Our Protected Natural Areas
A shared vision for the protection of a natural corridor along the Niagara Escarpment.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy’s protected natural areas preserve the Escarpment’s unique biodiversity and provide nature-based solutions to addressing climate change. In our communities, these protected areas provide valuable ecosystem services, including mitigating flooding, storing carbon, filtering water, and supporting our physical and mental health.
As one of Ontario’s largest and most active land trusts, we’re responsible for the preservation of land. We add new protected natural areas to the Bruce Trail’s conservation corridor each year, and care for these special places through our land stewardship program. These natural areas protect a diverse array of habitats including wetlands, karst topography, open meadows, caves, towering scarp edges and lush forests – all within the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere.
Thank you to everyone who has donated so generously to help preserve these irreplaceable treasures, forever.
A shared vision for the protection of a natural corridor along the Niagara Escarpment.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy’s protected natural areas preserve the Escarpment’s unique biodiversity and provide nature-based solutions to addressing climate change. In our communities, these protected areas provide valuable ecosystem services, including mitigating flooding, storing carbon, filtering water, and supporting our physical and mental health.
As one of Ontario’s largest and most active land trusts, we’re responsible for the preservation of land. We add new protected natural areas to the Bruce Trail’s conservation corridor each year, and care for these special places through our land stewardship program. These natural areas protect a diverse array of habitats including wetlands, karst topography, open meadows, caves, towering scarp edges and lush forests – all within the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere.
Thank you to everyone who has donated so generously to help preserve these irreplaceable treasures, forever.
.
Our Newly Protected Natural Areas
2021-2023
216 acres | 1,180 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
Located within the Hockley Valley region, adjacent to the Rushing River Nature Reserve, the Riverside Woods Nature Reserve is an exceptional 216-acre natural sanctuary.
This nature reserve features a variety of habitats including mature forests, abundant meadows and the Nottawasaga River. These habitats provide refuge for a variety species such as Monarch butterflies, Spring Peepers, Bobolinks, and Eastern Meadowlarks.
Features:
- Mature forests
- Meadows
- Nottawasage River
10.8 acres | 505 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
Located in the heart of Niagara’s wine region, Vineyard’s Edge Nature Reserve features a mixed forest and rocky Escarpment features, tucked beside picturesque grapevines.
Vineyard’s Edge lies within the Beamsville Escarpment Provincially Significant Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI), an area of remarkable ecological value and home to a diverse array of plant and animal species, including rare Carolinian forest species.
Features:
- Located within the beautiful wine region in Niagara
- Carolinian forest
5.8 acres | 1,200 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
This is the fourth property added to the BTC’s Honeywood Ridge. When combined with the other properties, this protected natural area not only preserves important habitat but is essential to Trail connectivity in the Differin Hi-Lands section.
This small wooded corridor meanders through agricultural land and features 1.2 km of Main Trail, keeping 600 m of Bruce Trail off the road.
Features:
- Wooded corridor
- 1.2 km of Main Trail
- Sweeping views of picturesque countryside
80 acres | 503 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
The Sydenham Escarpment Nature Reserve lies adjacent to BTC’s Ferndell property and Sydenham Forest East creating a large, contiguous natural corridor that serves as an extremely important local wildlife refuge for forest-dependant species.
A full 70% of the forested area in this nature reserve is considered interior forest. This valuable habitat plays a significant role in climate change mitigation and is vitally important for the long-term survival of area-sensitive species such as Fishers and Lynx.
Many species of conservation concern are also supported by this nature reserve’s habitats including Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Woodthrush, Eastern Pewee, Canada Warbler, Butternut, and American Hart’s-tongue Fern.
Features:
- Interior forest
- Wetlands
- Mixed meadow
402 acres | 1,743 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
Large forests habitats like those found on this expansive property are important to area-sensitive breeding birds and large mammals like Fishers and the Peninsula’s unique Black Bears.
Features:
- Offers impressive Escarpment features and scenic vistas over Colpoy’s Bay
- Consists of a large Sugar Maple forest with some pockets of conifer plantation
Rockside Woods Nature Reserve
25 acres | 443 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
The habitats on this nature reserve support species at risk, including American Hart’s-tongue Fern, Jefferson Salamander, and Canada Warbler in all stages of their life cycles.
This property and a nearby property purchased by the Bruce Trail Conservancy in partnership with Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) will combine to create a corridor for many species. The property purchased in partnership with the CVC is 40 acres with 496 m of Trail and is now owned and managed by the CVC.
