The Ghost of Coldspring Valley

RBG Trail Map of Coldspring Valley Trails laid over Lot M Parking

We have learned a lot about the history of Coldspring Valley in recent years. The desecration of this nature sanctuary belonging to the Royal Botanical Gardens as it was paved to create parking lots for McMaster University started in earnest in 1963, the year McMaster University purchased the land from the RBG.

The land was taken from the RBG under duress, as the RBG's Annual Report of 1962 reveals:

"Negotiations pertaining to...land requirements of McMaster University for its projected expansion programme, have caused much soul searching on the part of the Board of the Royal Botanical Gardens. The Board is well aware that it was not established by Provincial Statute in 1941 to witness the disintegration of this property. Indeed it is particularly sensitive about this at a time when governments at all levels are striving to amplify rather than reduce such holdings."

What we are highlighting here are the available hand drawn maps of the former trail system, unfortunately not to scale, which we have overlaid on a google map to get a rough idea of the extent of the trail system. Our goal now is to take a GPS unit and try our best to retrace the routes followed by Erigan Trail, Maria's Walk, Prospect Circuit, Transvalley Trail, and of course the creek hugging Coldspring Trail.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact me at dundastard[at]gmail[dot]com

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