HCA 50th Anniversary Projects

Eramosa Karst Conservation Area

On land donated by the Province of Ontario, the HCA will develop and manage the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area as a conservation and passive outdoor recreation resource. The Heritage Green Community Trust donation of $1.5 million will be used to build and operate this conservation area. A 2,400 metre self-guiding trail will be created to take visitors to the most scenic and interesting sites in the karst lands. A karst landscape is an area of limestone with underground drainage and many cavities and passages caused by dissolving rock. The Eramosa Karst contains examples of 16 distinct karst features, seven of which are provincially significant. Eramosa Karst will be connected by a 10 km trail loop to existing conservation and city lands and will result in a contiguous parkland system of 240 hectares in the most rapidly growing part of Hamilton.  Learn more about the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area. 

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 open space for a multi-use trail. It will connect the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area to other HCA and City of Hamilton open space, parkland and waterfalls on the East Hamilton and Stoney Creek Mountain such as Felker’s Falls, Albion Falls, the Red Hill Valley and Chippawa Trails, Valley Park and Mount Albion Conservation Area to the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area. The project brings a new inventory of natural areas with strong connecting green corridors that provide significant “human” and wildlife habitat in East Hamilton. The Hamilton Conservation Foundation is raising funds for the 3.1 km share of the ten kilometre trail.

Learn more about the East Mountain Trail Loop and how to contribute to this project.