Features:
- Forest habitats cover 75% of this nature reserve
- Meadow marsh at north end is part of provincially significant wetland complex
Whitetail Refuge Nature Reserve
98 acres | 956 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
The extensive karst features on this property act as carbon sinks which help mitigate climate change. The mature Sugar Maple forest is an important habitat for the species who live in the area such as Red Squirrel, Coyote and Eastern Wood-Pewee, a species of Special Concern in Ontario
Features:
- Dense White Cedar forest for many White-tailed Deer to thrive in, hence the name of the property.
- Two naturalized ponds surrounded by meadow marsh.
Avalon Meadow Nature Reserve
4 acres | 183 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
Located next to Devil’s Glen Provincial Park, this securement ensures that the area is protected in perpetuity and offers safe crossing of County Road 124.
The meadow offers a habitat for a variety of birds who nest and forage in the open space such as Song and Field Sparrows.
Features:
- Meadow of tall grass and native wildflowers, including Canada Goldenrod and several species of asters such as New England Aster and Panicled Aster.
- Small patch of Sugar Maple forest that includes a Butternut, an endangered species in Ontario and Canada.
Fern Crevice Nature Reserve
4 acres | 690 m of trail
Why this place is important:
The securement of this property creates the opportunity to remove over 1 km of trail from unopened road.
It also provides an ecological link between Pretty River Provincial Park and Petun Conservation Area.
Features:
- Species at Risk on property include Butternut and American Hart’s–tongue Fern.
Stoney Birch Nature Reserve
3 acres | 353 m of trail
Why this place is important:
This nature reserve completes an approximately 8.5 km corridor of protected land from the village of Hope Bay to just south of Cape Dundas.
Features:
- Views of Hope Bay from top of the Escarpment.
- Rocky forest floor with pockets of soil supporting Bracken Fern, Bearberry and Large Leaved Aster.
Dolostone Arch Nature Reserve
25 acres | 200 m of trail
Why this place is important:
This stunning property has iconic Georgian Bay shoreline with microhabitats for uncommon species like Ontario Goldenrod.
Features:
- A series of small caves and crevices and a dramatic dolostone arch.
- Significant interior forest habitat that is critical for area-sensitive species like Woodthrush, Black Bear and Fisher.
MapleCross Ridge Nature Reserve (expansion)
25 acres | 1,115 m of trail
Why this place is important:
Since 2017 the Bruce Trail Conservancy has protected 439 acres in the Kemble area. This acquisition makes the final connection between these Bruce Trail Conservancy-protected natural areas and the adjacent Kemble Mountain Management Area (owned by Grey Sauble Conservation Authority).
With this piece in place, a continuous corridor of protected land roughly 11.5 kilometres long has been established – creating a permanent home for the Bruce Trail and keeping Escarpment forests intact.
Features:
- Escarpment features such as large boulders and small crevices.
- Large intact forest that provides habitat for many woodland creatures.
402 acres | 1,743 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
Large forest habitats like those found on this expansive property are important to area-sensitive breeding birds and large mammals like Fishers and the Peninsula’s unique Black Bears.
Features:
- Offers impressive Escarpment features and scenic vistas over Colpoy’s Bay
- Consists of a large Sugar Maple forest with some pockets of conifer plantation
Rockside Woods Nature Reserve
25 acres | 443 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
The habitats on this nature reserve support species at risk, including American Hart’s-tongue Fern, Jefferson Salamander, and Canada Warbler in all stages of their life cycles.
This property, and the nearby property purchased by the Bruce Trail Conservancy in partnership with Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), will combine to create a corridor for many species. The property purchased in partnership with the CVC is 40 acres with 496 m of Trail and is now owned and managed by the CVC.
Features:
- Forest habitats cover 75% of this nature reserve
- Meadow marsh at north end is part of provincially significant wetland complex
Whitetail Refuge Nature Reserve
98 acres | 956 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
The extensive karst features on this property act as carbon sinks which help mitigate climate change. The mature Sugar Maple forest is an important habitat for the species who live in the area such as Red Squirrel, Coyote and Eastern Wood-Pewee, a species of Special Concern in Ontario.
Features:
- Dense White Cedar forest for many White-tailed Deer to thrive in, hence the name of the property.
- Two naturalized ponds surrounded by meadow marsh.
Avalon Meadow Nature Reserve
4 acres | 183 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
Located next to Devil’s Glen Provincial Park, this securement ensures that the area is protected in perpetuity and offers safe crossing of County Road 124.
The meadow offers a habitat for a variety of birds who nest and forage in the open space such as Song and Field Sparrows.
Features:
- Meadow of tall grass and native wildflowers, including Canada Goldenrod and several species of asters such as New England Aster and Panicled Aster.
