LOCATION AND CONTACTS

Entrance fees are collected at the gate. A fee schedule and reservation policy are posted at the entrance or visit: www.conservationhamilton.ca

Use your receipt towardsthe purchase of a HamitonConservation AuthorityMembership Pass.The pass is good for 12 consecutive months andentitles entry into HCAareas. Purchase your pass at the HCA main office.

For the latest event listings, outdoor guides and more, visit our website at: www.conservationhamilton.ca

BIOLOGYThe Eramosa Karst natural area is made up of meadow, thicket,woodland and forest remnant communities. It is located in theDavis Creek watershed. The forest area is made up of SugarMaple, Ironwood, Hawthorn, Gray Dogwood, White Ash, BlackCherry, American Beech, Red Oak, Butternut, Shagbark Hickoryand a variety of smaller native plants species. Living in these diverse habitats are numerous species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects including wild turkey, coyote, white-taileddeer, meadow voles, and the cottontail rabbit. Red-eyed Vireos,Indigo Buntings, Savannah Sparrows and the Red-tailed Hawk arecommon birds found throughout this naturally rich area.

HERITAGE GREEN COMMUNITY TRUSTThanks to the Heritage Green Community Trust, the Eramosa KarstConservation Area opened on June 20, 2008 as a cornerstone ofHamilton Conservation Authority’s 50th anniversary celebration. The 180-acre site was offically transferred to HCA by the Province onOctober 23, 2006. The Heritage Green Community Trust, formerlyTaro Community Trust, donated $1.5 million to pay for the development and long-term maintenance of the conservation area.

The Heritage Green Community Trust was established in May 1997to provide support in the form of grants to community, educationalor charitable organizations of upper Stoney Creek. The HeritageGreen Trust successfully distributes grants to qualifying recipients ororganizations who clearly provide demonstrable benefits to residents in the City of Stoney Creek residing south of the NiagaraEscarpment and within three kilometres of the perimeter of theNewalta Soney Creek Landfill Site.

PETS AND AREA ETIQUETTEPets must be kept on a leash at all times and cannot be left unattended. Remove dog waste from the trail and dispose of it in the garbage.

Eramosa Karst Conservation AreaUpper Mount Albion Road, Stoney Creek, Ontario905-525-2181

Welcome to ERAMOSA KARST

The Eramosa Karst is filled with underground caves and streams,meadows and forests. This unique natural gem was the watershed’s first major conservation area to open in 20 years. Eramosa Karst is located in the southwestern section of theStoney Creek area of Hamilton. It exends from Highland Roadsouth to Rymal Road, and from Upper Mount Albion Road toSecond Road West. A perfect location for hiking, nature appreciation, and education, Eramosa Karst adds one moreunique feature to Hamilton’s natural inventory.

GEOLOGYKarsts are geological formations including underground drainage,caves and passages caused by dissolving rock, found in limestone formations like the Niagara Escarpment.

The Ministry of Natural Resources designated the Eramosa Karst landsas an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest in 2003, because it is believed to have the largest number of unique karst features in anysingle area in the province. The Eramosa Karst contains examples of 16 different karst features, several of which are provincially significant.These include: soil pipes, sinkholes, sinking streams, dry valleys and a335 metre-long cave (the tenth longest in all of Ontario).

Surface water and undrground water flows began carving out thislandscape we call “karst” about 13,000 years ago, after the last glacierretreated in this part of the province and meltwaters covered the land.Today, the drainage system sustains the karst and provides examplesof the erosion process and karst features in different stages of development.

EDUCATIONThe diversity of geological and hydrological features and its centrallocation in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, makes the Eramosa Karstone of the best sites in Ontario for education and research opportuni-ties. Protecting the Eramosa Karst’s unique network of features willensure that scientists, students and naturalists can continue to enjoythis natural resource for now and for generations to come.

HCA has developed Teacher’s Kits which help teachers conduct self-guided field trips. If you are interested in receiving a kit, pleasecontact our HCA Education Coordinator at 905-627-1233 or hcaenved@conservationhamilton.ca

For self-guided hike information, please contact 905-525-2181 ext. 153

WHAT IS A KARST?The term “karst” comes from a Slavic word that means barren, stonyground. It is also the name of a region in Slovenia that is well-knownfor sinkholes and springs.

Geologists have adopted “karst” as the term for all such terrain. Theterm “karst” describes the whole landscape, not just a single feature.A karst landscape most commonly develops on limestone, because limestoneis a softer sedimentary rock which is easilyeroded over time by water. Karsts can alsodevelop on several other types of rocksuch as dolostone, gypsum and salt.

