Seaton Hiking Trail

One of my favorite things to do is to explore different hiking trails.  It's probably the only time that I can say I am truly happy and excited.  Taking photographs of what I see around me is just a natural extension of that happiness, to share in what I find.  If you go on any of these trails yourself you may find different things that interest you or see something interesting that I missed (which is most likely).  It's all part of the experience of being out there.

The Seaton Trail is a 13 km hike from 3rd Concession near Brock
Road in Pickering and continues northwest to highway 7 at Green River.  There are 3 different entry points to the trial from Pickering to Markham as well so be sure to map it out well before heading out.

Although my hike started from the south to the north, I will outline the hike from the north to the south for you which is way more straight-forward.  It is as follows:

   Green River: Entrance is located on the south side of Hwy 7 at Green River (200m east of West Duffins Creek bridge)

Whitevale: From the parking at Whitevale Community Park, there is an access to to the trail which travels south on the west side of the river.

Train bridge

Forestream: 500m south of Taunton Rd, turn east onto Forestream trail off of Whites Rd

Grand Valley: Continue west on 3rd Concession from Brock for 1 km

The trail itself is a historic one and used for centuries by aboriginal people as a hunting and fishing route on the creek.

The Seaton Trail Hike is a great endeavour so you are looking at least 4 to 5 hours to finish it all. The hike on this day started out as a decent on a small hill off Valley Farm Road onto a short trail known as 'River Trail'.  There is no point starting from here, as it runs out, so if you want to follow the markers you'll want to go a few 'clicks' north on Valley Farm to Concession 3 and head west where the official trail starts. Unfortunately we didn't go north, but rather decided to sneak in early at 'River Trail' which ran out bringing us to the back of a school and into a field full of power pylons.

At some point we ended up on a rail bridge, and it's a long one.  So we crossed it, heading north.  There were points on the walk across while looking down that I wondered if the railing was broken or the metal braces underneath would hold me, but I knew at that moment that I was still willing to continue and take pictures.  Although I can't say I took any award winning shots, as I disliked the brown water that often flows at this time of year because the mud is washed out, I can honestly say that I had a few moments of terror.

Once off the bridge it was apparent we'd lost the trail briefly but there was no way I was going back on the bridge.  Sometimes though, going off the mainstream can lead you into new finds that you otherwise wouldn't see, such as the huge field that was set in a valley.  There were orange markers around it, and a strange collection of large rocks in the centre.  It looked as though it was levelled out like something in a Sci-Fi flick. 



Still do not know what this land was used for but "Seaton Trail' got its name from the planned community of Seaton which was envisioned in the 1970's to accompany a new airport that was planned for the community.  In the area, you will see signs up from the locals indicating 'SAY NO TO AIRPORT'. It's possible that they orange markers are in place for the location of the Pickering Airport now being debated and discussed.

Back on track, literally we find where the trail picks up again.  Into some more beautiful tree laced paths and emerald grass.  The odd boulder placement here and there, left over from the Ice Age, adds a nice scenic touch for pictures.

As time passes the creek continues to evolve and cut a path through the earth. What I loved about the Seaton Trail were the extraordinary landscapes, from thirty-metre-tall eroded cliffs to a majestic cedar forest and a beautiful stand of hardwood.

 

The river is full of salmon, rainbow trout and brook trout which make the creek their home at various times of the year.  The fresh, cold water originates from the Oak Ridges moraine to the north and is a perfect environment for fish to spawn.

I saw my first trillium flower, which is the Ontario flower symbolically, but I had never seen one on a trail.  It's illegal to pick them too, I hear.  We saw an unusual plant that we have yet to identify with a very large radial leaf pattern.

The trees had a story to tell as well, including one trunk which looked like he was lending a helping hand, and another one had a bit of entertainment value.

One of the trees we saw were cut open at the base and showed obvious signs of infestation.  My husband said it was called, 'emerald ash borer'.  I did some reading and found that the emerald ash borer is a green beetle native to Asia and Eastern Russia. Outside its native region, the emerald ash borer is an invasive species, and emerald ash borer infestation is highly destructive to ash trees.   