- Small patch of Sugar Maple forest that includes a Butternut, an endangered species in Ontario and Canada.
Fern Crevice Nature Reserve
4 acres | 690 m of trail
Why this place is important:
The securement of this property creates the opportunity to remove over 1 km of trail from unopened road. It also provides an ecological link between Pretty River Provincial Park and Petun Conservation Area.
Features:
- Species at Risk on property include Butternut and American Hart’s–tongue Fern.
Stoney Birch Nature Reserve
3 acres | 353 m of trail
Why this place is important:
This nature reserve completes an approximately 8.5 km corridor of protected land from the village of Hope Bay to just south of Cape Dundas.
Features:
- Views of Hope Bay from top of the Escarpment.
- Rocky forest floor with pockets of soil supporting Bracken Fern, Bearberry and Large Leaved Aster.
Dolostone Arch Nature Reserve
25 acres | 200 m of trail
Why this place is important:
This stunning property has iconic Georgian Bay shoreline with microhabitats for uncommon species like Ontario Goldenrod.
Features:
- A series of small caves and crevices and a dramatic dolostone arch.
- Significant interior forest habitat that is critical for area-sensitive species like Woodthrush, Black Bear and Fisher.
MapleCross Ridge Nature Reserve (expansion)
25 acres | 1,115 m of trail
Why this place is important:
Since 2017 the Bruce Trail Conservancy has protected 439 acres in the Kemble area. This acquisition makes the final connection between these Bruce Trail Conservancy protected natural areas and the adjacent Kemble Mountain Management Area (owned by Grey Sauble Conservation Authority).
With this piece in place, a continuous corridor of protected land roughly 11.5 kilometres long has been established -creating a permanent home for the Bruce Trail and keeping Escarpment forests intact
Features:
- Escarpment features such as large boulders and small crevices.
- Large intact forest that provides habitat for many woodland creatures.
Sydenham Escarpment Nature Reserve
80 acres | 503 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
The Sydenham Escarpment Nature Reserve lies adjacent to BTC’s Ferndell property and Sydenham Forest East creating a large, contiguous corridor of habitat that serves as an extremely important local wildlife refuge for forest-dependant species.
A full 70% of the forested area in this nature reserve is considered interior forest. This valuable habitat plays a significant role in climate change mitigation and is vitally important for the long-term survival of area-sensitive species such as Fishers and Lynx.
Many species of conservation concern are also supported by this nature reserve’s habitats including Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Woodthrush, Eastern Pewee, Canada Warbler, Butternut, and American Hart’s Tongue Fern.
Features:
- Interior forest
- Wetlands
- Mixed meadow
216 acres | 1,180 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
Located within the Hockley Valley region, adjacent to the Rushing River Nature Reserve, the Riverside Woods Nature Reserve is an exceptional 216-acre natural sanctuary.
This nature reserve features a variety of habitats including mature forests, abundant meadows and the Nottawasaga River. These habitats provide refuge for a variety species such as Monarch butterflies, Spring Peepers, Bobolinks, and Eastern Meadowlarks.
Features:
- Mature forests
- Meadows
- Nottawasage River
10.8 acres | 505 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
Located in the heart of Niagara’s wine region, Vineyard’s Edge Nature Reserve features a mixed forest and rocky Escarpment features, tucked beside picturesque grapevines.
Vineyard’s Edge lies within the Beamsville Escarpment Provincially Significant Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI), an area of remarkable ecological value and home to a diverse array of plant and animal species, including rare Carolinian forest species.
Features:
- Located in the beautiful Niagara wine region
- Carolinian forest
5.8 acres | 1,200 m of Trail
Why this place is important:
This is the fourth property added to the BTC’s Honeywood Ridge. When combined with the other properties, this protected natural area not only preserves important habitat but is essential to Trail connectivity in the Differin Hi-Lands section.
This small wooded corridor meanders through agricultural land and features 1.2 km of Main Trail, keeping 600 m of Bruce Trail off the road.
