| |
Each hike will almost always offer excellent wildflower viewing if walked during the suggested months of the year.
Blooming seasons may vary from season to season due to weather conditions.
|
|
|
|
|
 Hike 1
A spring walk in Oakville. Oakville
Hike 2
A spring walk in Milton at Halton Falls
A spring walk in Mississauga at Sawmills Creek
Hike 3
A summer walk near Rice Lake Rice Lake
Hike 5
Canada Day in Ontario's Savanna. Pinery
Hike 4
A fall walk in Etobicoke Humber Butterfly Habitat
Disclaimer
Wildflowers4Families tries very hard to provide up-to-date information that’s accurate and informative. This site or any of its contributors can not be held responsible for hikers getting lost, hurt, or otherwise inconvenienced. Remember: you always hike at your own risk. |
Hiking information
When Wildflowers4Families endorses a walk, we identify it with our logo of the little boy like this:
This means one of us has walked the walk. Or, we received a great hiking tip from a well-recognized, experienced naturalist we trust.
- Walks submitted by wildflowers4families visitors
If a walk gets high ratings from numerous website visitors, we will list it on this site. We will be able to endorse the hike after we have walked the path ourselves or obtained feedback from a recognized naturalist. We love to hear from you. Submit your suggestions for nature exploration within the larger GTA today.
Please keep in mind, trails, access points, and parking along the route can change.
- Growing and flowering seasons
Most wildflowers within the GTA grow and flower within predictable time frames. For example, within the GTA, Trilliums are in bloom from mid-May until early June. Weather conditions may cause the flowering season to peak a bit earlier or later. You are most likely to find what you are hoping to see when you time your visit around the middle of the flowering season. So, plan to see fields of Trilliums early June.
Please, read the signs when you arrive at the trail head. Follow these instructions at all times. The rest we have all heard before: stay on the path, don’t litter, don’t feed any animals, don’t pick the flowers, and generally respect nature.
- What to bring? What to wear?
Always bring plenty of water, preferably a bottle for each person walking. Bring some water even if you plan to walk for a short time, and even when it’s not particularly warm when you start your hike. Other items to bring: a small wildflower field quide, a pen, sun hats, sun glasses, granola bars or similar snack, map, camera, and suntan lotion. The only thing we ever truly regretted not bringing, you guessed it: water. Depending on the season, bring a rain coat and/or sweater. Wear shoes with ankle support; especially avoid flip flops and open-toes if you plan to hike on nature trails.
Confessions of a dog lover: I ignored for years the ‘keep-on-leash-at-all-times’ signs posted at just about every trail head. Like many others, I held on to ill-conceived, romantic notions of walking my city slicker canine through open fields and leafy forests. It’s a bad idea for many reasons. Your dog will likely get dirty and thirsty, may pick up ticks, could get lost, and scare other hikers.
Even when you keep your pet on the lead, she may try to chase wildlife; get into fights with pets others allow to run free; and generally cause significant stress at a time you try to relax and enjoy nature. We suggest: do yourself, your family and, mostly your dog, a favour; leave her safely at home.
Contact
info@Wildflowers4Families.org if you encounter difficulties with our hiking instructions. Also, we would love to see your submissions of photos, stories and art work. We may even post them on our website. |
|
