Sunset at the Sauriol Cliff.

Catching a spring sunset over the Don Valley at the Sauriol Cliff..

The best vista in the valley.

#lovetheravines #EastCoastKin #ravinerambler #sunset

Panorama of Terraview Pond from the lookout.

Spring has arrived to the headwaters of the Taylor Creek.

The larger of the two ponds, Terraview is out of the deep freeze, but not in full bloom just yet.

#LoveTheRavines #RavineRambler #parksTO #springTO

New bridge looking north.

New bridge looking south.

Last thing to see today was the new Prudential Dr. bridge over the Dorset branch, directly north of the new trail bridge.

This work closed down the road in 2023-24.

That's it for this short #RavineRamble.
Thanks for joining me.

#LoveTheRavines #RavineRambler #HighlandCreek #parksTO #EastCoastKin

Former Highland creek channel still carrying water to the current creek.

The two parts of highland creek meet under the temporary construction bridge. Old channel on the left, new channel on the right.

The post 1965 West Highland Creek Channel, unnaturally straight.

Now back to the abandoned creek channel. Right at the foot of the temporary bridge it meets the current creek.

Water still flows steady out this channel, it's fed by ground water and is alive and well as its very own stream.

#LoveTheRavines #RavineRambler #HighlandCreek #parksTO #EastCoastKin

The new trail bridge goes over the concrete ford.

Looking south under the new bridge.

Looking north at the temporary work bridge and the forks of the Highland Creek.

The new trail bridge is built directly over the hydro corridor concrete creek ford made for hydro crews to access the areas on the east side of the creek.

I wonder if eventually this new trail will go over the railway corridor.

#LoveTheRavines #RavineRambler #HighlandCreek #parksTO #EastCoastKin

Meadoway trail construction directly south of the pond.

New trail bridge over the West Highland Creek, Dorset branch.

Following this abandoned section to its confluence with Highland creek something new appears. Trail construction & new bridge over the creek.

@rzaichkowski.bsky.social any idea when this happened? This is new from last fall.

#LoveTheRavines #RavineRambler #HighlandCreek #parksTO #EastCoastKin

The spillway from the pond into the abandoned creek channel.

The former creek channel has become marshy. There is still lots of ground water here that is feeding and keeping this abandoned channel alive.

This is now a wetland in its own right.

On east side of pond there is a noticeable dip for an outflow into the abandoned channel and into Highland Creek.

The channel itself is still full of water, having become marshy with ground water.

Lot of ground water here.

#LoveTheRavines #RavineRambler #HighlandCreek #parksTO #EastCoastKin

Pond looking east, train tracks directly behind.

Pond looking north toward the high rises on Prudential Drive.

Pond from near the outflow pipe looking south.

Arsandco Pond pond lies directly east of the woodlot & abandoned channel, in fact it feeds into it.

It was strange to see the pond still frozen this late into March. Built in early 2000s, it first appears in aerial phots in 2005.

#LoveTheRavines #RavineRambler #HighlandCreek #parksTO #EastCoastKin

The stand of old growth woodlot still standing at the old banks of the river.

This is now a nature area.

The woodlot in question. Still standing, seen previously on aerial photos in the 1940s.

Now its just my luck that for some strange reason a snow storm blew in just as I arrived today

1st this that greets you is an old stand of trees that have survived the redevelopment & can be seen as far back as 1940s aerial phots

#LoveTheRavines #RavineRambler #HighlandCreek #parksTO #EastCoastKin

Incase anyone is not familiar with the area, please refer to the google map link below.

#LoveTheRavines #RavineRambler #HighlandCreek #parksTO #EastCoastKin

Map of the highland creek watershed. Red circle is where the area in question is located.

1947 - aerial photos showing the abandoned channel of the creek in question yellow.

1965 - aerial photo showing the abandoned channel in yellow in relation to the rerouted creek directly east of it. Note in red a small unnamed creek that feeds into the creek in this area.

2024 - aerial view of the creek. In yellow the abandoned channel, now marshy and still containing water. In orange, Arsandco Pond, constructed in the early 2000s for storm water management.

Time for another #RavineRamble.

It is a short jaunt on a section of West Highland Creek, Dorset Branch to explore a short abandoned section of creek when it was rerouted during the 1960s.

Follow along, more details in Alt text.

#LoveTheRavines #RavineRambler #HighlandCreek #parksTO #EastCoastKin

As a comparison, here is what the river looked like in this area in 2021.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

Temporary bridge over the river.

Looking across the river to where the fire pit once was.

What the firepit and seating looked like back in 2020.