FRIENDS OF THE ERAMOSA KARSTThe Friends of the Eramosa Karst (FOTEK) is a group of citizen supporters formed to promote the preservation of 80 acres of environmentally significant feeder lands on the eastern border ofthe conservation area. Their efforts played a key role in securing thefeeder lands and bringing them into the boundaries of the conservation area. Since 2007, FOTEK has contributed more than$20,000 directly to the protection and enhancement of the EramosaKarst Conservation Area and donated more than 10,000 hours ofvolunteer time.

l Alcohol use and possession are prohibited. l Pack out what you pack in. l Please do not deface, remove, disturb or damage any property, plants,

birds, or mammals in the conservation area.

Bobolink

Saw-whet Owl

Local Access Point

Nexus Creek

Nexus Creek

Stewart Creek

Stewart Creek

Local Access Point

Nexus Cave Window

Nexus Cave Entrance

Fotek Corner

Pottruff Blind Valley

Stewart Creek Sink

Pheonix Creek Sink

Pottruff Cave

Old Quarry

Pottruff Spring

Amphitheatre

Pottruff Creek

Pottruff Homestead

Watercress Sink

Blue Hole Sink

Pheonix Creek

Kinney Creek

McGill Creek

Pottruff Creek

East Mountain Trail Loop

Local Access Point

Rymal Road East

Fletcher Road

Seco

nd

Ro

ad W

est

Willow Sink

Connection Trail

Connection Trail

Connection Trail

Up

per

Mo

un

t A

lbio

n R

oad

Highland Road West

Richdale Drive

Shadetree Cresent

Fairhaven Drive

LEGEND

Conservation Area Boundary

Parking

Washroom

Picnic Pavilion

Glenhollow

Drive

0 100 m 200 m

Watercourse

Underground Stream

Area Closes at sunset. Emergency Information Call 911. Know what trail you are on.

Hamilton Conservation Authority:905-525-2181 Business Hours905-523-8787 After hours

Permitted Trail Use:

ERAMOSA KARST

Meadows Trail

Meadows Trail

Meadows Trail

Bobolink Trail

Bobolink Trail

Karst Features Trail

Karst Features Trail

Karst Features Trail

This 2.5 km trail is the most popular loop and travels through forest woodlands and open meadows. Highlights on the loop include the Nexus Cave window and entrance and the Potruff Cave.

Take the connection trail for a shorter 1.5 km loop.

Bobolink Trail

This 1.5 km connector loop extends off of the Meadows Trail taking you deeper into the open meadows and old hedge rows.

Meadows Trail

This 1.7 km trail travels through the open meadows of the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area. Take the Meadows Trail to connect with local access points. See where underground streams come to life in the springtime.

Stop halfway along the trail and visit the FOTEK corner.

King’s Forest Park

Glendale Golf Course

Heritage Green Sports Park

Valley Park

Eramosa Karst C.A.

Mount Albion

C. A.

Felker’s Falls C.A.

Oak Knoll Park

Glendale Falls

Albion Falls

Paramount Park

Bruce Trail

Bruce Trail

Buttermilk Falls

2 km 3 km

4 km

5 km

6 km

7 km

8 km

9 km

1 km

Lincoln N. Alexander Pkwy.

Albion Falls Park

Tran

s-Ca

nada

Tra

il

Highland Rd. W.

Dar

tnal

l Rd.

Rymal Rd.

Upper M

ount Albion Rd.

Stoneywood Park

Tran

s-Ca

nada

Tra

il

Mud St. W.Para

mou

nt D

r.

Paramount D

r.

Paramount Dr.

Winterberry D

r.

Second Rd. W.

Red

Hill

Val

ley

Park

way

Pritchard Rd.

Stone Church Rd. E.

Mou

ntai

n Br

ow B

lvd.

