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Etobicoke Creek (“ We’re Going to the End of the Line ”)

I’ve lived near here for 25 years but until yesterday had not explored the area. This morning I set off with my camera.

Here’s a crude map showing my little trek from Burnhamthorpe Road to Highway 401.

Yesterday I set off up Mill Road and dropped down to the creek from Centennial Park Boulevard; this morning I started at the entrance due west of Sheridan Nurseries.

The little dotted section is a piece where I walked the bike, the track being too rough.

The break at the northern end is where I walked the bike across a ford.

A bed of beautiful Iris just north of where I live. This greeted me as I set off.

Here I am on Mill Road preparing to turn left (west) on to Burnhamthorpe.

At the entrance, looking North. The track to the left would take us to the baseball diamonds, but we take the track to the right.

Beautiful Willows join me in greeting the morning sunrise .

The bridges are modern-rustic. This particular one is modern-rusted. It is waiting to be lifted into place across a tributary creek.

Here’s what its brother looks like as we approach it from a distance.

Here is a closer look. We are about to pass from Mississauga to Toronto, across Etobicoke Creek.

Brand new rustic bridges span the creek. I’m on one looking downstream.

From the same bridge looking upstream. One of the cliffs of shale can be seen; it contributes its rock to the flat rock that lines the creek bed all the way to Marie Curtis park .

Large trees line the path, and will shade us no matter what time of day we travel.

There are glades of wildflowers (did I get that right?) all along the creek. This one stretches back through the trees ….

This is out of focus because I took it while traveling. The path winds through trees, very pleasant, and it would be so at mid-day, too.

Here we are at the junction of yesterday’s morning’s track coming down from Centennial Park Boulevard. The sealed track ends, and a hard-paved gravel section begins.

Looking back at the junction, that’s the trail from Centennial Park Boulevard coming down hill - and that’s the shallow part of the hill. It is definitely a walk-the-bike-up hill!

Along the track are pleasant views of the “babbling brook”.

Just south of Eglinton Avenue there is a large drain. With the gas vent on top, it looks suspiciously like a water treatment plant outfall. Ugh!

There are numerous Deep Dark Dank Dingy Dungeon Forests.

But mainly expansive views of the creek off to one side.

Here I am approaching the Eglinton Avenue bridge.

Looking back after passing (from the right) to the north under the bridge. The track that leads up to the left probably joins the Eglinton Bike path.

Here’s a sign describing the Etobicoke Creek Trail .

Another view from a bridge. The pool is placid, but the current is there.

From the same bridge looking North towards Matheson Boulevard.

Between Matheson Boulevard and Highway 401 a creek runs in from the west.

A rocky ford permits a traverse, but you don’t ride across this ford!

Past the ford the track degenerates into patches of loose gravel. Up on the edge of the track a bike path has been ridden through the grass and clay. It is preferable to cycling on the gravel at this point.

The creek and trees are still beautiful ….

… when suddenly! A small airplane takes off from Runway 06R.

Yup! We have reached Highway 401; trucks lumber towards the top of Toronto.

And so I head for home, back down the track to Burnhamthorpe, back down Mill Road.

I started this essay with a view or Iris.

Here to end the essay is another bed of iris. They are getting past their prime (Monday, June 08, 2009), but are the largest blooms I’ve ever seen.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

This morning I spotted a set of steps I’d not spotted before.

There are four stages leading up to the end of Rathburn Road East, I think.

Note the track for bicycles up the northern side of the stairs.

Nice touch!

Here is a closer look at the foot of the track.

I bet this end is fun to see during a rain-storm!

Monday, August 03, 2009

This morning I located the top of the steps and bike ramp.

They are accessible from the eastern end of Rathburn Road

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Bonavista, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 9:32 AM

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