Dark Trolley Tour

The Dark Trolley Tour is a fun ride along Hamilton’s picturesque waterfront… at night… with dark history and ghosts!

Relax as stories are told over the mic of Hamilton’s open-air Harbourfront Trolley cars.

Featuring the Ghosts of the Great Lakes, death and burials in the quiet deep.  Plus the cursed Heights, and stand on the site of Canada’s tragic historic train disaster for a story you’ll not soon forget.

Popular hybrid dark history / ghost tour.  With Free and easy parking beside Pier 4 Park

BOOK NOW! | FAQ

||UPDATES

2023 dates booked! Wait List is now closed. Will return in 2024!

Pier 4 Park Courtyard (by building)

64 Leander Drive, Hamilton MAP
(Start in main Pier 4 courtyard at Trolley Stop #4)

Dark Trolley Tour Prices

General . . . . . . . $16.75

+ HST Tax / No Hidden Fees!

Book for Dark Trolley

Select Date / Click Book Now to See Times

Searching Availability…

Upcoming

  • September 2023
    • Friday Sept 8th
    • Friday Sept 15th
    • Friday Sept 22nd
Tour info
Niagara's Dark History Tour - duration
Ghost Walks Type of Tour
Dark Trolley Tour Hamilton - parking
Mature Content on Tour - not recommended for young kids
Dark Trolley Tour Hamilton - Wheelchair access

group bookings for this tour
private walks information

FAQ & Interesting Info

Why we are different from other Tours?

A focus on masterful storytelling at a reasonable price (with no hidden fees!).  First, we’ve put special attention into respecting the ghost story.  Also, with a dedication to traditional styles mixed with natural (and interesting) odd history.  This is our specialty since 2003.

Reviews | What people are saying…

Excellent4.9 Based on 409 reviews fromChris WhiteChris White ★★★★★ Great value and Sir Bob’s storytelling was fantastic.Kristen RoseKristen Rose ★★★★★ Love the tours provided. Enjoyable way to learn the historyChantelle LisaChantelle Lisa ★★★★★ Went on The Ghost Walks latest tour the Dark Trolley and had a great time so informative, and interesting. Daniel kept us entertained the whole time. 10/10 recommend. We signed up for another one on the drive homeKatie FavellKatie Favell ★★★★★ We booked a private walk of downtown Hamilton. Daniel was amazing! He was very engaging and knowledgeable. The tour was definitely an experience that I will always remember!Doug MillarDoug Millar ★★★★★ Ghost Walks latest tour, The Dark Trolley tour, was fun, informative, and an enjoyable evening! Thanks Daniel for being such fantastic host!Diggity DawgDiggity Dawg ★★★★★ My wife and I were just on the Dark Trolley tour, with Daniel this past weekend. He was an exceptional guide. Full of wit, charm, and vast amounts of knowledge. I discovered things about past criminal dealings and tragic events that happened right in our own backyard! We had a blast, and highly recommend Ghost Walks events to everyone. The trolley itself, adds a nice nostalgic element to the tour. Thanks Daniel!Lisa Marie PalmerLisa Marie Palmer ★★★★★ Had a great time on the Trolley Tour of Hamilton Harbour. Daniel is a wonderful host and story teller. Looking forward to more.Heather CampeaHeather Campea ★★★★★ we had a great time on the trolley tour! our tour guide was amazing!Kathleen DKathleen D ★★★★★ Toured Armitage Ruins, guide lady with the red hair was an enjoyable story teller. (Sorry couldn't remember her name) we did a 7pm tour in Aug so it was daylight still. If you book later in fall it would have more of a spookier element. *did anyone else smell manure when crossing the threshold?? We did!Valerie ArmelliniValerie Armellini ★★★★★ What a fun evening with Daniel in downtown Hamilton. He's a real storyteller, and a truly fun guy. He made the stories so interesting! Will be going on more of these walks!Just a great evening out. Thank you Ghost Walks!!Brian DoddBrian Dodd ★★★★★ I recently went on a ghost walk and it was absolutely amazing! The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging, and the stories she shared were both spooky and informative. I particularly enjoyed learning about the history behind some of the haunted locations we visited. Overall, I highly recommend this ghost walk to anyone looking for a fun and educational night out.Jorja MJorja M ★★★★★ Go Daniel!Your tour was excellent, informed, and well spoken!Sandra and Amelia AmosSandra and Amelia Amos ★★★★★ This tour was amazing. Daniel very personal and great storyteller!Kimberly AnnKimberly Ann ★★★★★ We went on the Hamilton's Dark History Tour yesterday. It was a fun walk through time. Daniel is a riveting storyteller. You'll find yourself engrossed in the intriguing and sometimes violent stories of the founding families of Hamilton, and the city's deep mob history. I'd recommend this to tourists and locals alike.Kimberly CabanasKimberly Cabanas ★★★★★ This was a fun walk through time. Daniel is a riveting storyteller. You'll find yourself engrossed in the intriguing and sometimes violent stories of the founding families of Hamilton, and the city's deep mob history. I'd recommend this to tourists and locals alike.Jessica JosefikJessica Josefik ★★★★★ Guide was a very enthusiastic and engaging ghost host. He is very knowledgeable about the subjects he is presenting. They draw the crowd in and holds their attention for each story and each site. I highly recommend Ghost Walks of Hamilton. I have gone multiple times & will be returning again!js_loader

