Borer’s Falls - Rock Chapel Heritage Lands

(Excerpt from the Cootes to Escarpment Park System Conservation and Land Management Strategy (Phase II report)).

The Borers-Rock Chapel Heritage Lands are centred on Borer’s Falls-Rock Chapel ESA. It has the largest area of interior forest habitat with minimal disturbance. To protect these conditions, limited hiking opportunities will be the main focus. In keeping with this, secondary level access will be provided at Rock Chapel, Wesley Avenue and Community Park. The addition to existing core natural lands of meadow protects this diminishing habitat and provides future opportunity for natural succession to occur. An inter-regional trail could follow Hickory Brook providing a loop trail system from Cootes Paradise Heritage Lands to the Bruce Trail once public access is obtained.

NATURAL AREAS

The numbers of each of the natural areas below correspond to Map 7 from the Cootes to Escarpment Park System Conservation and Land Management Strategy (Phase II report).

6. Rock Chapel

• Owner: Royal Botanical Gardens
• NEPOSS Classification: Natural Environment - NE Plan Area - NEPOSS

MAIN FEATURES: Borer’s Falls-Rock Chapel ESA, Regional Life Science ANSI, cliff face of Niagara Escarpment, Escarpment face interpretation, species at risk habitat, rare habitat, interior forest. Bruce Trail and property trails. This area has historically been part of the recreational system. Part of Greenbelt, rural location.

POSSIBLE FUTURE DIRECTION: Moderate activity area with secondary level access. Parking. Cootes to Escarpment Park System information and map required. Relocation of main parking lot to the waterfalls area, with addition of a viewing platform.

Habitat restoration required. Potential access for mobility challenged to Escarpment lookout.

7. Borer’s Falls Conservation Area

• Owner: Hamilton Region Conservation Authority
• NEPOSS Classification: Nature Reserve - NE Plan Area - NEPOSS

MAIN FEATURES: Borer’s Falls and creek valley, Borer’s Falls-Rock Chapel ESA, Regional Life Science ANSI, cliff face of Niagara Escarpment, species at risk habitat, largest area of undisturbed interior forest habitat in the park. Bruce Trail and property trails. Part of Greenbelt, rural location.

POSSIBLE FUTURE DIRECTION: Low activity area. Limited parking. Hiking trails.

Focus on continuing restricted access to forest interior habitat and viewing opportunities of waterfalls and Cootes Paradise from Escarpment Brow in conjunction with Rock Chapel.

8. Berry Tract

• Owner: Royal Botanical Gardens
• NEPOSS Classification: Natural Environment - NE Plan Area - NEPOSS

MAIN FEATURES: Borer’s Falls-Rock Chapel ESA, species at risk habitat, Hickory and Long Valley Brook valleys. Bruce Trail and property trails. Part of Greenbelt, rural location.

POSSIBLE FUTURE DIRECTION: Low activity area limited to hiking trail. Creation of parking node at Wesley Avenue, and bicycle lane along Valley Road.

9. Cartwright Nature Sanctuary

• Owners: Conservation Halton–Hamilton Naturalists’ Club management agreement
• NEPOSS Classification: Natural Environment - proposed inclusion to NE Plan Area

MAIN FEATURES: Borer’s Falls-Rock Chapel ESA, species at risk habitat, Hickory Brook Valley. Part of Greenbelt and property trail, rural location.

POSSIBLE FUTURE DIRECTION: Low activity area limited to hiking trail. A new trail link following Hickory Valley to Cootes Paradise is proposed based on land acquisition.

10. Nicholson Tract

• Owner: Conservation Halton
• NEPOSS Classification: Natural Environment - proposed inclusion to NE Plan Area

MAIN FEATURES: Borer’s Falls-Rock Chapel ESA. Unofficial trails. Part of Greenbelt, rural location.

POSSIBLE FUTURE DIRECTION: Low activity area. Trail system review required. Inter-regional trail to be developed and will require support of private property owners to the south for completion. Closing road allowances should be considered.

11. Community Park

• Owner: City of Hamilton
• NEPOSS Classification: Recreation - proposed inclusion to NE Plan Area

MAIN FEATURES: Community Centre. Leash-free dog area. Part of Greenbelt, rural location.

POSSIBLE FUTURE DIRECTION: Moderate activity level with secondary level access. Parking. Cootes to Escarpment Park System information and map required.