0 800 m

Trans Canada Trail/Bruce Trail

On HCA Land

On City Land

Temporary Link

Trail Head

Parking

Waterfall

HCA Land

City Of Hamilton Land

Private Land

Board of Education Land

LEGEND for East Mountain Trail Loop Map - below

w D

Glenhollo

w SilloW

ail LrTast ME

eekruff CottrP

inkw S

opoail Ltain ounast M

estoad WRHighland

cc

T

t

al AcoL

ail

oiness Pccal AcoL

r T

toiness Pcc

ERAMOSA KA

teda

hS

ARST

inkess ScrertaW

eadomestuff HottrP

tureaFarst K

inkole Slue HB

ailres Ttur

windoe WvaCxus eN

e vaxus CeN

ailrolink TobB

e

t

iven DrvhaairF

nese

rCee

rt

oad

lbio

n R

t A

ou

ner

M

eek

i

ruff CottrP

mphitheaA

ingpruff SottrP

uarld QO

ailrtion TonnecC

etrmphithea

yruar

ailrtion TonnecC

es TtureaFarst K

nerorek CotF

eanctrEne vaxus CeN

rs TweadoM

ailres T

ailrtion TonnecC

ailr

tt

est

oiness Pccal AcoL

oad

WR

on

d

ec

ail HeadrT

y LinkaremporTTe

y LanditOn C

A LandOn HC

e Tail/Brucranada TCans rT

tain ounor East M fLEGEND

ailre T

weloap - bop Moail LrTtain

e LandtaivrP

f Hamilty OitC

A LandHC

fallertaW

ingkarP

on Landf Hamilt

r

er M

ill CcGM

pp

U

eekr

ailrs TweadoM

evauff CottrP

inkeek Srheonix CP

inkinkeek SrCt arewtS

yallelind VBuff ottrP

eekt CtS

nerorek CotF

eekrxus CeN

ecS

F

l

Bruc

iarTadanaCCa-snarraTTr

. dvllvBB

lwoow r B

niin aai tta nnt uoM

ourse

y

l

k w

olf CGGlendale

arest PorFs ’ingK

ailre TBrucm

y

9 k

yaak

aywww

akkkkw

ary

rkaary

PPaye

aeyllelllaalVVa

lllllliilHH

i

0

ourse

Gr

m alls C.A.m

ail

Her

Glendale

FelkerF

re TBruc

7 k k

800 m ducad of EoarB

een e

alls C.A.

e Gr

itag Her

s ’elker

tion Landduca

eekry CinneK

eekrheonix CP

eek

ast

rt CarewtS

t CarewtS

oad Eymal RR

eekrt C

ailrolink TobB

eekrxus CeN

on

m

io on

Oak k

mm

Oak

x

n

a

rPanoll Oak K

aallsa

a

n Fn Flbion F

d

A

alls Fmilk F

a

erButt

d1 k

N

na.

xxaeeexexllleAAAlAl..NNNN.n

k

nlllnlnooolcccoco

nnncnciiininLLLiLikaralls Plls Plbion FA

keH

k

alls

Pr

W

FFGlendal dale

8 km

b

k

errbtte

inntWW

i

Mud

.rr.Dtnuo

mara P

Mud

Rde RR

Spor

r

. Wk

Gr

aralley PV

kart PamounarP

m

m

5 k.

6 k

rDDDrntt Dnntuuun

m

ooummo

.rDt

nuo

ma

araPP

.. WttSSStd d

Pts P kar PSporeen Gr

e

astoad Eymal RR

CanrraTTr

r

n C. A.

e yre

mn

.n

Albion AAt t ounM nMM

nall

Rd

.

2 k

yywwwkkkkwkwkwPPPrreeedddnnaaaxxxaxa

.na

ll Rd

ail

ra

anad

a T T

rCCa

an

s-rraTTr

3 km

k

er

k

amosa K

k

3

.

w

Er

t t

.

3 k

k

.

ry D D

rerrry

b

d arood rood PwwwoneytS

t un

oununer M

.

Upp

EE..ddRRhhccrruuhhCCeennooontttoSSSt

charrit

P

arst C.A.

o

m

amosa K

H

o

4 k

mmmoaaamaraarPP

.. WRdighland H

ecS

.

tn

ymal RdR

tn

Darar

t t .

lbion Rdt A

... Rd Rd

d Rdchar

.. W

Rdond

ec

EAST MOUNTAIN TRAIL LOOP

The East Mountain Trail Loop is a result of the Red Hill Valley Open Space Replacement Strategy which identifies 85 ha of new public space for a multi-usetrail. It connects the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area to other HCA and City ofHamilton open space, parkland and waterfalls on the East Hamilton and StoneyCreek Mountain such as Felker’s Falls, Albion Falls, Valley Park and Mount AlbionConservation Area. The loop provides links to the Chippawa Rail Trail, Bruce Trail,Red Hill Valley, Trans Canada and Ontario Waterfront Trails. The project brings anew inventory of natural areas with strong connecting green corridors that provide significant human and wildlife habitat in EastHamilton. HCA’s 3.1 km share of the 10 km trailhas now been completed thanks to fundraisingby the Hamilton Conservation Foundation. As of this printing, some trail connections haveyet to be completed.

ERAMOSA KARST TRAIL MAP

Eastern Meadowlark