Crooks Hollow Conservation Area: Hiking Beautiful Trails

The Hamilton, Ontario area has some great hiking trails that are free to the public and not overly used. For a nice change from the packed Halton-region conservation areas and trails, Crooks Hollow Conservation Area near Dundas, Ontario is a great alternative.

It’s also a perfect alternative to Hamilton’s busy waterfalls. Whereas Webster’s Falls, Tews Falls and other falls in the area are hugely popular, Crooks’ Hollow Trail is less travelled.

The Crook’s Hollow Trail

The Crooks’ Hollow trail that runs along Spencer Creek and into Christie Lake, is a quiet spot with the occasional fellow-hiker walking along.

This trail, run by the Hamilton Conservation Authority, is not long – approximately a 3.5 km round trip. Nevertheless, it’s very scenic at any time of the year, especially the Fall.

Darnley Cascade near Crooks Hollow Conservation Area — The Darnley cascade just up from Darnley Mill

Deciduous trees offer a very colourful view, particularly along the creek.

It’s a perfect place for a nature walk that offers a bit of exploration and fun. If you’re doing a challenge of trying all the trails in the Hamilton area, this one’s on your list.

Crook’s Hollow also makes for an excellent destination for a day trip from Toronto.

History All Around You At Crook’s Hollow Trail

The Crooks’ Hollow trail by Spencer Creek is also a historic route with several interesting spots along the way.

The area was settled by United Empire Loyalists – James Crooks and Jonathan Morden. Both built mills in this area of the creek.

Dating from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the remains of the various old buildings along the way give the location a bit of a spooky vibe.

This makes for a perfect for a walk around Halloween time. It’s an easy walk, so it’s ideal for families with little kids.

The best preserved are the remains of Darnley Mill, closer to Christie Lake Conservation area. This was the gristmill built by James Crooks and named after his hero, Lord Darnley.

Darnley Grist Mill by Crooks' Hollow Conservation Area — The Darnley Grist Mill is a great spot for photography

Our Route At Crook’s Hollow Conservation Area

We started out at Greensville Optimist Park (access at Brock Road 46, Bullock’s Corner) walking along Spencer Creek. This is also a good spot for a walk, however, you will find the occasional piece of furniture thrown into the creek from one of the bridges along the way.

Optimists Trail Crooks Hollow Trail near Hamilton, Ontario — The quiet Optimists Trail leading to Crooks’ Hollow Trail

The one thing you will note about these trails is that they are fairly clean and well-kept.

There’s little garbage on the ground as compared to some of the other trails we have been on in the area. This may be partly due to fewer people on them.

Crook’s Hollow Is A Great Spot For Fall Photography

Cook’s Hollow is a fantastic spot from some spectacular fall foliage photos. The creek offers reflections of the colourful trees. If you have a still day, the photos turn out amazing. So it’s a good idea to have your camera with you for some amazing shots of brilliant fall foliage scenes.

The best time to walk west along Spencer Creek is late afternoon as the sun is setting. It highlights the colourful trees on the opposite side of the creek.

Bring along a map of the trail. Along the way, you’ll see interpretive signs about the history of the area.

Tips For Exploring The Hiking Trails At Crook’s Hollow Conservation Area

Just a few tips to make your visit and exploration much more fun.

There are no bathrooms around. So make sure you’re on empty!
Bring your day pack with snacks and water as the trail is a good length. At some point you’ll want to take a moment for a brief break.
Pack your camera as there are always gorgeous scenes to photograph along the way.
Comfortable walking shoes will do fine. There are no crazy rocky trails here. It’s a comfortable walk most of the way.