Why are dates and times missing when booking?

When a date or time slot is missing in the Booking… If a missing time, that tour time is sold out.  A missing date, means the entire night is sold out.

Harbour History — The Shanty Town

Driving along the Old Shanty Town

Dark Trolley Tour feature story — Called “Squatters”.  Houses slapped together along today’s Waterfront Trail leading to the Desjardins Canal.

At its height, 120 structures lined the shore before and under the bridge.  Not only low-income families.  As you can see in this picture… some very normal and well-built houses.

Hamilton Harbour History - The Old Shanty Town

All types of folks from the city.  This included Railway Workers, Machinists, Hydro Workers and even a painter.  One family even owned a motorized boat (the height of luxury!)

But the Shanty Town’s reputation was horrible in the City of Hamilton

Lies being spread by officials to turn the citizens against them.  It’s because they saw the High-Level Bridge as the Gateway to Hamilton.  Everything perfectly beautiful, except the Shanty Town.

Plans to beautify the Harbour setting the moral tone of the city.  TB. McQuesten spearheaded this new conservation area.

Yet the citizens supported the Shanty residents!  Until a fire 1931.  Two kids died and City Official screamed, “If only they paid taxes!  Were on the grid.  Firemen could have saved those kids.”

And the citizens agreed.  $100-$250 offered to each household to leave peacefully.  Most accepted, but not all.  Some turning their houses into boats and floating into the Harbour.

Harbour History — Monster of Burlington Bay

From Kingston’s Daily News – published August 17th 1877

Having heard reports recently of an extraordinary monster being in the waters of Burlington Bay (today’s Hamilton Harbour), near Carroll’s Point, a Spectator reporter yesterday interviewed one of the parties who had said last evening that he had seen it.

The fisherman stated that he was out in a single boat trolling for pike, when he noticed a commotion in the water about seventeen yards out from the farthest part of the point. He rowed over towards the place, but before he had gone many boat lengths he saw an object moving towards him.

Monster Trickery 

It presented the appearance of a black log with tapering end in the waterand when near the boat it turned and disappeared from sight, not before it exhibited its mouth, however, which looked like a crocodile.

Another party who claims to have seen it some distance east of the point, states that it has large scales on its back, that only two fins could be seen, one on each side and directly in the centre of the body.

A third fisherman, who lives not far from Oaklands, claimt to have had an oar suddenly snapped from him one evening while rowing in that vicinity, and believes it to have been taken by the monster.

Tracks, as of teeth, were in it when he recovered it in the bay next morning. Mr. Gates, the fish curer, states that a party the other evening became so frightened at its having made a dash at the boat that he is now laid up through nervous prostration.

We give the story as gathered for what it is worth, and leave the reader to investigate for himself.

Should I book in advance?

Yes.  We are limited on space for the trolley.  Advance bookings allows us to guarantee spots for you, and book in additional guides if needed.