eramosa karst

510chrisww

lots of beauty in this scenic place, neat caves and many different species of plants and trees.Lots of indigenous wildlife creeping around, fun for the whole family.

282mishas

The trails were enjoyable and the kids loved all the cave openings. You can not go very far into the caves without getting down on your stomach. I do want to go back as the trails were very easy and didn't require any climbing which will be great for my older dog. Also it was very unclear as to whether or not you need to pay to go hiking here as there was a machine but it wasn't working. For most of the hike I couldn't help but worry if I was going to come out and find my car had been ticketed.

klaurasam

great trail, lots of caves, quiet - if you can walk here , its a great trail - paid parking is an issue. Used to be very busy but now you pay for parking, its quiet

MB-1WorldTraveler

PROS: • The trails, with pretty sections, vary from spacious to narrow. • It has benches throughout the area. I only saw one of the caves because I didn't grab a map--trust me and pick up a map at the entrance! CONS: The only drawback that I could see was a lack of signs.

Zeusthecockapoo

This site has a few interesting geologic features although I can't say I was really blown away. If you visit you must do the longer yellow trail as the main karst formations are all located along the upper part of this route. The karst with the long narrow crevices were pretty eye-catching. This alone made the sight worthwhile in my opinion. I think part of my disappointment though was timing. I suspect that it is easier to see the sink holes and other features when the area is less overgrown. Also wish the trails were a bit more clearly marked and points of interest highlighted by signage. Least they could do considering you have to pay to park there. Nonetheless this is a good place for a walk and the large open field had lots of nice wildflowers and birds to observe.

ED652

I recently was going up to the East Mountain movie theatre and decided to check out the Eramosa Karst Conservation area while I was in the area. I found it to be a hidden gem. It was a 1 1/2 block walk from the theatre so if you are going by public transit you just get off at Upper Mount Albion and head south for a ten minute walk before you find the entrance. There is a paid parking lot at the entrance as well as some picnic tables and a public washroom. There are also printed maps you can take with you. There are several well marked trails offering a variety of walking options. The trails are level and great for small kids or strollers or for those who can't handle uneven paths. Each of the trails is less than 2km long but if you want a longer walk you can mix them up. There are caves to look at and other natural points of interest. Gorgeous meadows filled with a variety of wild flowers. I spent about an hour there and covered two trails while stopping numerous times to look at things and take photos.

swontariogirl

obviously they have deadended the road to get here. The directions on the pamphlet were wrong, but the website has the new ones....started down the trail before realizing that it was a pay parking lot. Awesome new bathrooms to use before you go. Trail signage was an issue for us and others we met on the trail. Having colour markings on a sign isn't any good if the trail map is monotone. Made it to the Nexus cave. Unfortunate about the garbage and broken glass in it. Wish someone would clean it up and others respect the area. Trails were nice. Well kept up and someplace I've wanted to go for awhile that I can take off the bucket list.

268be

We thoroughly enjoyed our walk through this well-maintained conservation area. It only costs $2/hr to park or $10/day. This is a small price to pay considering there is are clean washrooms with hot/cold water and soap! The caves are not deep, but very interesting nonetheless. A few parts were overgrown (Blue hole)...to be expected in August. We took a wrong turn, so our orange and yellow trails took a couple of hours...the whole thing can probably be done in 2-3 hours tops, walking slowly and stopping to take pictures. There were quite a few locals there on fitness walks and jogging. It isn't huge but still informative and enjoyable.It is great that Hamilton chose to preserve this area.

MeaghanEdwards

Minus the ticks (all part of being out in nature though) and the odd idiot with an offleash dog, Eramosa Karst is a very special place. There are a number of trails to check out with little caves to check out along the way. Once, while I was out on the trail, I happened upon some turkeys! Keep your eye out for the wildlife, which includes coyotes (another good reason to leash your dog; why should wild animals be villainized when harssed by wildlife?) but if you are respectful no problems should arise.

warnel

The reviews and naming of the geological features can set you up for disappointment here. Sinkholes, caves and natural amphitheatres invoke images of dramatic landscape. But if you bare in mind there is nothing deeper than 10 feet to be seen here you will no doubt have a pleasant hike in the woods. Just bare in mind you will not be needing a wide angle lens.

DianS360

Thank goodness Hamilton finally made a good decision to protect these lands. The caves are fascinating. Don't expect huge caves, they're not huge but it's their accessibility that makes them wonderful. You can actually climb down into them and see the lay of the land. It is a beautiful area. There is a small parking fee now which is annoying but not too bad. There are washrooms now during summer months. You can bring a picnic and enjoy sitting on natural rocky areas that just lend themselves to a relaxing day. Unfortunately, like all areas in this part of Ontario, the wild grapevines are killing the mature trees at alarming rates. Maybe take a minute to free a tree from these invasive species that climb the tree until they choke off the sunlight and the tree dies. You will spot the grapevines on most mature trees, they are like vines anywhere from a centimeter wide to over an inch or two and they choke out everything. In a few years if something isn't done about the grapevines, there will be no more trees in this area.

joannem140

There are coyotes in the area that are being crowded in by development and are hungry. There have been warnings about taking dogs in to the conservation area because the coyotes view them as a threat. I once saw a coyote in the middle of the afternoon walking down a driveway nearby. I avoid the karst now. It's better for the wildlife If people stay away anyway.

drmac3meo

A wonderful place to escape the bustle of the city. Great place to walk or ride your bike. Pay parking sucks though. It should be free!

RogueMonk

Nice place to walk. Differing topography. Good facilities. Cool caves. Lots of parking. Several different lengthen loops.

Masha1977

It was lovely surprise to find small caves & hidden streams in that park. Good for the families with kids. I was surprised by the parking charge.