Looking south along the river at North York General Hospital.
Looking north at the Sheppard Ave East bridge over the Don River.
Finally we've come to the end of it all.. Standing on top of the covered subway bridge over the Don River, we will end this edition of #RavineRambles.
Thanks for joining me.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Closure sign.
Near the entrance to the trail, a sign.
Like many things Toronto, pedestrian/cycling access is an afterthought. This is the only safe non-road crossing over 401 in this area & it's been blocked off for 3 years.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
flowing into the Don River.
Flowing under the trail.
Last creek on our way out of the park. This creek does appear to have a name on some maps; Somer Creek
But Ive found no info about it beyond that. Like many waterways, it's history is not recorded.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Creek flowing into the Don River.
Creek flowing down from Shaughnessy Blvd.
Heading north, another creek, unnamed but this one does appear on the maps.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
The hole in the fence on the north side of the highway.
Back on Betty Sutherland trail.
Finally on the other side of the highway. But the snow here is too shallow for snowshoes, so it's a walk upto Leslie Station.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Heading under the 401
A temporary bridge under a bridge..
Through the construction.
The views under the highway as the river flows through a construction site.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Looking back at the fence.
Onward and under the 401.
On the other side of the fence, the underpass under highway 401 awaits.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
The imposing two layer fence set up to prevent access.
Past the first layer of fencing.
And success anther opening to the otherside.
Blessed are the trespasses for the find a way!
Like all fences in the Don Valley, they're but a suggestion. No one can fence the valley off from those who wish to explore it.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Never the sign you want to see.
The trail leading upto the 401 does not look promising, big fences are up.
At this point following the creek we've followed down to The Don has lead us to the paved trail that goes under the 401
Due to construction the trail has been closed for last 3 years. But nothing is truly closed
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
An abandoned tent near meters from the biggest highway in the city.
Several small tents in an encampment down in a ravine near a creek.
Someone's ride, locked in the woods.
Valley has always been home to the least desirable elements of the city. Stories of ruffians & outcasts residing in valley are as old as the city itself
Today sadly is no exception. Encampments dot the valley.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
The Highway, fenced off from the valley makes an impassible obstacles.
Heading further north we hit the behemoth that is the 401.
This highway cuts the city and the valley. It dominates with sheer width and noise.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Same area from previous post before the tree planting.
This is what it looked like back in fall of 2018 before the major tree planting occurred.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Rows of planted trees.
A perfectly aligned forest to be.
The top of the Plateau was at one point a much more barren land, it was cleared at some point for the construction of the highway and never replanted
But now there are rows of planted trees as far as one can see
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Winter 2025
Fall 2018
Bushwhacking out of the lowland and up onto the plateau near the where Don Mills Rd crossed the 401, we get a look at the valley below.
Contrasting views from Fall 2018 to now, in same location.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Snapped tree in the forest.
Wandering through this seldom trekked area, this fallen tree is a reminder of what might be hangin over head
If one fell on me, not sure anyone would find me here
@urbanheadwaters.com this always makes me weary
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
The freeze is happening on the Don River.
At this point I've reached the East Don River. It's wide and freezing over in this section.
Rather unusually wide for this far upstream.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Unnamed creek flowing south-west from Don Mills road
A thick stand of cat tails makes for an impassable terrain.
The unnamed creek meets Don river.. Erosion has exposed a pipe that was suppose to carry the creek under ground.
After leaving the ruins and trekking northbound. Our 1st obstacle.
An unnamed creek and a marsh. Luckily most of the ground is frozen so I kept my feet dry
But you can see the erosion at the mouth with Don River
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Like a bunker built into the side of the hill.
The inside of this ruin, with far less equipment left over.
But where not done with the ruins just yet. There is a second building, a much later addition (possibly 1930's from what I've read) that also served a similar function to pump water up to the estate.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
inside the pump station
The water tank and or boiler. Still standing in the valley
The second room of the ruins, note the current lack of roof.
Views inside the pump station.. someone has been here and left a large black tub with a yellow lid.
The inside of the ruins is covered with graffiti, but the equipment or some of it is still present. I'm not sure how old this equipment is, but it would very well be from when the building was first constructed.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Views of the ruins
Still standing in the snow.
Parts of the roof still present and collapsed in the second room.
The ruins have seen many winter, the roof is no longer present, but parts of it were still there as recently as 2018.
Now all that's there are walls and two rooms with mechanical equipment.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
There isnt a lot of info about this building, @bobgeorgiouto.bsky.social had a good write up on this place. So much local history is easily forgotten
As did North York Historical Society- nyhs.ca/wp-content/u...
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
An abandoned pump station that's been standing in the valley for over 120 years.
Within 200 meters north from Duncan Mills Rd, we get our first glimpse of the ruins
Former pump house for the Graydon Estates further up hill, it still stands in the valley some 120 plus years later
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
This time I'm in the Betty Sutherland Park, a tucked away section of East Don River just south of HWY 401.
About to head down to visit the Duncan Mill Ruins and hopefully get past the fence under Highway 401.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Just enough snow in the valley to make it worth the attempt.
Duncan mill ruins in the Don Valley.
Alright its been a while, but I've got an afternoon off so its time for a snowshoes for this edition of #RavineRambles
Todays goal is to find some abandoned ruins & trespass under HWY 401.
Come & join along
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
The Duncan mill ruins, sitting early in the East Don Valley.
Within 200 meters of traveling north from Duncan Mills Rd, we get our first glimpse of the ruins
Former pump house for the Graydon Estates further up hill, it still stands in the valley some 120 plus years later
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
This time I'm in the Betty Sutherland Park, a tucked away section of East Don River just south of HWY 401.
About to head down to visit the Duncan Mill Ruins and hopefully get past the fence under Highway 401.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValley #lovetheravines
Finally the outflow surfaces as a pipe at the bank of the West Don River.
That is it for this ramble, thanks for joining in.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValey #lovetheravines #SetonPonds
Front this point to the Don River the outflow runs dry and underground. Not more water is to be seen.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValey #lovetheravines #SetonPonds
New viewing area
The culvert that leads to the river
View north into the pond.
On the south/west corner of the ponds we come to a more recent construction.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValey #lovetheravines #SetonPonds
A view over the Seton Ponds
The view from the viewing platform.
Its still feels sturdy, but I couldn't recommend spending any time on this structure.
#RavineRambles #ravinerambler #DonValleyRover #EastCoastKin #DonValey #lovetheravines #SetonPonds
