The best walks and hikes around Hamilton

Lookout points let you see both Lower and Upper Punchbowl Falls. The lower waterfall is 5.5 metres high, while the upper waterfall is a ribbon of tumbling water nearly 34 metres high. From here, you can also take a side trail to a short walk up Ridge Road and, from there, join the Iroquoia section of the Bruce Trail.

Bull's Point is situated on a peninsula that extends into Cootes Paradise, with beautiful views of the marsh, and the surrounding shoreline within the Royal Botanical Gardens' largest and most diverse nature sanctuary. There is an interpretive sign explaining the areas ecological significance, and it's the perfect spot to appreciate the vastness of the Cootes Paradise wetland.

This boardwalk leads to a fantastic viewpoint for close-up access to the marshes of Cootes Paradise within the Royal Botanical Gardens’ North Shore trail system. Extending through wetland habitat along the water’s edge, the boardwalk offers opportunities to observe aquatic plants, waterfowl, turtles, and other wildlife in one of the region’s most significant natural areas. The viewing platform overlooks Cootes Paradise, a large coastal wetland that is the ecological centrepiece of the RBG nature sanctuary.

The Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is Canada’s largest botanical garden, and is a large nature sanctuary that spans Hamilton and Burlington, protecting a mix of cultivated gardens, forests, wetlands, and shoreline along Cootes Paradise and Lake Ontario. There is a network of trails throughout the vast conservation area, which is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, including migratory birds, turtles, and other species. In this section, the Arboretum and North Shore trail network form one of the most natural sections of the RBG, with forested paths, lookout points, and boardwalks that provide access to the edge of Cootes Paradise.

The Main Loop starts at the Sulphur Springs Train Station and loops through a hemlock grove and past the Hermitage Ruins. Hiking counter-clockwise tackles the steeper climbs instead of descending them. This trail is shared by hikers, trail runners, gravel cyclists, and horseback riders, and has quite a bit of shade but does pass sunny open meadows.

Spring Creek Trail crisscrosses Spring Creek as it flows eastward, where it merges into Spencer Creek, which empties into Cootes Paradise Marsh. The level of the creek depends on the time of the year, as it's mostly fed by snow melt. Spring Creek is protected, so the water quality is very good and is a habitat for local plants, fish, amphibians, white-tailed deer and coyotes.

Monarch Trail is a forested route that winds across rolling escarpment terrain with creek crossings, gradual climbs, and sections of mature woodland. It’s part of the larger Dundas Valley trail network, and passes through shaded ravines and more open areas, including remains of old orchards and hillside sections, adding lovely changing scenery along the way. Often used on longer hikes to nearby waterfalls such as Sherman Falls and Tiffany Falls, it offers a quieter woodland experience away from the busier main routes.

Sherman Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the Hamilton area, where Ancaster Creek drops about 17 metres over a wide rock ledge on the Niagara Escarpment into a wooded gorge below. Reached by a short walk through forested terrain on either side of the creek, the waterfall is known for its expansive curtain-like flow and layered rock backdrop, with water often spreading across the cliff face, especially after rain. Surrounded by mature trees and beautiful escarpment scenery, it’s a popular stop for photographers and hikers exploring Hamilton’s network of waterfalls.