Exploring Belfountain Conservation Area
Travel an hour by car in any direction from Toronto and you will find plenty of great places to go hiking. Transport yourself to conservation areas, provincial parks, and national parks scattered throughout the Greater Toronto Area where you can connect with nature and take in breathtaking views. If waterfalls, boardwalks, tree-lined trails, and a water fountain are on your list of things to see and experience, then Belfountain Conservation Area is definitely a place you should check out.
Getting here
Belfountain Conservation Area sits atop of the Niagara Escarpment in Belfountain, Ontario which is located approximately a one-hour drive northwest of Toronto. The main entry is located on Mississauga Road just west of Highway 10. It is about 30 kilometres from Brampton and 80 kilometres from Toronto.
Entry Fees
Belfountain Conservation Area is open seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm. Like all CVC parks, there is a fee to enter Belfountain. Children under 5 years of age are free while the entry fees for youth, adults, and seniors are $3, $6.50 and $5, respectively. If you have 5 or more adults in the car, you may want to consider paying the maximum vehicle change instead. It’s $27 and covers up to six people in the same vehicle. Please note, reservation have to be made in advance of your visit.
What You Can Expect To See
Visting Belfountain Conservation Area is kind of like stepping into a scene of a fairytale. While it is small compared to other Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) parks, it has some neat features including a fountain, suspension bridge, a small waterfall, and a lookout point where you can watch the water flow along the Credit River. As you walk through the park, you will come across remnants of Belfountain’s historic past. If you are an avid photographer or videographer, bring your gear to capture some stunning images or footage.
Visit the park during the autumn and watch the surroundings become washed in vibrant red, yellow, and orange. You can spend hours staring at the surroundings.
For hikers, there are several short trails that take you to different parts of the park and the Trimble Side Trail connects to the Bruce Trail. If fishing is something that more up your alley then make sure to pack your fishing rods.
One of the first things you will notice when you arrive is a beautiful boardwalk that wraps along one side of the park. It takes you to the outlook and connects to the suspension bridge as well as the Gorge Trail. There are also several footbridges scattered along the various trails, giving visitors ample photo opportunities.
Trails
There are five short trails at Belfountain - Trimble Side Trail, Gorge Trail, Riverside Trail, Bide-a-Wee Trail, and Accessible Paths - of varying difficulty. They are less than a kilometre. The Trimble Side Trail is a side trail of the Bruce Trail. It is named after Roy and Eleanor Trimble, long-time residents and historians of Belfountain. The trail runs along the steep slopes of the West Credit River Valley and connects to the Forks of the Credit. With the exception of the Gorge Trail, all of the trails are fairly easy. Happy trails!
| Trail Name | Length | Difficulty | Stroller Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trimble Side Trail | 0.4 km | Strenuous | No |
| Gorge Trail | 0.5 km | Difficult | No |
| Riverside Trail | 0.2 km | Easy | Yes |
| Bide-a-Wee Trail | 0.1 km | Easy | No |
| Accessible Paths | 0.3 km | Easy | Yes |
Things to do after your visit
After spending your day at Belfountain Conservation Area, head on over to Belfountain, a picturesque hamlet filled with great people and amazing food. If you love coffee, then you should go check out Higher Grounds Cafe. They make a delicious cup of java that will make you keep coming back for more. They also make delicious treats. There is plenty of outdoor seating. So go enjoy it while the weather is still decent.
If you find you are keen on continuing your outdoor adventures, there are two other CVC parks nearby. Both the Cheltenham Badlands and Terra Cotta Conservation Area are about 15 minutes.