However by far, my favourite part of the forest was the walk through the ferns.  Ferns first appear in fossil records over 360 million years ago and now there are over 19,000 species of them.  Victorians loved the famous plant, calling their craze of fern collecting and fern motifs in art as "Pteridomania"'. Ferns were found in their pottery, glassware, printed paper and silverware.

Finally after six hours of trekking (taking pictures and rerouting time) we saw the clearing for the trail finish. I must admit we were shy of the finish line by 1 km.  This was frustrating as we set out to the do the whole thing, and I've attached the trail blaze we did if you ever want to follow our route; make sure you have a car waiting.   

 

We ended up walking from Whitevale Road to Markham Road which added another hour and a half, not to mention the horrible Markham transit, which allocates buses every hour and doesn't have designated bus stops at main intersections either; even with over an hour wait times the drivers won't even slow down if you aren't at a stop.  We didn't get on a bus until 10:00 at night.  It didn't make sense to bring a car as we'd have to stumble back to get it anyways.  This wasn't the most convenient trail, but it was well worth the venture in.  My suggestion is to do it in sections or be well prepared to make a day of it!

Happy Trails!

Etobicoke Creek Trail (Marie Curtis and Valley Parks)

Etobicoke creek snakes its way southeast from Brampton into the city of Etobicoke where it draws the boundary of Toronto to the east and Mississauga to the west.  The creek rushes through some lovely parks and forestland such as Valley Park and Marie Curtis Park before its descent into Lake Ontario. 

Marie Curtis Park is a 41 hectare public park located at the mouth of Etobicoke creek on the waters edge of Lake Ontario.  This park was created in 1959 to help control flooding after the devastating floods of Hurricane Hazel in 1954 that had destroyed homes and cottages in the area, leaving over 360 people homeless and several dead.  Marie Curtis Park was dedicated in honor of the Mayor of the village of Long Branch (now a part of Toronto). 

It’s easy to spot Marie Curtis Park along the Lakeshore, as there is a provocative old and rusted water tower built in 1910 standing in a field next to the entrance, making it a perfect landmark.  Lots of parking is available, as well as a drive-in boat ramp for watercraft.  A few lovely willow trees and an inviting arch bridge link you from one side of the pier to the other.  Here you’ll find a playground, a public swimming sandy beach, a wading pool, picnic spots, boat docks, and walking trails connecting you to the waterfront trail where you’ll see plenty of wildlife and native plants (see this blog).  So why am I so glum on this warm and sunny afternoon? 

The answer was in my nose.  You see, apparently sometimes, and definitely on the day I was there:  it stinks!  There is a sewage treatment plant directly west of the park, and the water treatment plant is west of that.  


Just west of the park you might notice some wooden structures randomly scattered in the fields nearby.  I thought they may be set up as climbing walls for an obstacle course as part of training.  Turns out many years ago there was once a rifle range here and the wooden structures were sound baffles that were formed as part of the range to keep the noise down,  in this case, the loud crack of the rifles tested there during the first world war.  These wooden structures have actually been there since the 1890’s. I did see a deer roaming on its own in the woods, but it was behind a fence so all I could do was silently watch as it foraged.  North of the Lakeshore into the Etobicoke Valley Park you will get relief from any annoying odours, and it is absolutely beautiful, truly! Valley Park is a 19.6 hectare park and it runs along the east bank of Etobicoke creek from the QEW down to the CNR tracks.  Etobicoke creek really shines in Valley Park.  There are some rock walls and fields of wild flowers and high grass, and plenty of forested pathways that reminded me of Dundas valley in Hamilton if you’ve ever been there! 

I loved this place; it was one of the prettiest looking parks I’ve seen in a long time.

Happy Trails!

