Why You Should Go Hiking At Hendrie Valley: A Birdwatcher’s Destination
Hiking at Hendrie Valley is more than just good exercise. It’s a wonderful place that’s home to many birds.
The boardwalk at Hendrie Valley takes you through some of the best places to spot birds in this area.
Want to get a shot of the elusive cardinal? Or have an opportunity to feed some birds?
Check out cranes in their natural habitat rather than the zoo?
Hiking Hendrie Valley in Burlington, Ontario and exploring its marsh boardwalk and trails just may be the thing.
We live in Burlington, so we get to hike at Hendrie Valley whenever we are in the mood for some nature viewing.
It’s one of the best places to see birds migrating in the Spring and Fall season. Not to mention, it’s super pretty to visit, especially in the summertime.
Hiking At Hendrie Valley: The RBG’s Nature Preserve
Managed by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Hendrie Valley has over 50 hectares of marshland.
It’s a beautiful, lush spot teeming with birds including friendly nuthatches and chickadees. You can also spot chipmunks, rabbits, turtles and even beavers.
Aside from the many birds, also noticeable are the numerous cameras.
People love hiking Hendrie Valley to take photos of birds and animals. They also love photographing the landscape
It’s naturally pretty and one of the things I love about having the Royal Botanical Gardens within the city of Burlington.
Walking through Hendrie Valley you can easily forget you are in an urban area. However, there are spots that have been marred by colourful (and admittedly artistic) graffiti.
Visiting Hendrie Valley With Kids
This is a place to take kids, as long as you keep an eye on them.
We’ve brought our son here for a couple of hours, and he loved spotting the ducks in the water.
Parts of the boardwalk have railings with spaces big enough for a kid to fall through. So clumsy toddlers prone to falling down should be in a stroller.
It’s also a place where kids can learn about patience and the value of being quiet.
During one of our hikes at Hendrie Valley, we had many nuthatches and chickadees on the trees lining the trails. They aren’t shy about visitors.
They will come to visit if you stick your hand out, hoping that you will have some birdseed for them. Just be very still and quiet.
Tips For Hiking The Trails At Hendrie Valley
Hendrie Valley is an urban trail, nestled between Burlington and Hamilton, so there are many amenities nearby.
However, you may want to have a few key things for you while you explore the hiking trails at Hendrie Valley.
Things to take with you while visiting Hendrie Valley include:
- A small snack and water
- A good camera with a zoom lens for all those bird photos!
- Comfortable walking shoes – it’s not a strenuous hike, but there’s lots of exploring to do
Most importantly, bring with you a sense of adventure.
You’re bound to see some interesting things hiking at Hendrie Valley.
How To Get To Hendrie Valley
Directions: To get to the trails, you can park just west of the Royal Botanical Gardens (680 Plains Road West, Burlington, Ontario) on the north side.
Learn more about Hendrie Valley and plan your visit to this natural area.
TIP: I also recommend visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens. There are a few new sections and areas to visit, including a Rock Garden.
QUESTION: Do you like to explore urban parks? What do you like best about them?
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