities to spot ducks, swans and other waterfowl as well. Quiet and peaceful, it is well worth a visit.

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Sherman Falls – Illuminated!!!

With its short trail and ease of access, Sherman Falls is one of my favorite “go to” destinations when I am looking to sneak in a quick hike. Waterfalls have been drier than normal this summer but with the rain we had last weekend I felt that it be worthwhile to check it out and I’m glad I did.

Parking at the corner of Old Ancaster Road and Lions Club Road in Ancaster, I headed up the trail and within minutes was enjoying the beauty of Sherman Falls, which I had all to myself.
Sherman Falls is a 17 metre (56 foot) multi tier waterfall surrounded by rugged limestone, mossy rock and natural forest. It has two cascading drops with a wide flat ledge that divide the upper and lower falls.  The double tier makes this waterfall particularly interesting.

Later that day I posted a photo of Sherman Falls on my Facebook page and was contacted by Chris Ecklund, the man behind the City of Waterfalls http://www.cityofwaterfalls.ca with the suggestion that we return an illuminate the falls that night. It sounded like a great idea to me so later that evening we returned and along with a group of volunteers placed around 30 battery powered spotlights in the rocks facing the falls.

These spotlights, each providing 25 million candlepower of light were fitted with a purplish red lenses and when activated bathed the waterfall in a soft purple light. A number of people came by to take photos and enjoy the view.
Hiking and exploring these trails is always a great experience, but for me they take on a special feel at night. I think that the dark makes your sense of hearing more acute and sitting on a rock near the base of the waterfall enjoying the sound of the water and the cool sweet smells of the forest always brings me a powerful sense of peace.

Thank you to the many that have been visiting and sharing my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dundas-Valley-and-beyond/120774278042380

Always appreciated. Happy hiking!!

A Summer Hike to Borers Falls

Lately I have been making a point of re-visiting the many trails that I discovered over this past winter and early spring. Seeing them again now fully covered in their summer foliage feels like visiting for the first time and the increased level of activity of native animals and songbirds makes the forest feel that much more alive.

A couple of weekends ago I visited one of these trials that I was particularly impressed with when I last visited in November.

The Ray Lowes Side Trail starts by a small parking lot on York Road in Dundas. As the trail descends to the valley floor the air feel cooler with every step, a welcome relief from the hot humid temperatures that we have been experiencing.

On this day there seemed to be an abundance of woodpeckers and chipmunks and I observed a small family of raccoons foraging in some downed timbers. They continued to peek inquisitively over the logs as I walked by until convinced that we didn’t mean them any harm.

As the trail approached the escarpment, we continued upwards, admiring the moss covered rocky outcroppings and stands of birch. Taking in the view from the top, I stopped to enjoy the view and some coffee and then continued along the escarpment edge on the trail heading towards Rock Chapel and Borers Falls.

I always enjoy the view of Borer’s Falls, a classical, 17 metre (56 foot) waterfall but with the low volume of rain we have seen this year the flow was greatly reduced. We rounded the trail to the top of the waterfall and sat there awhile enjoying the view of the valley and the quiet. This is a great place to view hawks and other birds of prey and on this day we observed quite a number of vultures as they glided in lazy circles overhead.

A relatively short hike of about 40 minutes each way, there is lots to see on this trail and the ever changing landscape and escarpment views guarantee that it always worthwhile.

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Check it out if you get a chance! Thanks and have a great weekend!

Crooks Hollow Conservation Area

In years past, I always enjoyed visiting and hiking the trails of Crooks Hollow Conservation Area and particularly enjoyed the area around the dam. When I learned that the dam required extensive repair and as a result was to be destroyed, I admit that I was in the camp of those that favoured repair over demolition.

After reading a recent article by Richard Leitner in the Dundas Star Journal announcing that the work in this area was near completion and the trails re-opened, I had to see for myself. I am pleased to say that I am thrilled by the result. The creek now meanders much as it would have before the dam was built and the new surrounding marshland, although still new looking is already establishing itself well.

On my visit I observed a large volume of songbirds as well as footprints in the soft clay belonging to a variety of mammals. The tadpoles have returned and there is every indication that the entire area will soon be teeming with wildlife.

 New features to the area include a rustic steel walkway across Spencer Creek to connect trails on both sides, a small waterfall fed by an artesian well in the escarpment face that was discovered during the work, and additional wetland creation.

