Westward Ho! Walking Along The Westway and Westward on Chapman Creek

In an earlier post, I explored the eastern portion of Chapman Creek and Ravine.  I’ve also come across references to it known as the Humber Creek, Little Humber Creek, and as Sturgeon Creek.  But the creek doesn’t begin at Royal York Road.  It actually appears to begin between Kipling and Islington Avenues.  A lovely portion of the creek runs between Islington Avenue and Royal York Road.  Here the trek isn’t so strenuous.  A park runs along the entire stretch of the creek between these two roads and the creek is a little more accessible to the urban wanderer. 

I started my journey at Islington, where the creek meets the road.  It runs underneath Islington to the east. Here is it is hidden off the west side of the street in a deep narrow ravine, dense and tangled with trees and bushes.  It was very hard to see and it actually looked quite dry there.  

The creek is in there somewhere...

To make a nice circuit, I travelled south to The Westway.  It is a long stretch here with little to see but tall fences.  Very few residences actually front Islington at this stretch of street.  The Westway is where the fun begins. This is a winding road that runs from Martin Grove Road to Royal York Road, where it becomes Lawrence Avenue.  It is a quiet residential stretch that bends and curves gracefully and climbs and dips over hills.  It is a fun road to drive because of this, and a good way to avoid the traffic on Dixon or Eglinton, and it is certainly a fun walk for all the same reasons.  The street is tree lined and fronted by a strong mix homes from the post-war housing boom to new construction.  Closer to Islington the homes are quainter and older trees line the street.  Had the street been designed in a straight line, it would be a short walk.  But its meandering, light traffic flow and small town feel makes for a lovely stroll.  As you get closer to Royal York road, the road becomes hilly and creates a little bit of a challenge.  It’s also hotter in the summer; newer homes in light coloured brick line this stretch, rammed against the curb, changing the feel of the neighbourhood.  Large paved drives, matching bricked over yards and no trees have created a sun bake which is uncomfortable in the summer.  Thankfully, though you don’t have to swelter for long. 

The creek makes it's way under Royal York Road

Close to where the Westway meets Royal York lies a strip of park land, creating a small oasis of green along Chapman Creek.  To the south of Westway, Valleyfield Park stretches out diagonally to Royal York, with a paved path to lead you there.  It ends kitty-corner to Douglas B. Ford Park.  It is a bit of an alley way, running behind large homes, hemmed in by iron fencing on one side and the creek on the other.  

On the south side of The Westway, the path is tidy and inviting.

To the North of Westway, beginning behind a large cemetery, runs a path which I have never been able to figure out if it is the start of Alex Marchetti Park, or if it is just an alleyway.  The southerly entrance to the park is a little creepy.  The path, while paved, is worn down and is starting to be overcome at the edges by vegetation.  Given that there is a high school a block away, when the weather is good and the leaves on the trees provide more cover, it is a favourite place for young teenage boys to hide out and do pot while cutting classes or during their lunch breaks.  

On the north side of The Westway, nature is slowly taking over and the sense of foreboding is strong.

Fortunately, it is not a long stretch.  The creek here runs gently and at a footbridge that crosses it there are always ducks.  

You lose the path for a short stretch here, there is a grassy park with playground equipment, but if you follow the treeline westerly you will see another little footbridge that takes you back over the creek.  Again, you walk through a short stretch that doesn’t quite feel safe, it’s treed and feels isolated.  There is a surprising amount of foot traffic here, mostly locals taking a shortcut to a nearby grocery store on Royal York.  A five minute walk will find a path to the North that leads to Dixington Crescent.  If you skip this and continue on, you will enter Alex Marchetti Park.  This park was recently upgraded thanks to some fundraising efforts of local moms.  It was previously known as Sun Row Park, but was named after a local city councillor who passed away in 2007.  It has quite a large expanse of open space and is surrounded by trees, a few homes and the creek.  It has two very odd hills.  The one closest to the playground is dirt that was brought in when the upgraded the park and it was allowed to grass over, but a second very large hill at the west end of the park has always puzzled me.  It has never seemed natural.  The path along here runs very close to the creek, but it can be hard to make out in places because of the dense bushes and trees. 

