There is so much you can do in Hamilton, Ontario. Hamilton is very famous for its numerous waterfalls (more than 100 !) and exquisite hiking trails. If you want to spend only one day in Hamilton and want to make the most out if it, here is a one day itinerary that you will for sure enjoy !
Tiffany Falls
Tiffany falls is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful in Hamilton, and the best thing about it is that you can reach the bottom of the falls and dip your hands into the water. First tip, start your day as early as possible because they do get crowded, especially in weekends. Plan to reach the falls by 9:00 am maximum. If you are driving from Toronto, that's approximately one hour drive so plan to leave by 8:00 am. The easiest way to park is to park at Tiffany Falls parking lot, which is located just at the start of the trail. Keep in mind that the parking is $11 for a maximum of 1 hour.
The trail to Tiffany falls from the parking is very short, but very beautiful. Especially if you arrive there early morning, you can barely find anyone else.
Sherman Falls
Sherman Falls is also gorgeous, and it is a must see in Hamilton and conveniently located very close to Tiffany Falls. Similar to Tiffany Falls, you can reach the bottom of the falls and freshen up under the water before your continue the rest of your day.
To reach Sherman Falls, take the trail from Tiffany Falls to Sherman Falls. It is an absolutely gorgeous trail. This trail is part of the Bruce Trail and you can find it in All Trails app or website. It is 2 km one way and is fairly easy to hike. You will see lot's of butterflies on this trail and you may spot couple of snakes like we did !
Canterbury Falls
If you continue on the Bruce trail past Sherman Falls you will reach Canterbury falls and I recommend you do since it is very close. Unfortunately, on our trip we did not get the chance to do it but we'll make sure we stop by next time.
Then, you can either continue on the Bruce trail to reach Dundas Valley conservation area or head back to the car through the same trail and drive to the infamous Dundas Valley conservation area.
Dundas Valley Conservation area
Dundas Valley conservation area has MANY trails and it is our intention to explore them all on different trips. For one day trip, we chose the below route and it was absolutely stunning.
Main Loop Trail
You can park at the Dundas Valley Trail Parking. This parking is also $11 but for the whole day. The Main Loop Trail is just steps away from this parking lot and it is a 4.5 km loop trail with a small river across the way and amazing scenery.
Griffin House
Before you reach halfway across the trail loop, you will find a sign for Griffin House, it is less than 1 km detour from the main trail and I totally recommend it. Griffin house is a national historic site built in 1827 and was purchased by Enerals Griffin who was a former slave and was self-liberated by escaping to Canada. The area around the house is so serene and calm. We even spotted 2 deer jumping around there. It is also a nice spot to stop and have lunch. There are few picnic tables around the house that you can use. We walked just few steps behind the house and found a very nice picnic spot where we throw our picnic mat and had lunch while enjoying the sounds of the birds and serenity of the place.
Lookout Loop Trail
From Griffin house, you can head back to the Main Loop Trail, or you can elongate your hike and go to the lookout Loop Trail first. The lookout trail is an extremely nice trail full of tall trees and you feel that you are walking in a forest. The loop is 2.3 km and it will take you back to the place near the Griffin house again, where you can now head back to the Main Loop Trail.
As you continue the Main Loop Trail, you will pass by the ruins of the Hermitage that was originally build in 1830, another nice spot to stop and enjoy the scenery.
By the end of this loop, you will reach the parking lot again and you would have accomplished at least 12 km of hiking, falls viewing and and a picnic in the midst of the beauty of Hamilton, Ontario.
How to get there from Toronto?
If you don't own a car, you can either go to Hamilton using the Go Train or you can rent a car. Currently, our favorite company for car rental is Communauto as we usually find it to be the cheapest.
Let me know in the comments if you would add anything to this itinerary, I am always looking for new ideas. If you followed this itinerary, I will be delighted to hear your feedback in the comments or get in touch if you have any questions/comments.
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