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Rock Garden @ Royal Botanical Gardens (9 KM) (8/1/2026)

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You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

West Harbour Go Station - James Street Exit

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Aug 1 2026 10:30 AM

Registration Cut Off:

Fri, Jul 31 2026 7:55:00 PM

Event Duration:

less than 5 hours

Difficulty Rating:

D3: Moderate

Event Coordinator(s):

Fletcher
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.

Member Cost:

$13.30/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 18 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

1 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Ontario is beautiful. There are many cool trails and things to see outside of Toronto.
My aim is to hit different interesting hiking trails throughout the GTA and beyond which can be accessed by public transit.

For today hike, we'll be walking over to part of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton.
We'll head over to the section know as the Rock Garden.

Please bring a lunch and at least 1-2 Litres of water.
In terms of lunch, outside food is not permitted in the gardens,
so we'll stop at the Dundurn Castle picnic area, which is a small lookout about 2 KM into the hike.

If you cannot walk the entire distance please do not sign up for this hike.

HERE'S THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THE DAY

Depart West Habour Go Station at 10:30 AM
Hike 4.5 KM hike and stop for lunch at Dundurn Castle, which could take about 1.5-2 hours.
Stop at the Rock Gardens for 1-1.5 hours (we'll decide timing depending on line ups)
Then walk the 4.5 km back to West Harbour GO Station for 1-1.5 hours.

EVENT STATS

Level of hike: Moderate
Distance: 9 KM plus any additional distance within the Rock Garden
Terrain: Paved multi use paths and sidewalks
Elevation Range: 35 meters
Challenging Climbs of Note: A climb of about 30 meters
Washrooms: There are washrooms both at West Harbour Go Station & at the Rock Gardens.
Highlights: 'The Rock Gardens'

Please be advised that there is an admission fee of $13.30 to get into the Rock Garden.

I highly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, especially since we're going on the long weekend, there may be lineups.

'YOU CAN PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE ROCK GARDEN BY CLICKING HERE'

Required Items to Bring:

hiking boots or hiking shoes
2L of water
snacks and lunch
weather appropriate clothing

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

A smile

First Aid Kit

Whistle

Bug Spray & Suncreen

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

We'll meet at the James Street Exit to West Harbour GO Station.
This station is a little weird, because this exit is actually at the corner of Stuart & MacNab St N.
If its cold or wet, I'll just be inside the station entrance.

If taking transit, to West Habour Station, just take the Lakeshore West Train.
Take the 9:04 Express GO Train from Union Station to reach the hike on time.

To save money on GO Transit Fare, purchase the $10 weekend pass 'BY CLICKING HERE'

Look for me in the Blue Toronto Outdoor Club T-Shirt.

For those of you driving, West Harbour Go Station Station 353 James St N.

In Terms of parking, the West Harbour Go Station parking lot is free on weekends.

MAP

PICTURE OF MEETING LOCATION

Notes:

Please ensure that you check the 'TTC service updates website' for any potential closures.

Please arrive on time, I will turn off my cell phone once the hike begins.

- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in TOC events.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.
- Questions about equipment or rentals? Send them to safety@torontooutdoorclub.com.
- Notice any errors or problems in the information on this page? Please notify our Content Editor(s), Stacy, at content@torontooutdoorclub.com.

Cost & Payment:

Member Cost:

$13.30/Person

Cost Includes:

Please be advised that there is an admission fee of $13.30 to get into the Rock Garden.

I highly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, especially since we're going on the long weekend, there may be lineups.

'YOU CAN PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE ROCK GARDEN BY CLICKING HERE'

Make a Payment:

Although there is a cost for this event, you do not pay through the TOC. Please review the event details carefully for information about how/where to make your payment.

Voluntary Donation: ( What is this?)
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!