Rouge River Valley, Toronto

There was an article in the Toronto Star the other day stating that the Federal Government is about to announce the creation of Canada's newest - and first urban - National Park This will be the Rouge River National Park on the eastern boundary of the City of Toronto.

In the early 1950s Toronto was slammed by Hurricane Hazel which left nearly 100 people dead and upwards to $1,000,000 in damages both to the city and to the rich agricultural area - the Holland marsh - to the north. Due to the destruction and the loss of life the City Fathers passed a by-law forbidding people from living in the ravines that scour the city. This has created a series of wonderful parks - some with formal gardens and playing fields, others left in a natural state but with paved bicycle/hiking paths - throughout the city. The most easterly of these is the Rouge River Valley.

I have hiked along some of those trails three times - the first alone one October Saturday in 1997. The second  was with the Out and Out Group and the third by myself again. I have now located more photos (which were taken on my original hike along the Rouge in October, 1997) and I am going to try to add a few of them here - if the program stops balking!

                                                                         
                                                                      A Wild Lily



The Toronto  Zoo will remain where it is now located and will become the northwest anchor to the park. A number of years ago, upon a visit to the zoo, one saw a viewer and a placard. The viewer was aimed to the east and an ugly landfill site. The next two photos are of that landfill now that Mother Nature has reclaimed her land.

Near the zoo the Rouge and the 'Little Rouge' flow together. This next photo is of the Little Rouge

For a little river the stream has carved out an impressive valley as the following photos illustrate.

For me, another delight in living in a city where 'the wild' is nearby is the example of wildlife. The following photo shows the work of beavers who are also reclaiming 'their territory'.

I have located a few photos which I took on the first hike down the Rouge Rover Valley in October, 1997.

The beautiful Rouge River Valley in its autumn glory. An overgrown field.

Further down the Valley.

The final photo was taken near the bottom and close to the campground. Mere yards from this point the river flows into Lake Ontario.