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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
| Site | Address | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Empire Times building | 41 King William St E | A set of two historic brick buildings, which once housed the Hamilton Times newspaper (1859-1920). The visitors can tour the buildings and take a ride up to the rooftop patio in the modern glass elevator that connects the two buildings. |
| The Seedworks Urban Offices | 126 Catharine St N | This brickwork and timber structure building was constructed in the 1890s. It is the site of the former Tregunno Seeds building. A former industrial warehouse, it has now been restored as a startup hub for young professionals. |
| Eva Rothwell Resource Centre at Robert Land | 460 Wentworth St N | The Eva Rothwell Resource Centre opened in December 2006 in the former Robert Land School. Explore the school, First World War-era, Robert Land and Rothwell Family displays, see a model of the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway, the 1972 Team Canada Room and the Larry Paikin Literacy Express, a railway coach that will become a unique literacy resource centre. |
| HMCS Star | 650 Catharine St N | Visit 31 Service Battalion's museum, featuring displays that include First World War artifacts and 23 (Hamilton) Field Ambulance. We'll be at this place around 2 p.m., when we can see the parade and ceremony commemorating the Battle of the Atlantic. We'll have lunch somewhere around this area. |
| HM CS Haida | 658 Catharine St N | The HMCS Haida is Canada's most decorated warship. This Tribal Class destroyer served in the Second World War, the Korean War and in NATO and UN missions, earning five battle honours during its impressive 20-year career. Visitors will be able to tour the main deck. |
| Dundurn National Historic Site - Hamilton Military Museum | 610 York Blvd | See the historic Dundurn Castle and the Hamilton Military Museum. The exhibit The Heart of War explores the romances, fears and joys of First World War soldiers and the effect military life had on their personal relationships. Blood Ties to a Gentle Landscape focuses on the personal stories of people who lived on and around Burlington Heights during the War of 1812. |
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
Required Items to Bring:
| | Recommended Items to Bring: Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
|
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
- 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.
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.
Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!