Hendrie Valley Gardens and Sanctuary (Burlington)

One of our favorite runs in Hamilton is on the trails in the Hendrie Valley, located in Burlington. The area is a 100 hectare sanctuary comprising a botanical garden, arboretum, and nature preserve. The trails are a combination of packed earth, crushed stone, boardwalk, and asphalt. featuring forested slopes with towering trees, marsh, and four creeks. Running is permitted here, though not encouraged in the more formal botanical garden section. Note: trails can be accessed for free but the gardens might require a fee and have set hours.

We’ve mapped a terrific 8 km out and back route combining a few contiguous trails. Starting off York Blvd., run east on the Grindstone Marsh Trail, continuing onto the N Bridle Trail, Creek Side Walk, and the Hidden Valley Multi-Use Trail to Hidden Valley Park. Retrace your steps for the return.

Add-On: West of Highway 403, there’s a large network of mainly wooded trails in the Hickory Valley and Borer’s Falls Conservation Area. These trails are more rugged.