Doors Open Hamilton + Hendrie Valley Sanctuary (19 km) (5/4/2014)

Doors Open is an annual series of events, when a number of sites in the various Ontario communities open their doors to the general public. As part of this hike, we'll visit six Doors Open sites in Hamilton, and also walk along the southern portion of the Grindstone Creek.

We'll start hiking at the Hamilton GO Centre, and end our trek at the Aldershot GO Station. This is not a loop hike, and therefore, there's no carpool. You can meet us at the Union Station GO Bus Terminal (10:00 AM) or directly at the Hamilton GO Station (11:10 AM). We'll board the Hamilton/Toron to Express (departs from Union at at 10:10 AM). You can also reach the Hamilton GO Centre on your own (there are GO buses available from St. Catherines, Grismby, Burlington, Oakville, and Mississauga). From Aldershot GO station, you can catch Lakeshore West back to Toronto (or GTA).

Doors Open sites

Trails

On our way back, we'll cross over to Burlington, and walk along the southern portion of the Grindstone Creek, using the Grindstone Marsh Trail, the North/South Bridle Trail, the Creek Side Walk and the Hidden Valley Trail.

We'll cover the Hendrie Valley Sanctuary and the Hidden Valley Park. The 100-hectare Hendrie Valley Sanctuary (Map) is maintained by the Royal Botanical Gardens, and is recognized as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest by the Government of Ontario. It features forested slopes, a 60- hectare marsh and four creeks. The trail features forested slopes as well as flat boardwalks.

Photo credit: Utkarsh

Meet us at the Union Station GO Bus Terminal (10:00 AM), at the bus stop for Route #16 (Hamilton/Toronto Express). The bus departs at 10:10 AM.

Alternatively, meet us at the Hamilton GO Centre (11:10 AM), at #16 bus stop. If you're meeting us directly in Hamilton, please state that in the notes field, while signing up for the event.

FAQ

What is the GO Transit fare?
The Toronto-Hamilton fare is $11 ($9.90 with a PRESTO card). Please see the GO Transit fare calculator for other places.

While a return journey may seem a few dollars more expensive than a carpool, please remember that we're covering areas in both Hamilton and Burlington. You'll need two loop hikes to cover these areas (unless you walk ~40 km in a day), and therefore, need to pay for two carpools.

Why are we covering only six Doors Open sites?
Because we've limited time. Some sites are too far, some others are kind of boring. Let's try to spend more time at the most interesting ones.

How tough is this hike?
The Hamilton part is mostly flat (an urban walk), while the forested area of Burlington features varied hiking terrain. You should be able to walk around ~19 km at 4km/hr (Note: The Google Maps shows the distance as 17.7 km, but this doesn't include walking in the campuses of the various sites). The good thing is that we'll have lots of stops, which will give you sufficient time to rest. Facilities such as washrooms are available at each Doors Open site.

View Larger Map

What if I get tired and want to abandon the hike?
Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) buses are available throughout Hamilton. Once we hit the forested trail, you'll have to walk for a couple of kms before you can access Burlington Transit. Both the transit systems support PRESTO cards.