Hamilton's Green Space: Hamilton Beach Trail

A cute couple enjoying the scenery of Lake Ontario, just off the Hamilton Beach Trail

Hamilton has a beach. Yes, it's true! It is not the Bayfront Park Beach spot but we do have one and back in the day they even had an air ride that circled around a nearby public outdoor pool. Today we have a new outdoor pool that can be found at the Lakeland Centre and a whole lot more!

Mate*(tea) time on a rock

In 2003, Hamilton
Waterfront Trust and City of Hamilton completed the Hamilton Beach Trail that spans 8.5km. It is the perfect trail for roller bladers/skaters or bikers are the trail is neatly paved and smooth. For me, I'll just enjoy the scenery by foot, and enjoy my Mate (tea) on a rock overlooking Ontario Lake, thank-you very much.  

Along the strip there are also plenty of places to tan or jump in the water if you do dare. Yes, our beach is sandy, like with  real sand. To be truthful some places are a little rocky, but it shouldn't deter you as you can find a better spot. The Hamilton Beach Trail also connects with many different trails in Hamilton and in Burlington and has easy access from highways, Beach Blvd., Van Wagners Beach Rd.,  and by bus (HSR Route 56 or Burlington 1). 

Barangas

The trail also goes in the Confederation Park, passes Barangas Restaurant/Night Club, Hutch's, and the new Lakeland Community Centre (outdoor pool, basketball courts & more) among many others. 

Just like many of the other places in Hamilton I've blogged about, there is nature to be seen and appreciated on the trail as well. It is home to animals and plants that are endangered or very rare to find, making its ecosystem very important. I managed to take pictures of some birds, but only one photo was worth sharing here.

Just some of the Beach Trail art

Lake Ontario

With all this warm weather we've been having, this is definitely a trip you would be glad you made. Either for the exercise, the scenery, or an excuse to spend more time with the family, the Hamilton Beach Trail is perfect! 

Hamilton Beach Trail

See how clear the water is, awesome!

Happy Venturing in Hamilton! 

A.Mihaela

My Mini Garden Update (Last Week of June)

Oregano

 

Cherry Tomato

Thyme

 

First Tomatoes of the season!!

Red Peppers

Could it be squash?

I thought I would give a little bit of an update on how my garden has been getting on. It is such a personal accomplishment to see my little plants growing, blooming and flowering. My cayenne peppers have flowered and have some peppers already showing. Its quite fantastic. My cherry tomato plant has had its first cherry tomatoes ripen. (I didn't get to try them because they were picked by a trespasser). :(

Also, in two pots, I planted some squash (or eggplant, I dont remember) and green peppers. I have seen something growing in the pot but I do not know what it is. My confusion comes from the fact that the soil was not 100% cleaned of other seeds. Meaning I used dirt that was in my backyard from previous seasons. I hope that it is what I planted and not just an outdoor weed that grew there. If anyone can identify the leaves, I would appreciate it.

Red Peppers

Anyways, enough baba-ling.
Here's My Mini Garden Update in pictures.

Cayenne Peppers

Happy Gardening!

A.Miahela

Hamilton's Green Space: Main Loop Trail (Dundas Valley Conservation)

 Yet another place in Hamilton that I had never visited before I started my blog. This makes me realize that even though I claim to be an advocate of Hamilton's treasures and beauty, there is still so much that I haven't experienced myself but preach about. If I have no audience, I am constantly opening my own mind to Hamilton and its boundaries. 

Dundas Valley Conservation Park's Main Loop Trail is a 3.4km terrain through forest and orchard, crossing through rivers, creeks and connecting through other main trails, like the Bruce Trail, and the Hamilton/Brantford Railroad Trail among others. Now, if you are thinking 3.4km is a long walk, don't be discouraged! I am not the fastest walker (maybe the slowest, now that I think about it due to my short-ness) and I walked, on average 800m/ 20mins. That means 1 hour and a half of walking through the forest in the cool breeze, not under the direct heat of the sun, but among plenty of creeks to splash my feet in for refreshment. 

