Dundas Valley #070923

Dundas Valley Conservation Area

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 10,000years ago. The final landscape detail 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).

Trail System

A 40-kilometre trail system and the world-famous Bruce Trail provide access to almost every part of the Dundas Valley. The network is organized along three major trails: the Main Loop Trail, including several secondary trails branching from it; the world-famous Bruce Trail; and Canada’s first inter-urban rail trail - the 32-kilometre Hamilton-to-Brantford Rail Trail which is one of the region's most important walking, cycling and equestrian routes (it's also part of the Trans Canada Trail). Links to Paris and Cambridge extend this latter trail by 80 kilometres.

Trail Centre

The Dundas Valley Trail Centre, a replica of a Victorian train station, is the hub of the valley's trail network. The centre, currently open Wednesdays to Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., has a food concession, interpretive displays, brochures and maps detailing the Dundas Valley. It is also the starting point for numerous guided hikes and nature-oriented workshops. It is also headquarters for the Friends of the Dundas Valley, a volunteer group dedicated to the preservation of this important natural area, and the Volunteer Patrol.

The 40-kilometre trail system is organized around a main loop with five linear trails providing visitors with access to almost every part of the valley. The conservation area is bisected by one of the region's most important walking, cycling and equestrian routes - the West Hamilton to Brantford Rail Trail, which stretches 32 kilometres (20 miles), from Ewen Road in Hamilton to Mohawk Park in Brantford. Links to Cambridge and Paris extend the trail another 50 kilometres.

Hermitage Ruins and Gatehouse

The Hermitage is the legacy of George Gordon Browne Leith, second son of a Scottish baronet who immigrated to Canada in the 1850s. For many decades, the grand 100-hectare estate was home to the Leith family and its servants. Regrettably, The Hermitage burned almost completely in October 1934. Shortly after, Alma Dick-Lauder, Leith’s daughter, camped on the site, then built a small home inside the ruins where she lived until her death in 1942.

The Gatehouse, known as The Lodge, was built around this time and for many years was home to Penelope Hutchinson, a granddaughter of George Leith. Today, The Gatehouse serves as a museum and testament to a remarkable family and their magnificent estate. Group tours of The Gatehouse and Hermitage ruins can be arranged. Call (905) 627-1233.

Located on the Main Loop Trail, just off Sulphur Springs Road in Ancaster.

Griffin House

An excellent example of Ancaster's early history is preserved in a simple 1.5-storey house just west of the Hermitage Ruins. The Griffin House was the home of Enerals Griffin, his wife Priscilla, their children and descendants.

Born into slavery in Virginia, Enerals Griffin escaped to freedom in Canada in 1828-29. In 1834, the Griffins purchased the house with 50 acres of land and for the next 150 years their descendents farmed here.

Archeologists have unearthed over 3,000 artifacts on this small site including stoneware, porcelain, clay pipes and masonry. The home has been restored to the pre-1850 period as a site for interpreting Black-Canadian history. Group tours and themed hikes are organized by the HCA and Fieldcote Museum. The Griffin House is located just off Mineral Springs Road. For more information, call (905) 627-1233 or (905) 648-8144.

Thomas A. Beckett Living Forest

Each year, supporters of the Conservation Foundation Living Forest Fund are invited to help plant trees and shrubs in the Thomas A. Beckett Forest. Many donors plant a tree to mark special achievements and to honour the lives of loved ones. Their donations have supported the purchase and planting of trees, maintenance of a trail and development of interpretive materials in the forest itself. The forest is named for Judge Thomas Beckett, a well-known conservationist and the first chairman of the HCA. Under his leadership from 1966-72, the HCA began a major lands acquisition program, which included lands in the Dundas Valley.

The forest is located adjacent to the Governors Road parking area.

Main Loop Notes

The first point of interest is the historical Sulphur Springs fountain. As you near Sulphur Springs Road you may notice a hint of Sulphur in the air. The Sulphur Springs fountain is located on the opposite side of the road.

During the late 1800s, the Sulphur Springs Hotel with its mineral spa was a popular summertime destination. The sulphur waters were believed to have wondrous curative powers that attracted visitors from far and wide. The hotel closed in 1910 after two severe fires. The existing house “Deerspring”, was built on the ruins and is now privately owned.

The Hermitage

Ruins are all that remain of the Hermitage, a once magnificent stone mansion that was built in 1855 by George Gordon Browne Leith. The stones used in construction were quarried from local sites; the red bricks from the Dundas Valley and the limestone sills from the Credit River Valley. Look closely at the stones of the ruins, and you may be able to find fossils of sea creatures and plant life.

The last resident of the Hermitage was Mrs. Alma Dick Lauder, daughter of the Leiths. In 1934 the Hermitage was destroyed by fire. Mrs. Lauder built a small house within the ruins and continued to live there until her death in 1942.

Gatehouse Museum

The Gatehouse, built around the same time as the Hermitage, was once known as “The Lodge”. It was originally the home of the gatekeeper and his family. The gatekeeper performed general duties and opened the gate for family and visitors to the Hermitage. Today, the building is the Gatehouse Museum, and houses the history of the Hermitage and the family who lived there. Behind the building, Ancaster Creek tumbles over the Hermitage Falls before winding its way through the valley.

Apple Orchard

What came first, the apple or the seed? We may never know, but we do know that the Merrick family planted this orchard over 50 years ago. Many different types of apples could be found here, including Macintosh, Jonathan and Golden Delicious. Apple cider was once made in the cider shanty, which still stands in the orchard. The area has now been left to regenerate naturally and is an ideal spot to watch for Eastern bluebird, Whitetailed deer, Red-tailed hawks, and Turkey vultures.

Old Oak Tree

At the bottom of the apple orchard is the intersection of the Monarch and Main Loop Trails. Towering overhead is a White Oak tree approximately 150 years old. Two benches have been placed beneath this magnificent tree, for visitors to relax and enjoy a quiet moment before completing the return loop to the Trail Centre.

Hemlock Grove

As you make your way down the side of the valley towards the Hemlock grove, you may notice a series of terraces, each one reminiscent of an old streambed. Hemlocks, with their short, flat needles, offer year round protection for small birds and animals such as Red Squirrels, Nuthatches, Chickadees and occasionally owls. Watch closely for the unusual tree, which has been nicknamed “Watcher of the Woods”. This tree with the smooth, grey bark is an American Beech. It gets its nickname from the unusual markings on the trunk, which resemble eyes.

Dundas Valley Trail Centre

The heart of the valley and the focal point of the trail system, the Dundas Valley Trail Centre is a beautiful reproduction of a Victorian train station. The Trail Centre offers interpretive displays, snack bar and gift shop, washrooms, and a picnic pavilion. It is open to the public on weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.