Cootes Paradise - all the way around !

Meet at: 11 am, May 4, Sunday, Princess Point Parking lot, if the lot is full park on the roads leading into the Point. Allow for 5 hours for this hike.

From the east, going west, Take 403 expressway to Hamilton, exit at Main Street West (do NOt make the mistake of taking Main Street East, go past this exit and Main West is the next one). Once off the 403, the ramp ends at Main Street, so turn right and go to Longwood Road. turn left on Longwood Road and follow it all the way to Princess Point.

From the west, going east, exit the 403 at Aberdeen and very soon after this, make a left at Longwood road. Follow Longwood Road all the way to the end at Princess Point.

You may have to pay a parking fee if the pay Station is working (one dollar per hour).

From here we follow the Ginger Valley trail along the south shore to Ravine road trail. We stop at the Avairy to rest and see the birds (also washrooms here). We proceed on Caleb's Walk, Ravine road trail, and South Shore trail, all behind McMaster University. after going through some pretty bays and the marsh, we emergy onto Cootes Drive. We follow the road to the Desjardin Canal and proceed up Olympic Drive to the sports park. We have the option of followoing the road or we can follow trails along the shore line and see if we can find a way to cross over Hopkins Creek ( the scenic route). If we can croos the creek we join up with Hopkins Trail and follow it along the shore line. then we go north into the Arboretum forests - following Bull's Point trail, Marsh Walk trail, Captain Cootes trail, to the Lilac Dell and the Nature Centre for an interpretive display, rest, drink, and washrooms. Hopefully many flowering trees such as Magnolias, will be blooming.

From here we follow Old Guelph Road to York Blvd. This is a narrow country road so be alert and careful as the road shoulder is narrow and steep. On York Blvd. we stop to look at the ruins of the Memorial Gardens, the historical plaques, and the panoramic views of the bay, the city, Cootes Paradise, Dundas Valley and the escarpment hills.

We are now nearly done - a short walk along the Waterfront Trail brings us back to Princess Point, site of an old Indian village. after the hike we can go the Snooty Fox pub or a coffee cafe in cozy Westdale Village.