A word to the wise, there are a number of apartment buildings nearby and many of the tenants bring their dogs here in the evening.  Despite the fact that there is a playground close by, many give their dogs free run off leash in the park. 

We hit Islington in short order and made our way home, two tired dogs happy from their adventure.   

Useful Information:

•  Duration of Walk:  Roughly one hour (based on short legs, picture taking and doggy care)
• Difficulty:  MEDIUM The parks are fine and level and paved.  The stretch along The Westway is also paved however it is hilly and could provide some challenge, especially to those with mobility issues.  
• Parking/Getting There:  There is parking at Valleyfield park, next to the tennis courts. Otherwise take the TTC.  37 Islington from Islington subway station will get you there fine and you can get off at The Westway or at Dixon.  You can also take the 58 Malton from the Lawrence West Station, although that's a very long bus ride.  Get off at Islington and go south.  
• Washrooms:  No.    
• Local Coffee Haunts:  No.   
•  Safety Factor: MEDIUM - Walk during the day when there is a lot of foot traffic.
• Special Equipment:  No, this is mostly a residential walk
• Suitable for Dogwalking?: Absolutely.  Always on a leash.  

Urban Exploring – Toronto’s Chapman Creek Ravine

[December 8, 2010 - Some may know of this creek as Humber Creek or Sturgeon Creek. I've been coming across several different names for this creek in various different sources.]

[WARNING:  This is not a recommended trek and was done only to satisfy my own curiosity.  The trek along the Chapman Creek Ravine requires a certain level of experience and fitness to complete from end to end.  Despite the fact that many homes line the ravine, should you get hurt or fall, it may be a very long time before you are discovered.  Chapman Creek Ravine has also been recommended as a Ecologically Sensitive Area and as such should remain as undisturbed as possible.  As well, flash floods are known to occur among many of the area ravines and you can very quickly find yourself trapped in a very serious situation.]

When you look at any Toronto map you will see a small beltway of green laying running between Royal York Road and Scarlett Road, running south of and parallel to Lawrence Avenue.  A small creek runs through here, marked on the maps as Chapman Creek or Chapman Ravine.  It actually originates west of Islington, flowing eastward on to the Humber.  I had been convinced that there had to be a continuous path across this beltway.  Beginning at Royal York Road, Douglas B. Ford park (formerly Weston Wood Park, it has been renamed in honour of our new mayor’s late father), in the back southeast corner of the park, there is a mowed greenway running between the houses and the wooded creek bed.  Although not marked on the Toronto Trail Map, it is clearly an intentional path as municipal park garbage cans can be found back here.  It quickly picks up as a footpath running through the trees along the south side of the creek.  This is not a groomed trail.  It can be quite mucky in places and in fact a number of feeder streams and swampy areas run across the trail.  

Chapman Creek April 2010

Chapman Creek icing over in November 2010

Wooden pallets lay across the path at it’s wettest or over running streams to facilitate walking, however these are not maintained and some show considerable wear from the elements.  This path continues on for about a quarter of a mile.  A footbridge crosses the creek north to provide access to Leggett Avenue.  There is access to the south from Westmount Park Road and a maintained basketball court sits here as well. 

A footpath continues on at this point, but I highly doubt it is in any way an official path.  It is actually less mucky in this point and very lovely.  It continues forward another 0.25 mile until it dead ends in a portion where the creek does a steep double back.  I had walked to this point several times in the spring but could not see any place where the path continued.  In the spring there is a glorious candy-like sprinkling of wildflowers, and the sight of it was soul-restoring after a long, harsh winter. 

Various Wildflowers and Foliage to be found in the Spring.  April 2010.

