On the Trails: January 2025

Long open vistas, animal tracks in the snow, winter raptors, and arctic waterbirds are the themes for January. Ice remains thin and patchy to start January with waterbirds from the north wintering and concentrating in the unfrozen waters of Lake Ontario including Cootes Paradise. Abundant bird species include Bufflehead, Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, and Lesser Scaup.

The concentrations of waterbirds draw in a variety of raptors, expect to spot a Red-tailed Hawk or Bald Eagle soaring overhead including many northern birds also wintering in the area. Consider joining one of RBG’s year-round birding programs to explore and support this incredible natural phenomenon.

Open waters are found in areas of water current such as Spencer Creek and Chedoke Creek where they enter Cootes Paradise Marsh, as well as the connecting channel between the marsh and Burlington Bay. The most accessible hike begins at Princess Point, following the Desjardins Trail and Waterfront Trail.

Enjoy the Cootes Paradise and Hendrie Valley landscape and the amazing glacial water carved rolling hills and ravines accented by snow. Vistas are available from the observation towers at George North, Bulls Point, and Pine Point Lookouts via the Arboretum, as well as Sassafras Point lookout on the south shore.

Along with raptors, resident woodpeckers of many species can be spotted throughout the trails including the largest species the Pileated Woodpecker as well as a variety of other birds, while owls can be heard at dusk. The plateau lands like the Arboretum represent the former glacial Lake Iroquois lakebed, the with current ravines scoured out of this lakebed as the glacial lake drained away.

Skating on Cootes Paradise Marsh at the Princess Point access is limited by low water levels and warm temperatures with thin ice cover and extensive mudflats to start January. When ice is suitable, ice conditions are local to Princess Point posted area for safety of both users and wildlife beyond this area.

Thick ice at Princess Point still results in thin ice or open water beyond this area due to river and lake currents. This restricts skating to the 0.5km radius around the point. For wildlife within the broader nature sanctuary area this is also critical for protection of the many wild species that call Cootes Paradise area home.

Information on ice thickness status/safety is available on our skating webpage as well as on a sign at Princess Point access. Lake Ontario water levels are forecast to remain low for January leaving upwards of half of the marsh areas as mudflats.

Trail User Notes

January 1: All garden areas, facilities, and parking lots CLOSED.

For Your Safety

• Please note that all trail use is at your own risk. Most of our trails are hilly and the trail surfaces are natural soil. Consider your footwear as during winter surfaces can be icy or muddy depending on the weather.
• Please stay on the marked trails to avoid trampling regenerating shrubs and trees or buried roots of understory plants such as trilliums.
• The nature trail system is considered closed during extreme weather event notifications from Environment Canada.
• Mountain bikes/fat bikes are not allowed as our trails are not designed to accommodate these activities.
• Please be aware ticks, including those carrying Lyme Disease, are found throughout the Hamilton/Burlington area and are active at temperatures above 0°C. Protect yourself by staying on marked trails. RBG does not accept ticks for testing. For inquiries regarding ticks, please contact the Region of Halton or City of Hamilton Public Health.