Mountsberg Conservation Area

Mountsberg Conservation Area is a unique place to explore the outdoors. With over 472 hectares of space to explore, hike and enjoy, it is a great place to go for the day.

The top things to do when visiting Mountsberg are the Raptor Center, great hiking trails and the diverse assortment of waterfowl attracted to the reservoir.

The Raptor Center is home to over 15 species of raptors native to the area. Some of the resident birds of prey are injured and could not survive on their own in the wild. Many special projects are planned and run from the Raptor Center. From the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Project to Adopt-A-Raptor, many things are happening at Mountsberg.

Mountsberg Reservoir

Great signage at the Raptor Centre

Bald Eagle

Fantastic trails and beautiful scenery

Collingwood Scenic Caves & Nature Preserve

Blue Mountain is know in most of Ontario as a great place to go skiing or a winter getaway. It is also known for the Scenic Caves at Blue Mountain.

Blue Mountain is technically not a mountain, it is part of the Niagara Escarpment, which runs from Niagara Falls to Tobermory Ontario. Rising more than 300 metres in elevation above Georgian Bay it is one of the highest points in Southern Ontario.

View overlooking Collingwood, Ontario

Less than two hours north of Toronto, it is worth the drive north. The views and the unique surroundings make for a worthwhile opportunity to explore.

The new suspension footbridge at Scenic Caves is Ontario 's newest feature attraction. Take a walk across the 126-metre suspension bridge, which crosses 25 metres above the valley. The location give fantastic views of the Collingwood and Nottawasaga Bay.

The Suspension Bridge

The bridge holds the title of being the longest suspension footbridge in Ontario. It is 25 metres above the valley and stream and more than 300 metres above Georgian Bay. The towers are 11.5 metres high.

One of the Caves that can be explored

Check out (Sub)urban Tourist the for more information on the caves. You can also check out my video on the Outdoor Adventurers Facebook page.

Trilliums along the walking trails

A hike at Belfountain Conservation Area

Last February, Frank and I visited the Belfountain Conservation Area, and I blogged about our drive through the village of Belfountain itself. Despite the wintery landscape, snowy roads and icy trails, our brief stop at the conservation area inspired us to visit it again during a warmer season. 

A few weeks ago, we drove along the Forks of the Credit River Road again, and wound up in Belfountain. If you’ve ever driven through here, you know how lovely it is and how much fun it is to drive on the winding roads. It makes you feel like you are in a mountainous area of Europe. The Credit River sometimes accompanies you along your route, and you drive up and down steep, curvy roads.

Belfountain Conservation Area is right in the village. During the spring, summer and fall season it is open to visitors with a parking lot making it easy to stop and visit. The cost of entry is about $4.75/adult; $2.75 for children ages 6 to 12 and for seniors.

My first thought of Belfountatin Conservation Area during our late summer visit is that it is an ideal spot for wedding photographers, taking engagement photos or of the newly married couple. Several locations on-site can be transformed into wedding venues.

What also comes to mind is that there are some pretty decent trails along the river that offer a good workout. This is not a leisurely hike with a flat gravel trail. Although many spots include wood ramps and stairs, there are sections where you are scrambling over roots and watching out for tricky spots that can cause twisted ankles.

Frank walks along one of the trails at Belfountain Conservation Area

The scenes at Belfountain Conservation Area are at times breathtaking – from the green lawns around the dammed up pond and fountain, to the falls, river and foliage surrounding it. There are many photo opportunities along the way.

Margaret Antkowski is the author of (Sub)urban Tourist blog.

Fall Hikes and Road Trips

The last long weekend of the summer has come and gone. Fall will start to slowly make herself noticeable. There will be  cooler nights and you might bring a jacket with you when go out for a hike. The best parts of Fall in Ontario are the changing colour of the leaves and the wonderful harvest fruits and vegetables.

Fall colour captured at its finest

Belwood Lake Conservation Area

The Belwood Lake Conservation Area is a reservoir in Dufferin County located northeast of Guelph, Ontario. In 1942 the Grand River waters were slowed by the erection of the Shand Dam for flood control and the generation of hydroelectricity. Belwood Lake Conservation Area, operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority offers a fantastic recreation opportunities. Hiking, biking, boating or just getting away to a quite spot on the Grand River on a lazy summer day, this is the place. 

Plaque erected on Dam structure