The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Royal Botanical Gardens

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 Ravine Road Trail is a lesser-known gem within the Royal Botanical Gardens, offering a beautifully secluded experience where you'll enjoy far more silence compared to the popular, often busy loop around Princess Point. This trail is a paved, well-maintained road that is fully shaded by the forest canopy, making it perfect for an easy and quiet walk through the woods. Note that the main parking lot at the trailhead charges a fee of $8.00, though you can sometimes find limited, legal free parking options a bit further away on surrounding side streets.

Hendrie Valley Sanctuary, part of the Royal Botanical Gardens, is a beautiful 100-hectare protected area centred around an expansive river-mouth marsh complex, forested slopes, and four creeks, including Grindstone Creek, forming one of the most ecologically significant wetland corridors on Lake Ontario. Boardwalks and trails follow the creek through marsh pools, wooded slopes, and oxbows, with plenty of chances to spot herons, turtles, and warblers. There is a lovely 4.5-kilometre trail network with several easy access points, making it an excellent place for a leisurely walk, with plenty of wildlife to see along the way.

Grindstone Creek flows through Hendrie Valley in a wide, slow-moving channel, bordered by cattail marshes and floodplain forest. The waterway supports rich wetland habitat, with herons, turtles, and warblers common along its banks. Boardwalks and trails in the Royal Botanical Gardens closely follow the creek, offering continuous views of oxbows, marsh pools, and wooded slopes, creating the perfect atmosphere to slow down and take in the quiet, beautiful scenery.

The Grindstone Marshes Trail winds through the lush wetlands of Hendrie Valley, with elevated boardwalks and well-maintained paths running along the edges of Grindstone Creek, where herons, turtles, and songbirds thrive in the cattails and shallow waters. The route connects Laking Garden to other trails, including the North and South Bridle Trails, as well as wooded groves and the Royal Botanical Gardens. It's the perfect place for a peaceful escape just outside Burlington.

Stretching for over 980 hectares between Burlington and Hamilton, the Royal Botanical Gardens are Canada's largest botanical garden and also one of the most diverse. Visitors can wander along the many trails through the gardens, forests, and marshlands. The gardens also encompass the 600-hectare Cootes Paradise Nature Sanctuary, itself an important environmental landmark.