Features:
- Wooded corridor
- Sweeping views of picturesque countryside
Our Protected Natural Areas
- 1985 Pennachettie 6.06 acres
- 1987 Taylor 12.36 acres
- 1990 Thirty Mile Creek 24.00 acres
- 1992 Sigrid 5.12 acres
- 1994 Brights 29.36 acres
- 1996 Klacko 3.24 acres
- 1996 Lowrey 10.19 acres
- 1996 Rossetto 4.13 acres
- 1999 Denick 1.28 acres
- 2005 Ricenburg 22.20 acres
- 2009 Cherry Ridge 0.75 acres
- 2009 Nelles Estates 1.26 acres
- 2015 Bruns 0.37 acres
- 2017 Pyper 0.40 acres
- 2018 St. Paul Nature Reserve 9.62 acres
- 2019 Masterson 0.37 acres
- 2020 Woodend Meadow 51.88 acres
- N/A Glocker 0.85 acres
- 1995 Vallis 2.51 acres
- 1996 Vitali 20.00 acres
- 1998 Humber Heights 18.95 acres
- 2003 Dr. Philip Gosling Nature Reserve 13.30 acres
- 2004 Scarlett 3.99 acres
- 2009 Hemlock Ridges 57.71 acres
- 2010 West Fork 5.03 acres
- 2012 Griffith Ravine 17.23 acres
- 2012 Songbird Nature Reserve 16.78 acres
- 2014 Cedar Highlands 52.52 acres
- 2014 Mathilda’s Way 4.00 acres
- 2014 Star Woods 3.98 acres
- 2016 Cedar Highlands 0.59 acres
- 2016 Galbraith 6.60 acres
- 2016 Mono Kiln Edge 5.95 acres
- 2018 Quarryside Nature Reserve 33.93 acres
- 2019 Tall Timbers 23.89 acres
- 2020 Caledon Mountain Springs 63.22 acres
- 2020 MapleCross Nature Reserve at Cannings Falls 69.52 acres
- 2022 Rushing River Nature Reserve 7.00 acres
- 2022 Whitetail Refuge Nature Reserve 98.00 acres
- 1976 K. Young 29.00 acres
- 1987 Freeman 4.10 acres
- 1987 Goodchild/H. Wilson 130.47 acres
- 1987 Sly 93.60 acres
- 1990 Wilson 30.00 acres
- 1991 Clarke 28.33 acres
- 1991 Sullivan 34.48 acres
- 1993 Sewell 16.52 acres
- 1995 Allan 98.50 acres
- 1995 Tulloch 34.99 acres
- 1996 Brent 8.27 acres
- 1996 McConnell 23.94 acres
- 1998 D. Wilson 64.94 acres
- 1998 Gutzmer 48.20 acres
- 1998 Wiese 1.25 acres
- 2000 Leverty 36.84 acres
- 2001 Wood 21.38 acres
- 2002 Young Wetland 56.05 acres
- 2003 Godfrey 12.89 acres
- 2004 Scott 51.93 acres
- 2004 Seidle 26.49 acres
- 2005 E. Wilson 37.47 acres
- 2005 White/Campbell 40.23 acres
- 20-06 Harshman 61.03 acres
- 2006 Hodson 9.23 acres
- 2006 Jordan Springs 0.50 acres
- 2007 Campbell 76.93 acres
- 2007 Pawcett 90.51 acres
- 2008 Cape Rich View 29.44 acres
- 2008 Hughes 41.14 acres
- 2008 McKay 20.00 acres
- 2010 Cuckoo Valley Overlook 82.93 acres
- 2012 Webwood Falls 21.94 acres
- 2013 Cape Rich View 23.40 acres
- 2013 Kimberley Springs 57.36 acres
- 2013 Pinnacle Rock 135.34 acres
- 2014 Fairmount-Webwood Passage 25.65 acres
- 2014 Young Wetland Access 1.01 acres
- 2015 Lawrence Homestead 64.57 acres
- 2015 Young 15.14 acres
- 2017 Daphne & Gordon Nicholls Nature Reserve 30.45 acres
- 2017 Lower Valley Road Nature Reserve 65.47 acres
- 2018 Vandaleur Nature Reserve 46.46 acres
- 2019 East Mountain 79.29 acres
- 2019 Fox Ridge 71.52 acres
- 2019 Valley East 34.32
- 2020 Fox Ridge East 13.95 acres
- 2020 Maple Ravine 27.18 acres
- 2021 Blantyre Springs Nature Reserve 33.00 acres
- 2022 Eugenia Woods Nature Reserve 20.33 acres
- 1998 Dopko 8.55 acres
- 2002 Wattie 4.47 acres
- 2005 Hughes 0.14 acres
- 2006 McNally 27.16 acres
- 2007 Kay 0.08 acres
- 2009 Eggert 0.16 acres
- 2009 Prytula 0.08 acres
- 2009 Taunton 0.10 acres
- 2010 Bonta 20.60 acres
- 2011 Smokey Hollow 21.03 acres
- 2012 McCaulay 0.21 acres
- 2013 Cedar Springs Woods 10.00 acres
- 2013 Cline Bench 5.00 acres
- 2013 Dekker & Bick 3.88 acres
- 2013 Greenridge 1.50 acres