Crab Apples November 2010

I could see a footpath on the other side of the creek but could not determine how to get over there.  In the spring, the creek ran fast and deep and in my sneakers I could see no way of crossing there.  An exploration of the surrounding streets showed no signs of a point of access.  This morning I decided to try this path again in the hopes that what footpath existed might be seen more clearly without all the dense green foliage.  No path on the south side could be seen, but I was able to cross the creek here.  A natural path of stones jutted out from the much shallower water and I was able to continue on the north side of the creek. 

[At this point, I no longer recommend going further.  It is easier and far safer to access the remainder of the creek by backtracking to Westmount or Royal York Road. , and then accessing the official path again from the south of the creek at Chapman Valley Park.  I can no longer locate a listing for this park on the City of Toronto website directory of parks.  You can access this park by following Chapman Road east from Royal York until you reach a sharp bend in the road.  You should be able to access the park from there.]

Looking Down at the Creek from High Above.

This part is much rougher and less used then the path before I crossed the creek.  Many large trees have fallen across the path and I need to clamour over them.  This area is very rough terrain, and to my left as I walked eastward a sharp hill rises.  Many houses line the ravine high above me.  To my right, the creek drops further and further below me and it is not long until there is a good 15 foot drop on that side.  The path stays far enough from the edge that I feel okay until we get close to its absolute end.  Here the terrain has become so steep it is impossible and treacherous to walk further.  I track my way back and notice a place where others have obviously climbed down to the creek bed and then climbed up the other side.  Both accesses look steep and doable.  The way down was more treacherous than I was expecting, the soil was very soft and crumbly and I fell at the bottom when I was unable to keep my feet from sliding.    At the base of the ravine face, it is much steeper than it appeared from the other side, but I managed to make my way to the top.  At the top, there is a wide natural ledge, with another sharp rise of hill to the right.  I follow along the creek until I meet up with the official path at Chapman Valley Park. This path is very short, maybe another quarter of a mile in total and hits Scarlett Road with a very steep hill to climb to access the road.  Raymore Park runs along Scarlett Road on the east side.  However there is no pedestrian crossing here.  Traffic runs fast so extra caution must be used to cross the road, otherwise you have to go a considerable distance south to use a lighted crosswalk.

I am trying to find out some historical information on the Ravine or Creek, but have had no joy.  It may warrant a trip to the reference library or land registry office to try to determine some of it’s secret history.

Where Chapman Creek meets Humber River at Raymore Park, Etobicoke

I headed north along Raymore Park and Lions Park.  I will do a blog on Raymore Park and Lions Park another time.  Their history is deeply rooted in the events that have shaped the City into what is today and it truly deserves it’s own blog.  I picked up Lawrence Avenue and made my way home.  This walk was a truly challenging one and at the end of the day, my legs felt the burn. 

• Duration of Walk:  Roughly one and 1/2  hour from my doorstep and back (based on short legs and picture taking )
• Difficulty: EASY to DANGEROUS.  Chapman Creek is unpaved/ungroomed, but walking on the actual paths at the east and west end are short and no too difficult.  To trek the whole is very challenging requiring climbing, dealing with obstacles and high drops.  Not recommended.  
• Parking/Getting There:  There is a parking lot at the Metro/shopping complex across the street from Douglas B. Ford Park.
• Washrooms:  No.    
• Local Coffee Haunts:  No.  
•  Safety Factor:  DANGEROUS.  As stated above there are many opportunities to injure yourself here.  If you must venture into the ravine itself, take a buddy and proceed with extreme care.  
• Special Gear:  Yes.  You will need suitable hiking boots, preferably water proof.  Bring clothes you don't mind getting muddy.  
• Suitable for Dogwalking?: No.  There are many sensitive plants along the creek which may be damaged or destroyed by dogs.  The path is very narrow, basically just a footpath, and it would be impossible to keep a dog solely on the trail.