Finally making it down to the river to see the progress

Lot of change in this area. Looking across the river image 2, they've removed the long standing firepit (image 3). Shame that was a good place to chill after a good ride on trails

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

These bottles were the common beer bottle. That all ended in 1984, making this bottle at least 42 years old.

Old Chevy hubcap.

The valleys are littered the with refuse of man..

Image 1: Stubby beer bottle, at least 40 years old.

Image 2: Chevy hubcap, because motordom must invade all parts of the valley. @normal-cr02-metal.bsky.social any idea of vintage?

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

View over construction in March 2026.

Same view but 360 image in March 2024.

Better view of the construction over the Don River from the top of the hill on the westside of the DVP.

So much destruction.

Second image is the same area form March 2024 to compare the progress in two years time.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

Toronto police service dog training centre.

No parking at the trailhead.

Even on a muddy trail, those pesky cyclists must be policed.

On the west side of the DVP lies the TPS dog training centre and on the east side of it a trail that will lead us to the construction site.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

Looking down the trail to Beechwood and the DVP.

The old electrical shed.

Memories of East York Hydro.

The traffic on the DVP.

Well back we go & down to Beechwood drive to check out the construction from the other side.

But 1st a visit to an old electrical shed by the DVP.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

The trail dead-ends at the construction zone.

Looking west over the DVP to the where the future Ontario Line bridge will be.

Soon as we pass the fence we enter the construction zone. This trail went well past this, but not today. Its a workday & workers on top of the hill were not keen on me going further.

From here we see the current state of construction

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

Beechwood drive dives under the DVP.

A single solitary fence panel... While I appreciate their messaging.. This is no obstacle.

Climbing above Beechwood underpass under the DVP, we hit another fence. Ontario line bridge construction is just around the corner.

But as we've learned previous, fences are but suggestions in the Don Valley, nay they're temptations.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

Another abandoned shed, but this one much higher up the valley behind a fence, but also fenced off from the property its directly behind.

This one might eventually meet the same fate as the Donaconda shed @rudydotca.bsky.social

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

Donaconda climbing up to Beechwood Dr.

Another trail heading north from Beechwood drive.

As Donaconda climbs up to Beechwood Dr, we leave decay behind & enter the destruction & construction portion of this #RavineRamble

Time to go take a look at what is happening in the Don Valley when it comes to Ontario Line construction

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

As @rudydotca.bsky.social mentioned, there was also an old Simpson's tricycle along the trail. It too has been here for many years..

Sadly, I did not locate it this time around. I do hope its still in the valley.

Old image from 2022.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

The Shed at it looked back in May of 2022.

It was degraded and structurally unsound, but still standing...

Now it has fallen, shame another ghost in the valley will soon be no more..

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

Nearest property on Beechwood, far above the shed.

This shed has always been odd, as nearest property is far up hill. But the shed stood firm for many year, it did not slide here. @rudydotca.bsky.social any ideas?

I've heard stories of it existing as far back as 50s, but I doubt that.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

The shed as seen from the trail

Closer inspection.

The front of the shed.

Its collapsed in on itself.

Finally the old Shed comes into view. Its fallen down almost entirely.

I've not seen it in few years, and this is sad to see. Its been here for as long as I can remember. I've heard stories about it, but know no facts, only rumours.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

Time is cruel to all, even those who give comfort on the trails.

I personally always welcome a chance to sit and rest on the trail..

Thought I might pass this one by just due to its general lack of structural integrity.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

Looking down onto the DVP from up high.

Trail fairies working hard to overcome obstacles.

Even old shopping carts get a second life in the Don valley.

More cut fences.. For all fencing is but a suggestion in the Don Valley.

The journey to the find the old Shed continues..

Over Muddy trails and MBT jumps and cut fences..

The journey thru the Don Valley doesn't end easy.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

Ground water still flows down to where the Don River once flowed.

A small creek takes over the trail, making for an even wetter and muddier trek..

If that was even possible. But in Mud Season, all things slippery are possible.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

What appears to be an old over or dishwasher.

Repurposed tanks serve as trail markers.

An old engine reused as a paving stone.

The trails are muddy & filled with long abandoned & sometimes repurposed items.

There are dozens, if not 100s of old landfills in the Don Valley & adjacent ravines.

Now some of those items serve as waypoint markers & stepping stones

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason

Return after Sending? To whom?

Here rests Daisy.

Even in the dull dread of an overcast day.. Trail art brings some colour to an otherwise muddy adventure.

Though I fear the second image might be some sort of tombstone for I'm not sure what. Possibly a tiny pet.

#LoveTheRavines #DonValley #RavineRambler #DonRover #MudSeason