Cootes Paradise Nature Sanctuary Trail Destinations (See map) Established in 1927 for its significance as a migratory bird 1 Burial Grounds — Located on Burlington Heights along stopover, Cootes Paradise is RBG’s largest and most diverse York Blvd., the area provides the best views of Cootes sanctuary at over 600 hectares. The area features a Paradise. A memorial marks this site’s historic connections — Trail Guide 320-hectare river-mouth marsh, 16 creeks and 25 kilometres the , immigrants who died arriving by ship in the of shoreline. 1840s and those who died in a cholera epidemic in 1854. Cootes Paradise 2 Westdale Ravine — Located on the south shore of MAJOR ACCESS POINTS Cootes Paradise, this deeply incised sand-plain ravine Princess Point — Princess Point is a natural gathering place features a spring-fed creek, exposed glacial beach rocks and trail hub. It includes a canoe launch to the marsh and and some of the tallest trees on the property. It is a forest- access for ice skating, as well as connections to six kilometres birding hotspot. of nature trails and Hamilton’s . Princess Point 3 Native Trees Walk — Starting at the Nature Centre, these is undergoing restoration to return it to its pre-European roots trails travel through a labeled native tree collection — as an oak savannah. a perfect way to learn how to identify the trees of the Royal Botanical Gardens Carolinian forest region. Arboretum — The Arboretum is a hub leading to more Mission than 10 kilometres of RBG trails, as well as many horticultural 4 Pine Point Lookout — Below the Lilac Dell and looking We dedicate our expertise in horticulture, conservation, collections including lilacs, magnolias, flowering dogwoods out towards Hickory Island, this is one of the few locations science and education to connect people, plants and place and the Avenue of Trees. It is also home to RBG’s Nature where White Pine dominates, evoking images of the forests for the purpose of nurturing and preserving healthy growing Interpretive Centre and the Conservancy’s main that once covered the area. life on our planet. office in historical Rasberry House. 5 The Fishway — Located at the outlet of Cootes Paradise Marsh, this seasonally operated structure blocks the entrance Canada’s Biodiversity Hot Spot Burlington Heights — At the eastern edge of Cootes of more than 10,000 non-native carp annually, while ensuring Royal Botanical Gardens’ 1,100 hectares is dominated by Paradise overlooking the water, this 30-metre-high ribbon of the spring migration of native fish to and from nature sanctuaries enveloping the western end of Lake land is actually the beach of glacial Lake Iroquois formed this critical spawning area. Ontario. These form a Nodal Park within the Niagara 13,000 years ago. The area provides some of the finest views 6 Marsh Boardwalk/Spencer Creek Delta — The Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO) and the in the region. Until the 1850s, Cootes Paradise flowed around boardwalk provides an up-close look at one of the largest heart of the Cootes to Escarpment Ecopark System. With more Pileated Woodpecker Great Blue Heron the north end of the Heights but railway construction required creek deltas on Lake Ontario. This area is favoured by than 750 native plant species, 277 types of migratory birds, the cutting of a new outlet and the Desjardins ship canal was migratory waterfowl and is the best place to view our Bald 37 mammal species, 14 reptile species, 9 amphibian species Part of the World Biosphere Reserve rerouted. During construction the bones of mammoth and elk Eagles. Rat Island is directly across the creek to the south of and 68 species of Lake Ontario fish, the area is an important Links to the Bruce and Waterfront trails were found. the platform. contributor to ecosystems that span international borders.

What’s in a Name? — The site is named after Captain Cootes Paradise Flowers Trail Conditions Thomas Coote, a British army officer who enjoyed hunting the The 27 kilometres of trail includes packed earth, crushed abundant waterfowl while on leave from his duties at Niagara Round-lobed Hepatica stone, asphalt and boardwalks; some sections are steep and in the 1780s. The community at the west end of the marsh was (Anemone americana) hilly. Trails are not plowed or sandy during the winter. During also named Cootes Paradise until the 1840s, at which time the This spring ephemeral is one of the spring thaws and after rains earthen trails become muddy. name was changed to Dundas. first flowers to bloom. This small forest species can be found throughout the Please take appropriate caution. Early Residents — People have been drawn to Cootes property and is one of two hepatica LIABILITY RBG assumes no responsibility for loss of or Paradise for centuries. From AD 500 to 1000 this area was species present within the sanctuaries. Hours occupied by the Princess Point people, named after damage to property, personal injury or mishap. All activities • RBG Centre – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., late April to Thanksgiving; archaeological discoveries which indicated they were the first Wild Geranium are at the risk of the participant. Our parking lots are not 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thanksgiving to late April (680 Plains Rd.) to bring agriculture to the region. Europeans arrived in the (Geranium maculatum) monitored. Do not leave any valuables in your car. Blooming from spring to mid-summer, • Trailheads – dawn to dusk. Metered parking at trailhead lots. 1700s, with the first houses built on the north shore plateaus. this flower is sometimes called Cranes- Parking is free to RBG members (display Parking Pass). One of these sites, Rasberry House, remains today. Volunteer bill because of a long column that Vegetation and Microclimate — Nestled between the Volunteers help us on our trails and in our natural lands in a • Arboretum – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; regular admission fees apply protrudes from the flower — a part of Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario, the area’s flora is wide variety of ways. If you’re interested in learning more about during spring bloom festivals and open hours may be extended. the plant’s explosive seed capsule. characteristic of the more southern deciduous forest region. our conservation, trail ambassadors, TrailWatchers or bird Membership – Passport to Paradise Carolinian trees such as Sassafras, oaks and hickories Pale-leaved Sunflower census teams, we’d love to hear from you. rbg.ca/volunteer Membership is one of many ways to support RBG’s dominate the North Shore, while northern species like Hemlock, (Helianthus strumosus) PlantWatch Join a national volunteer effort to help monitor sanctuaries.Nearly half of the operational funding of the Beech and White Cedar are found on the South Shore. This mid-summer, brightly-coloured our changing climate. The PlantWatch program enables Gardens is raised through memberships, donations and sunflower prefers dry sandy soils on Habitat Restoration — citizen scientists to get involved by recording flowering times admissions. How much is a nature sanctuary in your backyard sunny open slopes. It is one of three At the inception of Project and reporting these dates to researchers. plantwatch.ca species of native sunflower found on worth to you? Purchase your membership today and receive Paradise in the 1990s, nearly the property. free parking at our trail heads. the entire marsh ecosystem Learn More Charitable registration #133500850 RR 0001 had been lost, leaving it a Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) Guided educational outings are offered year-round and A private landowning agency providing shallow muddy lake. With the Look for this plant in wet areas along include everything from wildflower walks to birdwatching and public access to the environment. ALSO IN THIS 2021 exclusion of destructive carp at Captain Cootes Trail in the late photography workshops. External groups charging for MAP SERIES: RBG Centre, 680 Plains Road West the Fishway, water lilies, cattails, summer. The upper segment of the independently guided tours must register with RBG and are Burlington, ON L7T 4H4 • Hendrie Valley frogs, fish and birds have begun flower curves over the lower segment subject to our self-guided admission rate. For information call 905-527-1158 • www.rbg.ca • Escarpment Properties to thrive again. making it look like the head of a turtle. 905-527-1158, ext. 270. Old Guelph Rd.