Here's a map that you will find at every check point along the path:  
This trail is shared by walkers/hikers, bikers, and horseback riders aside from the wildlife that you might be lucky to encounter. This means, you will have to be careful not to step in horse doo-doo when admiring the trail.
Having said this, the Hamilton Conservation Authority does a very good job of maintaining the trail because considering the size of Dundas Valley Conservation, there was no garbage through around and saw horse droppings in very few spots. The trail itself is also very well maintained as you do not have to be a professional hiker, biker or equestrian to use it. There also can be found a variety of benches spread accross the trail where you can take a break if you need. This is the spot where I spent my lunch:


I accessed the Dundas Valley Main Loop Trail from the Bruce Trail via the Heritage Trail, however it is also easily accessed by car and by other trails and/or side trails. I would suggest planning your visit to the Main Trial Loop as a full day trip if you do not have easy access to a personal vehicle. I know that my next visit to the trail will be by bike from the Hamilton/Brantford Trail from Dundurn St. South. Personally, I am curious about the connections of the trails and how it is possible to bike in Hamilton without being right on the road with cars all the time, not to mention the exercise. For more information about the Dundas Valley Conversation Park, Main Trail Loop and how you can access it feel free to drop me a line otherwise please refer to the Hamilton Conservation Authority website.

The history of Dundas Valley is also something you can learn about when visiting the Main Trail Loop. The different owners of the land and how they used it. The Hermitage is among its history with two locations to encounter on the trail. Here is just a glimpse of some of the ruins that you will see:

The Dundas Valley is also a recognized environmentally significant area as it is home to many endangered species or species that cannot be found anywhere else but here. Which makes for a even bigger treat when you encounter some of these animals and plants.

Here are some more pictures of the trail passing through the Orchard, other trails, interesting flowers, and in short the 'paysage' of my walk this past week. I clearly was lucky to get such a gorgeous day on which to enjoy the whereabouts for the first time.

I hope that you will find the trail just as amusing as I did. Also, if you are the type of person that truly loves spending time in the outdoor, consider the HCA Annual Rewards Card to enjoy more benefits when visiting Hamilton's Green Space. The Hamilton Conservation Authority does the best job they can do to keep all of its green space maintained and membership is a big contributor. I, myself am a general member on this site (no fee) but will soon buy my HCA Rewards Cards to have easier access to all the parks and events that the HCA host year-round.

Happy Adventuring!

Signing Off, 

A.Mihaela

Waterfalls Tuesdays: Fairy Falls

This past week I visited Sherman Falls for the very first time, ever. I 've vaguely seen it from the road once or twice while driving by and feel that doesn't count for actually seeing it, but  it did help my awareness of it's location. However, I never made time to stop and ravel over it's beauty. I hope that this blog has become a testament to those young souls who continue to protest that Hamilton-Waterfall Capital of the World is a dead city with nothing to do, let alone filled with forests (ie. green space) to discover. To further my argument, these so-called waterfalls that proclaim Hamilton as the the Waterfall Capital are not tiny by any means either. On the contrary, they each deserve credit. Now, I am not saying they are Niagara Falls or anything but still considerably amazing. 

For example,  Sherman Falls is one of those falls might truly amaze you.  It sits 17 metres high on the Bruce Trail in Dundas. It's water source is the Ancaster Creek and it is located on private property, so when visiting please be respectful to the surrounding area. Sherman Falls is one of the Falls in Hamilton that holds two nicknames; Angel Falls and Fairy Falls. These nicknames don't surprise and you might not understand them until you visit  the falls for yourself.  It is tucked away in the forest in a semi-sphere curve of the escarpment which makes the falls the centre of attention. 

For those new to Hamilton, Sherman Falls can be accessed by car, the Bruce Trail, or by bus and a short walk. It is in close distance the McMaster University for those eager students that are quickly discouraged by distance and lack of access to a vehicle. If you ask me, what more could you possibly want from a city than the opportunity to hike in around its boundaries only to discover nature at its best?  There are cities that wish to have the conservation parks, and natural beauty that Hamilton has in its backyard and Hamiltonians don't appreciate or realize its value and easy access. 

As a student, living on a budget, entertainment can be quite expensive, but hiking, chasing waterfalls, biking, pinicking  is not expensive. So why not get out there and before you formulate your opinion on our Hammer, do me a favour, experience it first!

Anyways, that is enough ranting for one entry. Also, watch out nights our waterfalls are lit up at night and many other events at cityofwaterfalls.ca !

For Directions to Sherman Falls and much more: Check it here!

Happy Waterfalling!

- A.Mihaela