There are some unique and interesting habitat islands in the Hamilton area. These are a few of the most easily accessed. For more, see 'Naturally Hamilton!', the Hamilton Naturalists' Club's guide to the green spaces of Hamilton-Wentworth and area.

Hamilton Region

• Royal Botanical Gardens: Cootes Paradise, Hendrie Valley and other areas. Trail maps are available at RBG centre. Wetlands, forests and creeks can all be explored here. Some areas have native trees and other plants labelled.
  
  
• Red Hill Valley: the largest urban park in Ontario, and the only remaining natural corridor linking the escarpment to the Lake Ontario shoreline in the Hamilton area. Access is from Mud St. and Mount Albion Rd., 4km west of Hwy 20. Windermere Basin can be accessed from Eastport Drive, about 2km east of Toll Gate Ponds.
  
  
• Dundas Valley: miles of trails through Carolinian forest. Access from Governor's Road (Hwy 99) in Dundas. This is a deep-cut valley along the Niagara Escarpment that is becoming more isolated from surrounding natural areas due to urban expansion.