Cootes Paradise Trails

17 km of trail, 13 lookouts Rasberry 6 boardwalks, 8 creek crossings Homestead Trail House Pinetum North Trails York Rd. Rock • Aninshinaabe waadiziwin — 1.1 km, hilly Bull’s Point Ontario Garden • Captain Cootes — 0.4 km, hilly Trail Hickory Arboretum 3 Trees Cootes Brook Nature • Bull’s Point — 1.5 km, flat Grey Doe Trial Mink Interpretive Paradise Centre • Homestead — 2.0 km, flat Brook Marsh Trail Hickory • Hickory Valley — 0.7 km, hilly Nature Walk Valley Lilac Walk • Grey Doe — 1.0 km, narrow, hilly Hopkin’s Loop Sanctuary Long Valley Trail Anishinaabe George Brook waadiziwin • Hopkins Loop — 1.3 km, flat North Burlington • Marsh Walk — 0.7 km, narrow, hilly Heights Hopkin’s Woods Marsh 4 Anishinaabe • Native Trees — 1.0 km, narrow, hilly Special Walk Pine waadiziwin 1 Point Protection Area Borer’s Bull’s Point Creek 6 Trail Hickory Island

Bull’s 5 Rat Point West Island Pond Desjardins Canal

Spencer Spencer Creek Cootes Paradise Marsh Cootes Dr. Creek Floodplain Trail Special Princess Cockpit Point Protection Area Sassafras Spencer Creek Point Island Mac York Blvd. Landing Desjardins Inlet Trail Ravine Road Sassafras Westdale Royal Botanical Gardens is within Trail Inlet the Traditional Territories of the Point Princess Point Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Trail Trail Huron-Wendat Nations, on land 2 Westdale covered by a Treaty between the Creek Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Crown. Caleb’s Walk Ginger Valley Les Jardins botaniques royaux se Ravine Trail South Trails trouvent à l’intérieur des territoires McMaster University Road traditionnels des nations • Desjardins Trail — 1 km, flat, paved Forsyth Ave. N Trail Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe et • Princess Point Trail – 2 km, flat, grassy Huronne-Wendat, sur des terres • Ginger Valley Trail – 1 km, hilly, packed earth O couvertes par un traité entre la ak Knoll Dr. • Ravine Road Trail – 1.5 km, hilly, gravel Première Nation des Mississaugas Churchill • Sassafras Point Trail – 1 km, hilly, packed earth Longwood Rd. N de Credit et la Couronne. Park • Caleb’s Walk – 0.5 km, hilly, gravel, packed earth Scale approximate: 1 km

Chedoke Creek Macklin St. N

MAP KEY RBG Properties Washrooms Trailhead Trail Code Special Protection Areas Propriétés des JBR Toilettes Début de sentier LÉGENDE These lands are pa rt of Canada’s biodiversity hot spot, open to Though the property spans more than 1,100 hectares, Wheelchair Access Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail Roads Routes passive recreation — leave only footprints, take only pictures. urban encroachment has left few true sanctuaries for sensitive Accès en fauteuil roulant Sentier du bord du lac Ontario Garbage receptacles located at trailheads. species. To ensure that all species have an opportunity to thrive, Rail Lines Lookout Parking Restrictions (per RBG’s bylaws): 20 per cent of the property is set aside as Special Protection Voies ferrées Belvédère Stationnement • Pets must remain leashed at all times Areas (SPA) closed to the public. There are observation points Gravel or Paved Trails Cootes Paradise Fishway Sentiers en gravier ou revêtus Pay and Display Parking • Running/jogging and cycling are not permitted and interpretive signage (free for RBG members displaying valid pass) Passe à poissons adjacent to the SPAs to Dirt Trails • Motorized vehicles are not permitted Stationnement payer et afficher Canoe Launch help visitors understand Sentiers en terre battue (gratuit pour les membres des JBR qui affichent • Feeding the wildlife is not permitted leur laissez-passer en règle) Mise à l’eau des canots the significance of these • Smoking is not permitted Boardwalks unique spaces. Promenades de bois