Travel the Niagara Escarpment

Take a day to familiarize yourself with this magnificent Escarpment area and you will find yourself drawn back in time! Starting in the village of Campbellville in Halton Region and ending at dramatic Mount Nemo, this tour highlights the geological and cultural history of the Escarpment through this growing Ontario region. Starting out from the village of Campbellville and completing the journey at beautiful Mount Nemo, this tour of Halton Region's Escarpment parks and conservation areas is ideal for hikers and explorers.

Village of Campbellville to Crawford Lake Conservation Area & Rattlesnake Point Conservation Areas:
From Highway 401 take the Guelph Line exit and travel south through the Village of Campbellville. Continue southbound to the easterly extension of Steeles Avenue where the entrance to Crawford Lake Conservation Area is located. Continue southbound on Guelph Line to Derry Road. Turn left and travel eastbound to Appleby Line. Turn left again at Appleby Line and continue north to the entrance of Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area.

Village of Campbellville:
This charming little village has maintained an 'old world' atmosphere by preserving its heritage buildings - one of which was intended as an opera house when Campbellville was in its heyday. Campbellville is well known by antique hounds as it boasts several unusual antique shops. It is worth a stop here just to browse.

Crawford Lake/Rattlesnake Point Conservation Areas:
Natural Environment Parks are characterized by their variety and combination of outstanding natural features, historical features and outstanding landscape. These twin conservation areas within the watershed area of Halton Region Conservation Authority fit the bill to perfection.

Crawford Lake Conservation Area:
In Crawford Lake Conservation Area the main emphasis is placed on the development of the area to offer a variety of educational and recreational opportunities while preserving the woodland and lake areas in their natural state. Crawford Lake Conservation Area contains a gatehouse, an interpretive centre, an archaeological site and a partially reconstructed Indian village. Activities on the site include picnicking, hiking, orienteering, nature study and observation, historical study, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area:
Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area abuts Crawford Lake Conservation Area and offers breathtaking vistas over the Nassagaweya Canyon. Rattlesnake Point is part of the Milton Outlier, a detached piece of the Niagara Escarpment that rises 91 metres above the surrounding countryside. This property is ideal for leisurely hikes and quiet picnics. Rock climbing enthusiasts can be seen scrambling up the sheer limestone Escarpment face while less ambitious types are relegated to exploring forest trails. Rattlesnake Point is also the location of fairly impressive buffalo herd. The sight of these shaggy ruminants stamping and snorting at the bottom of the cliff somehow completes the rugged setting and also serves as an incentive to the climbers to stay up!

Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area to Hilton Falls Conservation Area:
Continue northbound on Appleby Line, driving past the Village of Christie. Continue to Regional road 9 to your right a sheer Escarpment promontory rises above Kelso Lake. Although Kelso Conservation Area is not our next stop on the tour, this is opportunity to get those once-in-a-lifetime photographs. With any luck, resident turkey vultures will co-operate and make a freewheeling appearance. Turn left on Regional Road 9. The entrance to Hilton Falls Conservation Area is north, just past the Fourth Line.

Village of Christie:
As you reach the Village of Christie, abandoned lime kilns can be observed to your right, mute testament to the Escarpment's industrial past.

Hilton Falls Conservation Area:
This 952 hectare area includes the Sixteen Mile Creek and spectacular Hilton Falls. The property is jointly owned by the Halton Region Conservation Authority and the Regional Municipality of Halton. The area was named after Edward Hilton, the first of a number of pioneers to build and operate a mill at the base of Hilton Falls. Last in operation around 1863, the ruined mill is still evident to those hiking on the extensive trail network. Other scenic features include part of a spectacular Escarpment outcrop, Halton Forest, extensive beaver meadows and a 14-hectare water reservoir.

Hilton Falls Conservation Area is part of the largest forest complex in the Halton Region and as such provides an excellent wildlife habitat - white-tailed deer, beaver and a rare species of butterfly can be observed. Hilton Falls is a mecca for hikers and cross-country skiers with more than ten kilometres of trails offering outstanding scenery.

Hilton Falls Conservation Area to Kelso Conservation Area:
Return to Regional Road 9 and proceed east until reaching Town Line 22 (Tremaine Road). Turn right and travel south to No. 3 Sideroad; turn right to the entrance of Kelso Conservation Area.

Kelso Conservation Area:
Those parks designated Recreation offer some of the best recreational environments to be found along the Escarpment. Kelso Conservation Area has been so designated and a casual glance will tell you why.

This year-round 235-hectare property is resplendent with recreational opportunities. There's swimming in Kelso Lake, a 32-hectare reservoir nestled at the base of towering Escarpment cliffs. The lake boasts a fine sand beach, which is usually festooned with windsurfers. Sailboats, paddleboats, canoes and the ubiquitous surfboard can be rented from the Authority. But is simple swimming is your preference; the conservation area also has an outdoor pool. Group camping is available by reservation and the lake is stocked with rainbow trout for the fishing enthusiast. Picnic areas, a playground and hiking trails round out the summer fun.

Winter activities focus on the Glen Eden Ski Area with its vertical drop of 75 metres and a ski-run length of 610 metres. Add to this, spectacular scenery, snowmaking equipment, rentals, snack bar and ski patrol and it is obvious why this area is such demand when the temperature drops. Cross-country enthusiasts are welcome to use the park trails.

Halton Regional Museum:
An integral part of Kelso Conservation Area is the Halton Regional Museum, which provides historical interpretation of the 'way it was' in Halton. The small complex features six historical buildings fronted by a farm pond. The museum displays are wide-ranging and most are contained in the original barn of the Alexander farm. A carriage house, 1830 log cabin, blacksmith shop and craft house complete the heritage site.

Kelso Conservation Area to Country Heritage Park:
Return along Tremaine Road toward Regional Road 9. Before reaching the regional road, signs will direct you to the Country Heritage Park. The site is located south of Hwy. 401at 8560 Tremaine Road.

Country Heritage Park:
Historical parks are intended to protect and interpret the distinctive resources representative of the Escarpment's archaeological and historical heritage. This interesting complex enables the visitor to explore the rural past, exploring the changing patterns in Ontario's agricultural history.

Mount Nemo Conservation Area:
Return along Tremaine and turn right towards Derry Road. Turn right at Derry Road and proceed to Guelph Line. Turn left at Guelph Line. The Conservation Area is located north of the Q.E.W. on the east side of Guelph Line, between Highway 5 and Britannia Road. This 98 hectare property contains a prominent Escarpment bluff used by rock climbers, spelunkers and hikers. An abandoned quarry, farm fields and forest reserve constitute the majority of the land.