Mimico Creek Trail

The first signs of green on the trees after a long winter always sparks the youth in me.  Whether you had a childhood out of a Dickens novel or not, I imagine this is true for all of us in some way or another.  We have been through an unusually long winter in Southern Ontario this year which included one of the worst ice storms I ever remember.  It left us with tragically dying trees of old and robust trees with broken branch limbs and some uprooted and fallen.  Still it is wonderful to see everything coming to life again on the trails and in the forest.

The Mimico Creek Trail (bike/walking trail) starts from the north, about a block west of Martingrove off Eglinton Avenue W and travels southeast towards Lake Ontario.   The trail is about 12 km (7.5 miles) long so if you consider that the average person walks about 5/km an hour it takes about 2 and half hours to do the entire trail, possibly longer if you stop to take pictures along the way or for a drink and a snack.  

A little water feature along the trail

A sky tells no lies, time to run for cover

Holy Fungi

I should mention that the trail does break off a few times into residential neighbourhoods and at times you will find it tricky picking it up again as some parks are hidden behind schools.  Esthetically there are some really lovely parks and some hidden forested areas to cool off in when the weather heats up.  West Deane North and South are both brilliantly wide and spacious with few trees in the core which is why it is a popular meeting place for large gatherings for picnics.  Also great for kiting or recreational sports.   

Ravenscrest located further east is a little spot of parkland with a cooling forested area off the trail.  I still need work on capturing birds as I'm teased often about my 'wildlife pictures consisting of the elusive ducks and squirrs..." :)  When I do see a bird or a deer, I usually get panicky and fumble with my camera settings and miss the opportunity.  This is one of the reasons why I have always monopolized on landscape shot, because I can take my time.  

 

Hampshire Heights and Echo Valley Parks between Rathburn and Burnhamthorpe Road as you travel further southeast along Mimico creek will have you passing through some of the most beautiful and affluent neighbourhoods you'll ever see.   The water level was very low, surprisingly so much of the rock bed was exposed, leaving me much preferring the Humber River which is just east of Mimico Creek.

A few kilometres of Mimico Creek is shared with the Islington Golf Club so you'll have to omit the entire block between Kipling and Islington Avenue and pick up the trail again south on Islington to Dundas West.

As we were now off track, we called it a day as the skies looked like rain.  I couldn't get the idea of finishing what I started out of my head, so although the Mimico Creek Trail was inconsistent and confusing, I was still determined to follow the watershed down to the Lake.  So the next day I headed out by myself to pick up where we left off.

With a lunch packed and my trusty compass I was at a loss to find Thomas Riley Park.  Turns out I was passing it on Montgomery Road as it was actually hidden behind the Etobicoke College Institute.  Another break in the trail down to Bloor St W. You will need to do some walking north to Royal York Rd and south all the way down to Berry Road where you will pick up the creek again.  Once again Berry Road Park is hidden behind the Bishop Allen Academy where you will find a deep staircase in the back of the school that takes you along Mimico Creek once again all the way down through Jeff Healey Park (named after the beloved blind and talented Canadian Jazz-blues and Rock vocalist and guitarist who attained musical popularity in the 80's and 90's and who later became a popular radio personality in 2000.  He passed away in 2008.)

His park was a mixture of a children's playground as well as some pretty water features.  From there I walked under the Gardiner Expressway and ran out of trail so climbed up a narrow footpath to Park Lawn Avenue to the Lakeshore which brought me soon to my destination of Humber Bay Park West and East.  At this point it had already been a little late in the day so I didn't spend a lot of time here, but it looked familiar to me so I had been here before. 

While here you can see the Butterfly Habitat Centre and a pretty impressive view of the Toronto Skyline, but I would think it looks much nicer at night as the daylight really casts a smog fog on your camera lens.  The funniest thing I think that made me laugh today was when I saw a very large bird sitting on top of a wooden post near in the Butterfly Conservatory.  It did not move, and I had fumbled with my setting put on my zoom lens and took my shot.  The bird still did not move, until I realized when I looked at my photos that it was a decoy.  Great shot there anyways.

All in all the satisfaction was in finishing today, next time there are much easier ways to get down here to get to the lake and Mimico creek isn't one of them :)