Here in Ontario, we are so blessed to have so many diverse landscapes to discover, from the mineral-rich Canadian Shield to sparkling freshwater lakes, grassy lowlands, and beyond.
One especially unique destination is found just a short drive from Toronto in Caledon, named the Cheltenham Badlands.
With a very distinctive reddish-tinged terrain of ridges and gullies, the area is almost reminiscent of Mars, spanning 36 hectares surrounded by forest.
Forming around 450 million years ago at the bed of an ancient sea, settlers from 1850 to 1950 cleared the area’s trees for homesteads, which lead to soil erosion and the Queenston shale formations you can still see today.
While visitors could once actually walk on the formations up until 2015, the area has since been preserved as a natural heritage landmark to reduce sediment loss and shale erosion. Trespassing is now prohibited.
Luckily, you can still view the breathtaking landscape from surrounding trails and viewing platforms between mid-May and October.
Reservations are also required, along with an entrance fee charged per vehicle starting at $10.
The park’s official opening date this month has not yet been announced, but you can stay updated with their website here!