Basic Information
With the gradual opening of many conservation areas and nature reserves in Ontario, we have started to go out for more hiking and exploring. This time, the destination is Limehouse Conservation Area.
The Limehouse Conservation Area is located in Limehouse Village next to Georgetown, about 60km from Toronto, and very close to Oakville, about 35km!
Navigation Location: 12169 5th Line, Limehouse, ON, L0P 1H0
Cost:
The Limehouse Conservation Area is one of the conservation areas managed by Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). They are dedicated to protecting, restoring, and managing natural resources. Currently, tickets are free, but there is a parking charge. Although, if you purchase an annual pass ($135 + tax) per family, you won’t have to pay the parking fee. If you visit or plan on visiting CVC parks frequently, it is definitely worth buying a pass.
PS: Most conservation areas in Canada are managed and maintained by non-profit organizations. Most of the funds come from donations and parking membership fees. In order to maintain an enjoyable environment for everyone, we ask our friends who love to be active to purchase tickets.
There are three main entrances to the park. Most visitors choose to enter from the main entrance. There are more parking spaces here.
We chose to enter through the North Entrance of the Canadian National Railway, which you can see marked by the red dot in the picture below. You can park the car in the small parking lot at Limehouse Memorial Hall. This entrance of the park is hidden in the corner of the road, which is a bit difficult to find.
Four Trip Highlights
1. Serene and shaded hiking routes
Most of the hiking routes at Limehouse Conservation Area are in the forest. Towering old trees and rich vegetation cover the path creating alluring scenery and a relaxing hike. You can also hear the beautiful babbling sound as the Black Creek flows through the forest.
2. Historical Sites
Limehouse, as the name suggests, is a lime house! There used to be several lime kilns here, all of which are now abandoned, but the remains are still there. Explore these relics and imagine the life scenes of the people who originally lived in the surrounding area making a living with these burning kilns.
3. Canadian National Railway
The railway is right next to the conservation area. After entering from the red dot entrance on the map, walk for about 4 minutes, turn left along the intersection on the left-hand side, and walk for two minutes to reach the railroad track. The pictures taken here seem surreal. They almost look like something I would see from a renaissance painting, truly stunning.
4. The breathtaking natural wonder: Niagara Escarpment cliff crack
When you are walking in the woods, you might suddenly find a deep crack at your feet. These are the ruins of the Niagara Escarpment after a terrifying landslide. Can you imagine how frightening it would be to be caught in one of these insane natural disasters? In order to satisfy people’s curiosity of exploring the cracks in the cliff, the park’s management prepared ladders where you can reach the bottom of the cracks. When you walk sideways through a narrow crack, do you ever feel worried that the crack might close on you? A frightening thought to think about.
Park Requirements During the Pandemic
If you want to go hiking at the Limehouse Conservation Area during the pandemic, please check the official website in advance. Currently, there is no need to make an appointment in advance, just go directly, but you must strictly abide by the park requirements when hiking:
Stay on the trekking path unless you need to give way
Keep a distance of two meters from others
Avoid others when crossing narrow bridges and boardwalks
Don’t gather with other people under the same roof
Family size is limited to 5 people
Pets need to be held and cleaned up immediately after going to the toilet
No littering
Take your own trash when you leave the park
Watch out for wild animals and plants
Don’t trespass into private territory
Follow the instructions of the staff
The toilets are currently closed, and you must bring your own hand sanitizer
Special Reminder: There is no police force in the park, so keep yourself safe.
Introduction to Limehouse Village
Limehouse is a small village very close to the town of Georgetown. It used to be a gathering for lime kilns, hence the name Limehouse. The name is very straightforward! Limehouse is a veritably small village with a population of about 800 people. The village is surrounded by long farms, and the iconic building, the Limehouse Memorial Hall, was built in 1876. It was built out of limestone and used to be named after a stone church. Now it is a local community hall and a gathering place for local residents. Unfortunately, it is currently closed due to the pandemic.
One more thing, guess the purpose of the building in the picture above!
Leave your guesses in the comment section!
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