Trail Destinations1. Burial Grounds

Located on Burlington Heights along York Blvd., the areaprovides the best views in the region. A memorial marks this site’s historic connections — the War of 1812, immigrants who died arriving by ship in the 1840s and those who died in the cholera epidemic in the 1860s.

2. Westdale Ravine Located on the south shore of Cootes Paradise, this deeply incised sand-plain ravine features a spring-fed creek, exposed glacial beach rocks and some of the tallest trees on the property. It is a forest-birding hotspot.

3. Native Trees Walk Starting at the Nature Centre, these trails travel through a labeled native tree collection — a perfect way to learn how to identify the trees of the Carolinian forest region.

4. Pine Point Lookout Below the Lilac Dell and looking out towards Hickory Island, this is one of the few locations where white pines dominate, evoking images of the forests that once covered the area.

5. The FishwayLocated at the outlet of Cootes Paradise Marsh, this seasonally operated structure blocks the entrance of more than 10,000non-native carp annually, while ensuring the spring migration of native Lake Ontario fi sh to and from this critical spawning area.

6. Marsh Boardwalk/Spencer Creek Delta The most isolated point in the sanctuaries, the boardwalkprovides an up-close look at one of the largest creek deltason Lake Ontario. This area is favoured by migratory waterfowl and is home to our bald eagles. Rat Island is directly across the creek to the south of the platform.

Round lobed hepatica (Anemone americana)((This spring ephemeral is one of the fi rst fl owers to bloom. This small forest species can be found throughout the property and is one of two hepatica species present within the sanctuaries.

Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)This woodland fl ower blooms spring through mid-summer. It is sometimes called cranesbill, in reference to the long beak in the centre of the fl ower and the shape of the seedpod.

Pale-leaved sunfl ower (Helianthus strumosus)This mid-summer, brightly-coloured sunfl ower prefers dry sandy soils on sunny open slopes. It is one of three species of native sunfl ower found on the property.

Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)Look for this plant in wet areas along Captain Cootes Trail in the late summer. The upper segment of the fl ower curves over the lower segment making it look like the head of a turtle.

Cootes Paradise SanctuaryEstablished in 1927 for its signifi cance as an migratory bird stopover, it’s RBG’s largest and most diverse sanctuary at over 600 hectares. The area features a 320-hectare river-mouth marsh, glacial plateaus, 16 creeks and 25 kilometres of shoreline.

MAJOR ACCESS POINTSPrincess PointPrincess Point is a natural gathering place and trail hub. It includes a canoe launch to the marsh, access to six kilometres of nature trails, and connects to Hamilton’s Waterfront Trail. Princess Point is undergoing restoration to return it to its pre-European roots as an oak savannah.

ArboretumThe north shore of Cootes Paradise is home to the Nature Centre, a hub leading to more than 10 kilometres of RBG trails as well as the horticultural collections including lilacs, magnolias, fl owering dogwoods, and the Avenue of Trees. It is also home to the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s main offi ce in Rasberry House.

Burlington HeightsAt the eastern edge of Cootes Paradise overlooking the water, this 30-metre-high ribbon of land is actually the beach of glacial Lake Iroquois formed 13,000 years ago. The area provides the fi nest views in the region. Until the 1850s, Cootes Paradise fl owedaround the north end of the Heights but railway construction centered the outfl ow. During the construction, post-glacial bones of mammoth, giant sloth and beaver were uncovered.

What’s in a Name?The site is named after Captain Thomas Coote, a British naval offi cer who enjoyed the abundant waterfowl while on leave from his army duties in the 1780s. The community at the west end of the marsh was also named Cootes Paradise until the 1840s, at which time the name was changed to Dundas.

Early ResidentsPeople have been drawn to Cootes Paradise for centuries. From AD 500 to 1000 this area was occupied by the Princess Point people, named after archaeological discoveries which indicated they were the fi rst to bring agriculture to the region. Europeans arrived in the 1700s, with the fi rst houses built on the north shore plateaus. One of these sites, Rasberry House, remains today.

Vegetation and MicroclimateNestled between the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario, the area’s fl ora is characteristic of the more southern deciduous forest region. Carolinian trees such as sassafras, oak, and hickory dominate the uplands, while northern species like hemlock, sugar maple, and white cedar are found in the many spring-fed shady ravines.

Habitat RestorationAt the inception of Project Paradise in the 1990s, nearly the entire marsh ecosystem had been lost, leaving it a shallow muddy lake. With the exclusion of destructive carp at the Fishway, water lilies, cattails, frogs, fi sh and birds have begun to thrive again.

Royal Botanical GardensMissionTo be a living museum which serves local, regional and global communities while developing and promoting public understanding of the relationship between the plant world, humanity and the rest of nature.

VisionRoyal Botanical Gardens is to be recognized and supported as Canada’s most effective change agent in promotingenvironmentally appropriate lifestyle choices that enable Canadians to sustain, conserve and enjoy the highest quality of life on Earth.

