Rockwood Conservation Area

My hubby and I went to the Rockwood Conservation area because of an Instagram photo I saw of how amazing this place was.  I wasn't really disappointed, although the sky wasn't what I would call ideal.  It had rained a few times but I managed to take some photos.


The park charges $7/each person.  They are friendly and had pointed us in the right direction to the waterfall I thought would be the main feature, but wasn't.  The real feature here are the caves.

There are over 194-acres of great hiking trails, boardwalks and idyllic sandy beaches.  It also houses an interesting array of castle-like ruins which are the remains of a woolen mill that once existed here.

Rockwood is just an hour outside Toronto. Its accessibility and proximity to major highways like the 401 make it an easy city escape.  What makes Rockwood Conservation Area unique from most parks is the sheer amount of activities it boasts and its rich geological aspects.   A few environmental features it’s known for are the glacier bluffs, extensive cave systems (12 in total) and some of the oldest dated trees in Ontario. 


Even with Rockwood being a nature lovers paradise, it seems over the years the biggest tourist draw has been the stunning Harris Woolen Mill ruins, the remnants of an ancient textile mill.

Built in the mid 1880s, the mill was forced to shut down during the Depression and has remained vacant since.

Over the past decade, the mill had gone through almost a million-dollar renovation to preserve its history and make it safe for visitors to walk through and appreciate.The site is part of the Grand River Conservation Authority, and is an extremely popular spot for picnics, hikes, photography shoots and weddings.

If you want to spend more than a day inside the park, there are over 120 campsites on four main campgrounds.

Fill your entire weekend up with swimming, fishing, canoeing, hiking, and even paddle boarding — which you can rent in the summer.  The conservation area is open year-round and camping is available from May to October.

I loved it here so much that at the end of the day I almost wished I brought a tent.

Silver Creek Conservation Area (Scotsdale Farm)

Within the Silvercreek Conversation Area near the lovely and quaint town of Georgetown is a hidden treasure called Scotsdale Farm. It's a working farm, but there is so much more to this place.  For one thing, there is over 530 acres of gorgeous trails in and around the Niagara Escarpment.  

One of the most popular and largest trail here is the Bennett-heritage Trail.  Fall is the best time of the year.  For the simple abundance of colour, the crisp and cool air and the many photo opportunities you can capture if you are so inclined. 

             
We met up with a fellow photographer who had won a Canon contest while shooting here.  The sunsets here just rock through the trees.  Perfect setting - perfect lighting.  In fact this is a fave spot for many photographers and film producers.  Parking is free and ample as long as you are out of there by 8 p.m. at night when the park closes.

There are a few waterfall features here as well! 

Not in comparison to our friends out west in Hamilton or Niagara, but enough to keep your interest up.  Since it's part of the Bruce Trail network, you are bound to find plenty of rolling hills and woodlands and glacial rocky remnants to exercise your legs making it a great work out.

Halton Hills region has been a favourite for a few years now with so many conservation areas and things to do here all year long - set in a pastoral countryside.  

The main house of Scotsdale was built in 1836 by Christopher Cook. The farm was bequeathed to the Ontario Heritage Trust by Stewart and Violet Bennett in 1982.  Bennett had developed Scotsdale into an internationally renowned breeding farm for his Arabian horses and shorthorn beef cattle.

To learn more about the Bennetts and to the historical beginnings of this beautiful landscape which has  has been, click on the link below

Scotsdale Farm : A Hidden Treasure