WELLINGTON COUNTY – For many, cooler weather means walks through wintry woodlands, where blankets of snow create calming quiet and bright-feathered birds flit among tree branches sparkling with ice.
Wellington residents pull on warm boots and head to the Rockwood, Belwood Lake and Guelph Lake conservation areas to enjoy hikes throughout the colder seasons.
These parks, managed by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), remain open year-round and have about 16km of trails combined.
GRCA operations manager Pam Walther-Mabee said “Many people think of our conservation areas only in summer,” but winter is a great time to visit.
GRCA trails are natural spaces, so they’re not “perfectly groomed,” she noted, and its important that visitors take safety precautions.
“We’re not looking to remove snow and ice off a trail,” said Rockwood Conservation Area superintendent David Townsend, so trails are sometimes slippery.
The trails are inspected and maintained regularly, with hazardous branches removed and some holes filled in, but they do have hilly spots, uneven ground, ravines and sometimes ice buildup, Walther-Mabee said.
And ice and snow can hide potential hazards, and conditions can change quickly, she warns.
There are also less GRCA staff available to in the conservation areas during wintertime.
What to bring
Wear warm clothing and proper footwear, Townsend said – winter boots with good traction or ice cleats.
Officials also recommend packing a phone, water bottle and snacks.
Bringing a map helps avoid getting lost and makes it easier for hikers to tell others where they are if they need to call for emergency support, Townsend said.
Hiking with a friend is safest, but if you’re going alone, let someone know where you‘re going and when you expect to return.
Inclement weather
Before heading out to a conservation area, check the weather forecast.
“If there’s a storm blowing in, you don’t want to be here,” Townsend said.
Most GRCA trails are in forested areas where high winds and heavy ice during and after storms could cause branches to fall onto hikers.
During severe weather events, such as significant ice storms, the GRCA closes trails, and sometimes parks, to the public.
Closures and other safety messaging will be marked with clear signage at park entrances, so it’s important to always enter parks through official gates, Townsend said.
And “if a trail is closed, respect that,” he added. “We don’t close them lightly – we want people to be safe.”
During closures, GRCA staff inspect trails and clear hazards. Townsend said it typically takes a few days to deal with hazardous conditions after a significant storm.
Sanctioned areas
GRCA officials say emergency incidents in the park are relatively uncommon.
At the Rockwood Conservation Area, Townsend said staff typically deals with a couple injuries per winter – most often sprained ankles.
The majority of injuries happen when people leave sanctioned areas, he said, so its important to stick to marked trails.
“It’s not that we don’t want people to enjoy nature,” he noted, “but on a trail there’s less hazards and you’re not damaging natural areas.”
Natural areas such as wetlands in the conservation areas are home to sensitive species, including endangered ferns, and walking on them can cause serious damage.
“We want to preserve those species to make sure they are there for future generations,” he said.
And “we want everyone to just come out and have a good time and go home safe.”
Water safety
Walther-Mabee said water poses the most significant risk in Grand River conservation areas.
There have been four drownings at Grand River conservation areas since 2020 – one at the Elora Quarry, two at Guelph Lake, and one at Rockwood. All of them took place in spring or summer.
In December 2018, a Guelph resident died after her iceboat went through the ice at Guelph Lake.
Walther-Mabee said the iceboaters did not enter the lake through the conservation area’s main gate.
“It’s really unfortunate when bad things happen,” Townsend said – heartbreaking situations for the families impacted as well as GRCA staff.
Though swimming is a popular activity at GRCA conservation areas in the summertime, winter swimming is not recommended.
“People don’t know how dangerous water in winter can be,” Walther-Mabee said, including natural areas near water that are often icy and slippery.
“Hypothermia is a real dangerous thing,” she said.
Out on the ice
Visitors at Rockwood are never allowed on the ice because it is not tested for thickness.
However, Guelph Lake and Belwood Lake have ice fishing programs, where GRCA staff diligently test the ice and install clear signage marking safe areas for ice fishing, Walther-Mabee said.
These programs are not offered at the Rockwood Conservation Area because “there are no real target species for people to fish for,” Townsend said.
He said freeze/thaw weather patterns make the ice more dangerous and increase risk of falling through.
“You should always be staying off of ice and cold water,” Walther-Mabee said, unless in an official ice fishing area during approved times.
She said it’s important to remember that rivers flow under the ice at the Guelph and Belwood conservation areas, and that the reservoirs fluctuate as weather changes.
Outside of designated ice fishing areas, the depth and stability of ice is unknown, and thus unsafe, said Walther-Mabee.
And it’s important that dogs stay off the ice, too.
Dogs should always be leashed within Grand River conservation areas for myriad safety reasons, including keeping them on the trails and off the ice.
Walther-Mabee said dog owners are often put at risk by going out onto the ice to retrieve their wandering dog.
Staff recently noticed a break in the ice at Belwood Lake and assumed it was caused by a dog owner following their unleashed dog out onto the ice.
Caves, cliffs and rocks
The large cave in the Rockwood Conservation Area is closed annually from Oct. 16 to March 31.
Townsend said it’s important to stay out of the cave in order to protect hibernating bats, who could be awakened by visitors.
Waking up burns the bats’ energy reserves and can mean they don’t survive the winter, Townsend warned.
GRCA cliffs are off limits at all times – rock climbing is prohibited.
“There is very poor access for emergency services” if people fall while climbing the cliffs, Townsend cautioned.
And if people are caught illegally climbing they can be charged with tresspassing, he added.
It’s important not to climb the rocks either, he noted, as they can be slippery with rain or ice and he has seen a few incidents where people fall from the rocks and get hurt.
“I think its important people have access to natural spaces so you have an appreciation for them and understand they need to be conserved and protected,” Townsend said.
During winter weekends (from about 10am to 3pm) GRCA staff maintain a fire for visitors to warm up beside while visiting the park.
Day use admission to Rockwood, Belwood Lake and Guelph Lake conservation areas is $7.08 for an adult, $3.10 for children (free for those under three) and $5.75 for seniors and people with disabilities.
Annual GRCA memberships cost $160 and cover admission for up to six people in one vehicle.
For more information about visiting Grand River conservation areas in wintertime go to grandriver.ca.
