EAST DON PARKLAND (Leslie St. & Steeles Ave. to WaLeslie St. & Sheppard l Ave. k) Discover the natural heritage of this popular trail through the East Don Parkland. Follow Creek and the East as they meander through lush forested ravine, wildflower meadows and wetlands teeming with life. The natural channel, series of wetlands and abundance of native species make this section of the East Don River well worth the exploration. The walk begins at the entrance and TRCA. 1 to the East Don Parkland, south Public Transit: Getting there: From on the Yonge Subway line, Walk under the GO and of Steeles on the west side of Leslie. To 3 take bus 53A Steeles East to Steeles and Leslie. Walk 200m south on the west pedestrian bridges and look begin, you will be following German side of Leslie to find the entrance to the East Don Parkland. Alternatively, the 51 Leslie to your right. This area is a beaver Mills Creek. As you enter the park, stop bus stops at Leslie and Francine Drive (both north and southbound), a 200m walk north clear-cut. The ability of the beaver to to read the interpretive sign and enjoy to the park entrance. manipulate their environment is second the surrounding cedar/willow forest. As only to man. Their engineering prowess Getting home: The walk ends 100m from the Leslie Subway Station on the Sheppard you continue, to the right of the path you tends to get them in trouble because line. There is a subway entrance at the southwest corner of Leslie and Sheppard or as you will notice that many of the Cedars have their activities often result in the leave the parkland from the trail, take the overpass over Sheppard and there is a subway exposed roots. The high water table in creation of wetlands and open water, entrance on the southwest side past the overpass. the area has eroded the soil around the and may even result in the flooding of *Public transit routes and schedules are subject to change. Please check with provider. TTC Information: www.ttc.ca or 416-393-4636. roots. Many of the trees have blown YRT Information: www.yrt.ca or 1-866-668-3978. urban areas. You will notice that many down because these shallow, exposed of the trees in the area are enclosed in Parking: There is parking located on Equestrian Court south of Steeles on roots don’t provide the trees enough wire cages. The cages prevent the trees Leslie. Walk time should be doubled if driving, as this walk is not a loop. There support in heavy winds. from being damaged by beavers. is also a parking lot at the end of the walk. From Leslie and Sheppard look for the sign for the East Don Parkland on your right and take your first right at the unnamed street A little further ahead, to Next, you will approach the 2 4 before the underpass and then turn right again into the parking lot. your left, you will notice plastic confluence of the creek from tree guards remaining at the base of Bestview Forest and German Mills Level of Difficulty/Accessibility: Easy to Moderate. The paved pathway is some of the smaller trees. These guards stroller and wheelchair accessible. Creek. From July to September you protect the trees from hungry rodents will notice the vibrant purple flowers Approximate Time: Two to three hours depending on whether you stop to look and lagomorphs (rabbits and hares), of purple loosestrife, a beautiful at all the features. particularly during the scarce winter but vigorously invasive species that months. The local community has been has established a stronghold at this Distance: 4.8 kilometres. involved in planting trees and shrubs site. There is also a small thicket of here to improve the quality of the ravine Hawthorns. Hawthorns are a large Caution: Be aware of cyclists and other trail users at all times. through coordinated events held by the family of small trees with very sharp Use the trails at your own risk. East Don Parkland Partners, City of thorns and white or pink flowers in

1 Current as of July 2018 2 flat-topped clusters. They provide in September/October. To your left before it was relocated outside of the Past the channel, this open protected habitat and are an important before the bridge you will see the cream floodplain. 14 area was the site of the first food source for birds and small coloured box that hosts a water quality community planting in the parkland. As you walk past the wetland mammals. monitoring station (north bank of river). 