An awe-inducing landscape that looks like it’s from another planet is found just an hour’s drive from the city, and it’s getting ready to welcome visitors back for the spring season.
The Cheltenham Badlands, one of Ontario’s most iconic and fragile geological treasures, is set to reopen to the public on May 9 for the 2026 season. Known for its rolling waves of crimson earth and unique natural formations, this breathtaking site offers a glimpse into a prehistoric world right in our own backyard.
A Landscape Shaped by History
While the Badlands look like they belong on Mars, their story is rooted in local heritage. Long before the red shale was exposed, the Mississaugas of the Credit arrived to the area in the 1700s, stewarding the land for generations by hunting, fishing, and living lightly on the river flats.
The Badlands we see today were actually born from a bit of an environmental accident. When European settlers cleared the trees for farming in the 1800s, the shallow topsoil began to wash away. By the early 1900s, the underlying Queenston shale was fully exposed. Natural erosion from rain and snow did the rest, carving out the unique ridges and gullies that make the site a provincially significant Earth Science Area today.
Protecting a Natural Wonder
If you visited years ago, you might remember being able to walk right on the red hills. However, the site was closed in 2015 to save it from rapid erosion caused by too many footsteps. Now managed by the Ontario Heritage Trust, the property features a new accessible boardwalk that lets you take in the views without harming the delicate shale.
Beyond the Badlands, the 100-acre property is comprised of a lush sanctuary filled with mature forests, wetlands, and rare flora. It even serves as a vital groundwater discharge area for the Credit River.
Plan Your Visit
Because this site is a protected Environmentally Significant Area, you’ll need to plan your trek in advance. Vehicle permits are required and can be booked in advance through the Heritage Trust website.
You can find this crimson treasure at 1739 Olde Base Line Rd, Caledon.
