We thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their financial support to our membership development and land stewardship programs. The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario.
About the Cheltenham Badlands
The Cheltenham Badlands are located on the Niagara Escarpment northwest of Brampton, near the villages of Inglewood and Cheltenham. The 36.6 hectare property was secured in 2000 by The Bruce Trail Conservancy, ensuring the protection of this Provincially Significant Earth Science ANSI (Area of Natural and Scientific Interest). The Bruce Trail skirts along the southern end of the Badlands for 1.4 km.
The Badlands also lie within the Inglewood Slope Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), which is an important groundwater discharge area. The coldwater stream on the property at the foot of the exposed badlands ridges is a tributary of the Credit River.
The property has one of the best examples of "badlands topography" in southern Ontario. Badlands topography is rare in Ontario. In most areas, the reddish shale is protected from erosion by overlying hard rock (limestone, dolostone or sandstone), sand or gravel. In this area, poor farming practices in the past have exposed the shale, causing it to erode into a series of striking ridges and gullies.
Visiting the Badlands
The Badlands' scenic beauty makes it a popular tourist draw, but hundreds of footsteps can damage the sensitive rills and gullies.
To protect this unique area, please stay at the top viewing area. Do not walk on the shale hills.
The Bruce Trail does not run on the Badlands.
See recent changes to the trails around the Badlands here >>
Managing the Badlands
Balancing the use of the area with protecting the sensitive environment is a constant challenge. A Management Plan for the Cheltenham Badlands Property is in the early stages of development. The management planning process will define the goal, objectives and long term direction for the protection, development, management and use of the property's resources. In particular, management issues such as access to the site and protection of the property's sensitive earth and life science features will be addressed in the planning process.
For more information on the Cheltenham Badlands Management Planning process please see http://www.caledonbrucetrail.org/badlands.htm
Badlands Terms of Reference (.pdf, 713.2 KB)
Interested in filming in the Cheltenham Badlands?
Contact BTC Conservation Officer, Brian Popelier for more information (1-800-665-4453 ext. 30; bpopelier@brucetrail.org )