11 This site is the former parking lot of and enter the hydro corridor the Next the creek meanders past The green pipes at the river’s edge feed the Township works yard. 5 water to a station to get water quality landscape changes dramatically. This During the community planting, the a roundabout and to your right area of hydro corridor provides a large there is a small stand of young white information. This area was once known volunteers discovered that the soil as Scripture Town as in the late 1800s expanse of open meadow habitat to the was compacted and remnants of pines. The community planted these area. Adjacent to the East Don River is about 10 years ago and they are thriving and early 1900s they used to hold bible construction material remained. The camps in the summer here. the ‘milkweed meadow’ that is rich in tree cover is slowly re-establishing in on the fertile floodplain soils. milkweed and wildflowers in the spring As you reach the Cummer the area, despite the disturbance, and On the right just before the 9 and summer. Provided this area escapes in the meadow to your left you might 6 Street Bridge you will notice mowing in the late summer/early fall (as fork leading to Bestview Forest, a native black cherry tree and an just spot a white-tailed deer. you can see stone/stump reinforcement it has for the last 10 years) it is excellent interpretive sign to your right. Next to habitat where Monarch butterflies, a As you continue along the along the riverbank. Reinforcement the sign you will notice a bed of rocks 15 is needed to stop erosion that could designated Species of Special Concern path you will notice a second covered in chicken wire. This is an by the Ministry of Natural restored wetland to your right across damage the sewer system, threaten erosion control method called rip rap landscapes in the ravine or nearby Resources, can reproduce and fuel up the river. This wetland is easier to see used to stabilize the bank and help for a long migration to Mexico. in the early spring or fall when there properties, and pollute Lake Ontario. prevent the trail from washing out. This reinforcement was installed about Continuing to the bridge you is less vegetation along the trail. The 10 years ago in an effort to stabilize the Note: If you wish to exit or begin the 12 can see an old river oxbow, two wetlands north of Finch provide a stream bank but has eroded and will walk at Cummer you can catch the 42 downstream on the right. Ten years ago significant amount of critical wetland soon need to be replaced. The exposed Cummer bus to/from Finch Station. there was a meander on the south bank habitat, help control floods and act as roots and areas where the slope has of the river, but the oxbow broke and the natural filters to improve water quality Continue under the bridge and in the river. slumped into the creek are warning 10 in a few hundred meters you area collected sediment over time. The signs of erosion. will notice a wetland on your right hand meander is now completely cut off from Take the right fork to continue 16 Here the trail reaches a fork side. This wetland was created in 2008 the river, but the old riverbed supports a under the Finch Ave Bridge 7 near the confluence of German to restore important wetland habitat seasonal pool of water. and continue your walk. After the Mills Creek and the East Don River. and reduce flooding in the East Don Evidence of an historic mill site and bridge take the right fork again at the The right fork leads you across German Parkland. After only a few years, the weathered beams, was unearthed interpretive sign and memorial trees. Mills Creek. The walk will continue wetland is now full of life with frogs during a 2000 storm. These beams At either of these junctions, the forks along the left fork but to the right there (toad, leopard and green), birds, deer have since washed away during to the left lead to Finch Ave where you is a good view of the forks from the and other wildlife that have moved into subsequent storm events, leaving no can catch the 39 Finch bus to Finch bridge and an interpretive sign about the wetland. trace of the area’s settlement history Station. the History of German Mills a little except in the memories of the area’s In 2010, more than 500 students Here the path comes quite close to the further along. Follow this trail to see the from local schools planted aquatic residents and stewards. Cummer Mill Dam (path on left) and up river. This vantage point reveals the plants in the wetland through Toronto At the end of the bridge early stages of erosion along the stream the hill to Bestview Forest, a pristine and Region conservation Aquatic 13 remnant mixed-hardwood stand. you will notice a channel channel. The bank adjacent to the path Plants Program (APP). APP brings reinforced on both banks by rectangular is slowly beginning to slump into the When you reach a second fork the classroom outdoors and provides 8 containers of wire filled with stone. river. The pool/riffle sequences here in the path continue right to hands-on nature education to students. These are gabion baskets used to help to slow the river down to prevent the wooden bridge. The bridge across Just behind the wetland is a walking stabilize the stream to prevent erosion erosion and are a great vantage point to the East Don River is a great vantage and flooding. spot wildlife like waterfowl and salmon. point to watch the salmon running trail the follows the old Cummer Ave 3 4 As you continue, you will notice To your left past the tennis abundance of wildlife in all seasons. water fills with cattails and then with 17 a small stand of lush, healthy fir 23 courts is a wetland filled with grasses and shrubs. Cattails are an At the next river oxbow, on the trees to the left of the path. cattails. Further down the path the 26 important food source for muskrats wetland opens up and there is open left-hand side of the