Sixteen Mile Creek
Sixteen Mile Creek flows from the Niagara Escarpment, through Milton and Oakville, eventually flowing into Lake Ontario at Oakville Harbour. Sixteen Mile Creek was previously known to the Mississauga Indians as “Ne-sauga y-onk” or “niizhozaagiwan,” which means “having two outlets", and to the French as Rivière de Gravois ("gravelly river") which you will fully understand as you walk along the banks of the creek. Like other creeks draining into Lake Ontario, Sixteen Mile Creek has cut a deep valley through the Queenston Shale, and is home to a broad range of wildlife, including whitetail deer, coyote, raccoons, foxes, opossum, squirrels, chipmunks and beavers. The forest contains tree species typical of the Carolinian Forest, although this is the northern limit of this zone, and only the hardiest tree can survive. The total drainage area of the Sixteen Mile Creek is 372 square kilometers (144 sq mi).
Hogweed Warning
As we were placing the caches in this valley, a significant amount of Giant Hogweed was found throughout the valley, some plants individually, and in other spots there was a forest of plants. Before taking on the Sixteen Mile Creek Water Trail, be sure you can identify this plant, as well Wild (Cow) Parsnip. Both can cause blindness, and mild to serious rashes, when infected skin is exposed to sunlight. Know these plants, and stay safe. When these caches were placed, we attempted to avoid areas with Hogweed, although Hogweed grows along most areas of the Sixteen Mile Creek.