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10 Nature & Wildlife Areas in Hamilton That You Shouldn't Miss
The next time you're driving to Toronto or Niagara Falls, stop in Hamilton, where tourist traffic isn't quite so rampant. The Niagara Escarpment provides spectacular scenery, with beautiful trails and waterfalls. Visit nearby farms, orchards and vineyards, or plan your trip to coincide with Hamilton's lively fall fairs.
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1. Dundas Valley Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
The Dundas Valley is one of southern Ontario’s most spectacular natural treasures. Highlights of the 1,200-hectare conservation area include lush Carolinian forests, colourful meadows, cold-water streams, stunning geological formations and an array of rare plants, birds and wildlife. The area is part of a large glacial valley that spreads out into Lake Ontario. It was excavated by a succession of glaciers that disappeared some 10,000 years ago The landscape that emerged has been shaped by glacial melt water and, more recently, by streams flowing through the valley. The rich natural environment existing here and along the Niagara Escarpment has been designated a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Reviewed By Bonhom52 - Mount Hope, Canada
We’ve hiked in the Conservation area a number of times recently. It is a good, moderate in difficulty (hills!) series of picturesque groomed trails.
2. Tiffany Falls Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 215 reviews
Reviewed By FRSLocalFoodie - Stoney Creek, Canada
Easy and well-maintained trail to the base of the beautiful Tiffany Falls. Great location for photos. Parking is limited so go early. By 10:00 am, most parking spots were taken. Parking costs $5. If you are looking for more of a challenging hike, across the street, there is the Tiffany side trail and the nearby Bruce trail. Tiffany Falls is just over 1 km from Sherman Falls, highly recommend a visit there as well while in the area.
3. Sam Lawrence Park
4. Valens Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 83 reviews
Reviewed By BonnieF863 - Brantford, Canada
We went to Valens in a 25 ft. travel trailer. The site easily accommodated our trailer and truck with two picnic tables. We were in the 300 section- so not very shaded. However, the comfort station is a 3 minute walk and the campsite was spacious and quiet. The hook-ups were also close so no long extension cord was needed. The camping section also has a shop where necessary supplies (firewood, mosquito repellent etc) can be purchased at a reasonable price. There are multiple trails at Valens as well as geocaching, fishing (sunfish, small mouth bass and pike were the ones we caught) and canoe rentals. There are also lots of picnic tables available close(ish) to the water. The beach area has a snack shop, washrooms and change rooms. All these facilities were clean and staff presence was felt throughout. Regarding swimming, it’s the only down side, in my opinion. For families with young children, there are no lifeguards. Also, there are notices posted that after rain, the water may be polluted due to high levels of bacteria (so I’d assume swimming is then not recommended). However, the beach area was clean and trash bins were abundant. Check-in is at 2:00 and check-out at 1:00. However, if you call ahead and there is nobody on your registered site, you could check in early. The dump station area is easy to access and has two stations. In the same spot are multiple containers for garbage and recycling. I found Valens to be organized, clean and with enough options to keep a teen and her parents busy.
5. Eramosa Karst Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By robbygc - Toronto, Canada
This is the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area. We can hike or walk and we saw a lot of huge rocks from the past. There were caves to enjoy! I was amazed with those huge boulders. Soil pipes sink holes. A lifelong passion for caves and Karst. Eramosa Karst. We enjoyed this place. Thank you so much. It was worthwhile.
6. Flamboro Valley Camping Resort
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 7 reviews
7. Spencer Gorge Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 362 reviews
From the escarpment brow, noted for its panoramas, to the forested depths of the gorge below, the Spencer Gorge Conservation Area exhibits the physical features which have made the Niagara Escarpment one of Ontario's most spectacular geological formations. This significant natural area contains two beautiful waterfalls: Webster and Tew Falls. Webster is a magnificent tiered waterfall and Tew, which towers at 41 metres, is only a few metres shorter than Niagara Falls. Both offer spectacular vistas of the gorge.
Reviewed By silverbrook - London, Canada
Spencer Gorge Conservation Area is a very busy part of the Hamilton Conservation Authority's parks that gives you access to two different and beautiful waterfalls (Tew's Falls and Webster's Falls) as well as some spectacular views of the gorge and surrounding area from Dundas Peak. Because this area has become so popular and to help preserve the park, HCA has mandated that on weekends and holidays visitors must utilize shuttle buses that will transport guests from parking areas at nearby Christie Lake Conservation Area to Spencer Gorge Conservation Area. There is a $10 fee for parking as well as a $5 per person fee to enter. Once you are parked at Christie Lake Conservation Area, you need to get a wristband from a little hut near the shuttle bus stops so you can hop on. You can also pick up a map of the Spencer Gorge/Webster's Falls Conservation Area. There are two stops on the shuttle - one that gives you access to Tew's Falls and Dundas Peak and a second stop that gives you access to Webster's Falls. Considering the sheer volumes of people that were visiting the area when our group came up for a hike, I must say that this shuttle transportation ran fairly smoothly and justified the meager $5 cost to ride. I cannot image where all of the people would have parked or how much of a traffic jam would have been caused if people had tried to park in the falls parking areas or on surrounding streets - it would be chaotic and dangerous. There are also hefty fines for those who choose to take their chances and park there anyways and skip the shuttles. The scenery in Spencer Gorge Conservation Area was spectacular mid-fall when we made it up to hike in the area. The amount of people also visiting was bitter-sweet - it was nice to see so many people outside enjoying nature, but it was also kind of sad because many of the paths felt more like sidewalks in Toronto, rather than a stroll through nature. I found almost everyone was polite and took turns on the observation decks as well as at the other vantage points so that it was usually just a short wait before you could step up and enjoy an unimpeded view of the falls or the gorge. I found the pathways to be well marked, fairly well kept and wide enough to allow for hikers in both directions. There were areas that were fenced off for safety along the paths and near the falls, sometimes obstructing clear views of the falls in their entirety, such as with Webster's Falls. I was surprised to see the lack of barriers at Dundas Peak. There was a little stone structure a couple of feet high at the top, but people could, and did, easily step around to stand or sit precariously on the edge of the cliff. The views from this vantage point were absolutely stunning, but again you had to wait for a few minutes to try to get a shot without several other heads also enjoying the same views. If you were to visit during the off-season or through the week, you might have better luck with the area not being quite as busy.
8. Fifty Point Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 114 reviews
Reviewed By ArnoldPics - Hamilton, Canada
Enjoy a family day hike - a lot of space great view. Clear paths along the water way but has an entry fee.
9. Christie Lake Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By cynthiaB983 - Hamilton, Canada
My favourite birthday was here. A canoe ride on the little lake and a walk in the woods where a bevy of white butterflies fluttered around us. We picnicked in one of the pavilions. The rest room was clean. It was perfect.
10. Binbrook Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By rctdc50 - Binbrook, Canada
Even if you do not need to swim, just the mere view of the lake gives you serenity that you cannot resist to enjoy it. Picnic areas are versatile and selective by the purpose you may need, shady, sunny, crowd exposed or calm and quiet. If you visit with kids they will be grateful you took them there (my grand kids were for sure talking foe days afterward)
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