trail, lies a and a great place to spot Red-Winged Uphill, past the firs is an area diverse patch of forest. Notice stems of 18 water. This wetland is an example of the Blackbirds, American Coots, and Rails that has undergone significant marvel of beaver engineering. The open hemlock, maple, skeletal beech, cedar on morning walks. work to prevent erosion. To your left and cherry. The bench provides a great water is full of standing dead trees killed At the interpretive sign, take is a wall of gabion baskets and to your due to prolonged flooding. These dead spot to relax and take in the scenery near 29 right is fencing to keep people on the the end of your walk. the right path over the wooden trees are important ecosystem features bridge. Downstream from the bridge path. If you look below, the stream because they provide beneficial habitat Continue across the wooden you will notice what remains of a small channel is also stabilized by a series of for birds, insects and cavity nesters. 27 gabion baskets. Without this work the bridge and past the stairs leading concrete dam. A small side channel area would be at a high risk for erosion When you reach the riparian to Clarinda Dr (to the right). Then, cross provides passage for spawning salmon 24 damage. zones interpretive sign you will under the railway bridge and head right to move upstream. over the second wooden bridge. These notice another river oxbow to the right. Veer left at the parking lot to Past the rip rap and down the Natural river channels are dynamic. bridges are great for spotting salmon 30 19 hill you will reach an open field during spawning season. reach Sheppard Ave. Here Erosion, flooding and the force of the you can take the overpass to reach the with regenerating cedar trees. This is a water cause the East Don River to To your right past the 2nd bridge subway or continue kitty corner across great place for bird watching and wildlife slowly change its course over time. In 28 is a cattail marsh right on the edge Sheppard at Leslie to continue your spotting. Keep your eyes and ears open! fact, the river will soon break through of the path. As marshes mature the open walk on the Betty Sutherland Trail. the meander at this oxbow and cut the Past the field on your left 20 existing channel off from the river. A tiny hand side there is a large many- Trail Users’ Guide oxbow lake will form (like the one further stemmed crack willow. Crack willow are • Users of these trail guides are responsible for their own safety and well being. upstream), but this will fill in with time • Be aware of cyclists and other trail users at all times. non-native trees that tend to be brittle leaving little trace of the river’s former • Walk with others. and shallow rooted. path. • Keep your children in sight at all times. • Trails may involve stairs and slopes. Notice another large When you come to the next fork 21 25 • Trails may not be lit or cleared of ice and snow. wetland area to your right. Here a in the path continue straight • Stay on the trails or mown areas; do not leave them at any time. concrete storm grate moves stormwater (slight left). Here a steel bridge crosses • Cross roads only at intersections, lights or crosswalks. from the sewer system to a meandering the East Don River on your right with • Keep your pet on a leash and clean-up after it. natural channel to the wetland. The Creek at its far end. • Do not pick, damage, or plant any vegetation. wetland helps to filter the water on its • Beware of poison ivy: “Leaflets of three, let it be.” While this route is not part of the walk, a • Respect and do not feed wildlife. journey down the East Don River to worthwhile trip up this heavily forested • Do not light fires. Lake Ontario. valley with black cherry, beech, skeletal • Leave nothing behind. Across the path from the beech and basswood trees takes • Washrooms operate seasonally. 22 tennis courts (near the lifesaving you back to East near • Avoid the trails during and after a storm; water levels can rise suddenly. equipment), is another old mill site with . Notice the human • Wear footwear for pavement, loose or broken surfaces and bare earth. encroachment along this path and let it • Wear clothing to suit the weather and protect against insects. the beams still visible. The beams are • Carry drinking water. easiest to spot in early spring or late fall serve as a reminder to please stay on the Learn more about other walks and the Don River watershed when there is less vegetation. This is one trails. at www.trca.ca of seven known historical mill sites on A little past the fork, is a bench that the East Don River between Steeles and provides a great viewing point for Sheppard. watching the goings on in the wetland. The wetland is a busy home to a rich Prepared by the Don Watershed Regeneration Council & Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 5 6 EAST DON PARKLAND Richmond Hill AUDIO WALK 400 Markham 7 Steeles Ave. E. YORK REGION Equestrian Crt. 1 START Duncan Creek Bestview Dr. ^ Francine Dr. 404 407 k ee Cr ills

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Metres

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