- 2015 Robinson 0.78 acres
- 2015 Rosa 1.15 acres
- 2015 Ryan 0.16 acres
- 2018 Red Oak Nature Reserve 19.03 acres
- 2019 Fisher’s Pond 86.42 acres
- 2019 Heikoop 0.78 acres
- 2020 MapleCross Nature Reserve at River & Ruin 69.00 acres
- 2020 Millen Road Access 0.37 acres
- 2021 Woolverton Ridge Nature Reserve 3.32 acres
- 2022 Woolverton Ridge Nature Reserve (expansion) 3.00 acres
- 1989 Pollock 63.61 acres
- 1994 Rock Hill Corner 24.90
- 1994 Russel 26.66 acres
- 2002 Reginal Brett 138.12 acres
- 2011 Boyne Riber School 100.55 acres
- 2012 Black Edge 46.00 acres
- 2012 Splitrock Narrows 63.28 acres
- 2014 Chisholm Nature Reserve 1.83 acres
- 2021 Honeywood Ridge 82.76 acres
- 2021 Pine River Nature Reserve 192.33 acres
- 2022 Honeywood Ridge (expansion) 4.59 acres
- 1984 McNabb 105.00 acres
- 1988 Thomas 27.27 acres
- 1989 Johannes 44.13 acres
- 1989 Johnston 100.00 acres
- 1990 Carnahan 55.23 acres
- 1990Rocksprings 49.59 acres
- 1996 Skinner’s Bluff 99.34 acres
- 1997 Ward 77.85 acres
- 1998 Hambly 31.12 acres
- 1999 STobbe 4.59 acres
- 2001 Dyke & Wood 4.43 acres
- 2001 Hunt 51.40 acres
- 2001 Kirchner 78.97 acres
- 2002 Graham 100.19 acres
- 2002 Stonehouse 10.86 acres
- 2002 Waisberg 45.22 acres
- 2003 Boyd 45.02 acres
- 2003 Day 0.30 acres
- 2004 Keeling22.07 acres
- 2004 Lesich 94.53 acres
- 2005 Tuersley 71.40 acres
- 2007 Fligg 14.93 acres
- 2007 Walter’s Creek 34.20 acres
- 2008 Crevice Springs 46.96 acres
- 2009 Braver Springs Wetland 56.80 acres
- 2009 Ferndell 18.40 acres
- 2009 Lindenwood 174.21 acres
- 2009 The Pines 41.88 acres
- 2010 Pallisades 31.12 acres
- 2013 Silent Valley 200.00 acres
- 2015 Bayview Forest Nature Reserve 47.63 acres
- 2015 Fossil Glen Nature Reserve 67.87 acres
- 2015 Rocklyn Creek Nature Reserve 55.00 acres
- 2016 Sydenham Nature Reserve 126.95 acres
- 2016 Walter’s Creek 16.50 acres
- 2017 Ancient Beach Nature Reserve 58.00 acres
- 2017 Irish Ridge Nature Reserve 31.30 acres
- 2017 Kemble Rock Nature Reserve 201.00 acres
- 2018 Hayes 23.94 acres
- 2018 Kemble Wetland Nature Reserve 137.98 acres
- 2018 Overton 12.50 acres
- 2019 MapleCross Ridge 100.00 acres
- 2020 Bayview Bluff 100.00 acres
- 2020 Skinner’s Woods 113.32 acres
- 2021 Colpoy’s Cavern Nature Reserve 75.00 acres
- 2021 Shelton 1.91 acres
- 2021 Tumbled Rocks Nature Reserve 7.43 acres
- 2022 Lindenwood Pond Nature Reserve 99.00 acres
Land Acknowledgement
The Bruce Trail Conservancy wishes to acknowledge and honour the lands of the Niagara Escarpment as the traditional territory of Indigenous peoples. In both spirit and partnership, we recognize and thank the Anishinaabek, Huron-Wendat, Tionontati, Neutral Nation, Haudenosaunee, Métis, and all who provided stewardship of these lands over millennia.
Recognition of the contributions of Indigenous peoples is consistent with our commitment to making the promise of Truth and Reconciliation real in our communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to live, work, and play here and thank all those who have served and continue to serve as caretakers of this special place.
We are also mindful of broken covenants and the need to reconcile with all our allies and relations. Together, may we care for this land and each other, drawing upon the strength of our mutual history through peace and friendship, to create a lasting legacy of conservation for generations to come.
