- HikeType Birding Hikes
- PaceTypes Leisurely - 3km/hr or less
- TerrainTypes Easy - Mostly flat and usually good footing
- PaidOuting No
Hosting Club: Iroquoia
Category: Birding Hikes
Location (Google Maps): Saltfleet Conservation Area
Hike Leader(s): Shayne Ward Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)
Pace: Leisurely - 3km/hr or less
Terrain: Easy - Mostly flat and usually good footing
Description
Join the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club's Shayne Ward and the Hamilton Conservation Authority's Ben Laing for a special evening bird walk at Saltfleet Conservation Area in Stoney Creek! This collaborative event pairs BTC hike leadership with HCA's on-the-ground expertise for a close look at fall migration in one of Hamilton's birding hotspots!
We'll wander the trails around Saltfleet's wetlands, keeping an eye out for lingering warblers, shorebirds, and early-arriving waterfowl as fall migration ramps up. HCA's Ben Laing will bring a spotting scope to help us pick out any peeps and ducks tucked into the back of the ponds, and we'll take some time to check out the site's restoration work, including the wetland cells and a resident purple martin house.
This is a great outing for birders of all experience levels — bring your binoculars if you have them, or just come curious! No binoculars?! IBTC has loaners for this hike provided by NOCS Provisions!
🌈 This is a queer-led, 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive Rainbow Hike, welcoming LGBTQ+ hikers, allies, birders, photographers, and anyone interested in connecting with nature and community. This is a short, relaxed hike (approx. 5 km or less) designed to get us moving and birding!
What to Bring
- Water and light snacks
- Weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear
- Binoculars or camera if you have them (optional but fun! And a cell phone counts!)
🚗 🚌 This outing is accessible by car or public transit.
Planning to Drive?
Saltfleet is an HCA Conservation Area and parking is $8.50 per-vehicle entry fee at the gate. If this is a barrier for you, please reach out — Shayne is happy to help coordinate a shuttle or carpool from a nearby meeting point.
Taking the Bus?
HSR #44 stops near the trailhead entrance at Upper Centennial and Green Mountain! Map of the bus and it's schedule can be found here.
https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/hsr-route-44-RYMAL-Fall-2026-Schedule.pdf
Not a Bruce Trail member yet?! Sign up here: https://brucetrail.org/become-a-member/
Questions? Simply click "Contact Hike Leader" on the registration form.