Canada’s Biodiversity Hot SpotRoyal Botanical Gardens’ 900 hectares is dominated by nature sanctuaries enveloping the western end of Lake Ontario. These form a Nodal Park within the Niagara Escarpment WorldBiosphere Reserve (UNESCO). With more than 750 native plant species, 277 types of migratory birds, 37 mammal species, 14 reptile species, 9 amphibian species and 68 species of Lake Ontario fi sh, the area is an important contributor to ecosystems that span international borders.

Hours

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• Trailheads – dawn to dusk. Metered pap rking g at trailhead lots. PaParkrkiningg isis f frereee toto R RBGBG m memembebersrs ( (didispsplalayy MeMembmberers’s P Pararkikingng P Pasass)s).

• A A brboretum – 1 100 a.m. to 88 p.m. or at d duskk, reg lular addmiis ision chcharargegeg s s apappplplp y y y duduriringngg t thehe s sprprp ining g g anand d susummmmerer s seaeasosonsns..

MMMeeemmmbbbbeeerrrssshhhhiiiippp – PPPaaasssssspppooorrrttt tttooo PPPaaarrraaaddddiiiissseeeMembership is one of many ways to support RBG’s sanctuaries. Nearly half of the operational funding of the Gardens is raised through memberships, donations and admissions. How much is a nature sanctuary in your backyard worth to you?

Charitable registration #133500850 RR 0001A private landowning agency providing public access to the environment.

RBG Centre, 680 Plains Road West, Hamilton/Burlington905-527-1158 • www.rbg.ca

Trail ConditionsThe 27 kilometres of trail includes packed earth, crushed stone, asphalt and boardwalks; some sections are steep and hilly. Icebuild-up on hills during winter can make trails slippery. During spring thaws and after rains earthen trails become muddy.

LIABILITYRoyal Botanical Gardens assumes no responsibility for loss of or damage to property, personal injury or mishap. All activities are at the risk of the participant. Our parking lots are not monitored. Do not leave any valuables in your car.

VolunteerTrailWatchersJoin our volunteer trail monitors and help us inform fellow visitors about our trail code, work on trail projects and learn more about the local environment. For more information pick up a TrailWatcher brochure or call Royal Botanical Gardens Auxiliaryoffi ce at 905-577-7771.

PlantWatch Join a national volunteer effort to help monitor our changing climate. The PlantWatch program enables citizen scientists to get involved by recording fl owering times and reporting these dates to researchers. Visit www.plantwatch.ca for details.

Learn MoreGuided educational outings are offered year-round. Seasonalprograms include everything from spring wildfl ower walks to stories of the Escarpment. For information call 905-527-1158, ext. 270. External groups charging for independently guided tours must register with the Gardens.

Cootes Paradise

Part of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere ReserveLinks to the Bruce and Waterfront trails

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ArboretumRock

Garden

Princess Point

NiagaraEscarpment

ChurchillField

ChedokeCreek

WestdaleInlet

SassafrasPoint

SassafrasPoint Trail

Ravine Road Trail

Hopkin’s Loop

Pinetum (Ray Lowes) Trail

Bull’s Point Trail

Bull’s Point Trail

George North

Marsh Walk

GG

Marsh Walk

Captain Cootes Trail

Captain Cootes

Trail

Grey Doe Trail Hickory

Valley Trail

Ray Lowes Trail

Ginger Valley Trail

Princess Point Trail

Desjardins Trail

Ravine Road Trail

Caleb’s Walk

MacLanding

Spencer Creek

WestPondDesjardins Canal

Desjardins Canal

ChegwinTrail

SpencerCreek Trail

Bull’sPoint

Pine Point

Rat Island

MinkBrook

Borer’sCreek

Borer’sCreek

WestdaleCreek

Long ValleyBrook

Hickory Island

NatureInterpretive

Centre

RasberryHouse

Lilac Walk

NativeTreesWalk

Cockpit Island

Hickory Brook

Fishway

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RBG Properties

Roads

Rail Lines

Wide, Open Trails

Narrow, Dirt Trails

Lookout

Canoe Launch

Boardwalks

Waterfront Trail

Washrooms (at NIC)

Wheelchair Access

Trail Heads

Parking

Pay and Display Parking(free for RBG members displaying valid pass)

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SpecialProtectionAreasThough the property spans more than 900 hectares,urban encroachment has left few true sanctuaries for sensitive species. To ensure that all species have an opportunity to thrive, 20 per cent of the property is set aside as Special Protection Areas (SPA) closed to the public. There are observation points and interpretive signage adjacent to the SPAs to help visitors understand the signifi cance of these unique spaces.

Trail CodeThese lands are Canada’s biodiversity hot spot, open to passive recreation — leave only footprints, take only pictures. Restrictions (per RBG’s bylaws):

• Pets must remain leashed at all times

• Runners are not permitted

• Bicycles are not permitted

• Motorized vehicles are not permitted

• Feeding the wildlife is not permitted

Garbage receptacles located at trailheads.

Scale approximate: 1 km

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