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Ontario Parks
How to Spend a Rainy Weekend in May - Hiking in Rockwood!
5/13/2017
Looking for things to do on a rainy weekend in early May? Why not try a hike in a local forest? But before hitting the road, make sure you dress in layers to keep you warm and dry and don't forget to wear your rain boots and rain jacket, so you can fully enjoy your hike. I can almost guarantee that you will have the forest for yourself, or maybe share it with very few people. For those who live in Greater Toronto, I recommend you try Rockwood Conservation Area, a beautiful place just about an hour's drive from Toronto.
Out of the many natural features that this little park has, the most remarkable ones are high limestone cliffs, caves and very old cedar trees.
The park is located on both banks of the rushing Eramosa River.
Ruins of Rockwood Woolen Mills was once a large mill that was in operation between 1867 and 1925.
Rockwood Conservation Area offers plenty of fishing opportunities, especially for rainbow trout.
Limestone caves act as a shelter to protect from rain.
The park has two official hiking trails. Both run in parallel to the Eramosa River.
Cedar Ridge trail takes you through a forest with evergreen as well as deciduous trees to a lookout with breathtaking views of the river and surrounding tree canopy.
This place reminds me of Muskoka and Algonquin Park but is actually quite different from a geological perspective.
May brings wild flowers including the official flower of Ontario - Trillium.
There is also an unofficial trail that starts behind the caves. I guess it used to be a trail, but for some reason was abandoned. It looks very much like Bruce Trail, the one that connects Tobermory and Niagara-on-the-Lake. We even found a backcountry campsite with a fire pit, so I was almost certain it was the Bruce Trail. But after checking on Google, I realized that Bruce Trail lies farther east. So what was it?
Tall limestone walls would be great for rock climbing.
Rockwood seems to have over 200 potholes or giant kettles drilled by water, stones and gravel during the latest Ice Age.
Moss and fern-covered rocks.
Directions
Address: 161 Fall Street South, Rockwood, ON N0B 2K0
From Toronto: Take Highway 401 west, exit #312 (Guelph Line), take Guelph Line north and drive for 19 km / 12 miles. Take a right at Highway 7 and right again to reach the gate of the park.
Additional Information
For additional information visit Rockwood Conservation Area's official website.
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