What I particularly like is that they left both ends of the dam in place, adding guard rails and repurposing them as lookout platforms. From here you can take in the expanse of this newly created oasis.

According to the story, Cultural and heritage features, interpretive signage and an official reopening are currently being planned.

All in all, a job well done. Be sure to plan a visit to Crooks Hollow Conservation Area in the near future. You will be glad you did.

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The Griffin House – History in the Valley

Often, when thinking about historical significance in the Dundas Valley our thoughts turn to the interesting history of the Hermitage. Although this is probably the most well known, there is another important site just a short walk away.

Parking by the Hermitage Gatehouse on Sulpher Springs Road in Ancaster last Saturday morning, I stopped to check out the Hermitage Cascade, a beautiful 13 foot high waterfall located directly behind the gatehouse. I had not visited this waterfall since the winter and so enjoyed how it looked surrounded by summer vegetation.

I then headed west on Sulpher Springs, continuing on Mineral Springs Road for the short walk to The Griffin House, a site that I had seen photos of but never visited before.

The Griffin House, built circa 1828, sits atop a hill on Mineral Springs Road overlooking the Valley. Originally, the farm was part of a 200 acre lot granted to David Cummings in 1798. In 1834 it was purchased, along with the surrounding 50 acres in by Enerals Griffin who purchased it from George Hogeboom, a local contractor.

Enerals Griffin along with his wife, Priscilla had crossed the border probably in the Port Stanley area in 1829, to escape slavery in the United States, possibly making use of the Underground Railroad. For the next 150 years, their descendents lived and farmed here.

In 1988, the property was sold to the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority by the estate of the last owner, a descendant of Griffin.

The small one and a half storey house is significant both from an architectural and historical point of view. One of the few remaining clapboard homes from the first half of the 19th century in the Ancaster area, it represents a modest working man's farmhouse. Its intact condition with few alterations makes it a significant architectural structure. In addition, the house and site are one of the earliest surviving homesteads in the province.

Archaeologists have unearthed over 3,000 artifacts on this small site including stoneware, porcelain, clay pipes, and masonry. Between 1992 and 1994 the house was restored to its early 19 century time period and in 1995 it was officially opened to the public.

This site now managed as a joint project between the Hamilton Conservation Authority and Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum, was designated a National Historical Site by the Minister of the Environment, the Honourable John Baird, in 2008.

Standing alone in the shade of this humble yet important structure I tried to imagine what life might have looked like back then. A beautiful piece of history, The Griffin House is certainly worth a visit.

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Thanks for the ongoing support and dialogue. Happy Canada Day!

Father’s Day Hike to the Dundas Peak

One of my favorite weekend activities is hiking the many trails of the Dundas Valley and some of my favorites are the ones in and around the Spencer Gorge Wilderness area. So when Fathers Day morning arrived and my oldest son suggested starting the morning with a hike, I couldn’t think of a better destination.

The Spencer Gorge Wilderness Area is part of the Niagara Escarpment, declared by the United Nations (UNESCO) as a World Biosphere Reserve. This unique geological formation contains a few of Hamilton’s best waterfalls, one of its best lookouts, and hundreds of species of wildlife living in this Carolinian forest.

On this day we decided to head to the Dundas Peak to enjoy the amazing view from this point. The most common route to get here is to park at Tews Falls Conservation Area which is located on Harvest Road in Greensville. From there the well marked trail takes you to two different look-out points that provide views of the spectacular 134 feet tall (41 metres) waterfall and then proceeds along the gorge perimeter.

This trail although well groomed is right on the edge of the gorge and at times the drop off beside it is shear. It is important to stay alert and watch your footing. At various points where the trail has narrowed there have been protective barriers placed to aid in hiker safety. The views into the gorge below continually change and are amazing.

When we arrived at the peak we found that we had the place to ourselves and it was great to enjoy the panoramic views of Dundas below and the rocky outcroppings of the gorge walls.

If you are looking to hike to this point but are looking to shorten the walk, consider this little known shortcut: Leaving Dundas by going up the Sydenham hill, turn left on Fallsview Road. At the second curve, you will see a trail going into the woods on your left side. There is room to park on the shoulder here and the trail that you follow will quickly connect to the main trail. Turn left at this point and you will reach the peak in about 20 minutes.

This visit was certainly a great way to start my Father’s Day. Spending time with my family and enjoying the beautiful outdoors of this area always serve to remind me just how blessed I am.

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Thanks for the ongoing support and dialogue. Happy hiking!