COVID-19

February 9, 2021: The GRCA will not be offering summer day camps in 2021

After much consideration, the GRCA has determined it will not be offering summer day camps in 2021. At this time, we continue to anticipate that restrictions and health and safety requirements due to COVID-19 will significantly impact our ability to deliver quality day camp programs. Since the fall of 2020, the GRCA has focused its limited staff resources on developing modified and/or virtual outdoor environmental education school programs, working directly with some school boards in the watershed.

The health and safety of our staff and campers remain our highest priority. We will consider our ability to offer day camp programs for P.A. days and school breaks in the 2021-2022 school year, and will update this website as new information becomes available.

December 23, 2020: Some Grand River Parks open for limited winter access; Administration Centre closed to the public

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) will be maintaining limited access at a number of conservation areas this winter; however, restrictions will remain in place to help protect staff, watershed communities and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Belwood Lake, Guelph Lake, Laurel Creek, Pinehurst Lake, Rockwood and Shade’s Mills conservation areas will remain open for limited winter activities where conditions permit. Equipment rentals will not be available.

These areas are open from dawn to dusk with limited parking. If capacity is reached, access will be restricted. For up-to-date information on the current status of these areas, visit www.grandriver.ca/parkstatus. All Grand River Parks, with the exception of Guelph Lake, will be closed on December 25 and 26. Rockwood Conservation Area will also be closed on December 24.

Visitors without a Grand River Parks membership pass are required to pay by cash (exact change only) in payment boxes located at the gatehouse when staff are not present. Standard entrance fees apply.

Winter operations

Belwood Lake, Guelph Lake, Laurel Creek, Pinehurst Lake, Rockwood and Shade’s Mills conservation areas are open year round for activities like hiking. Services are limited in the winter and access may be restricted at some of these areas. A limited number of portable washrooms and garbage receptacles will be available. All other Grand River Parks remain closed for the winter season, and are generally open from May to October.

All GRCA nature centres and surrounding properties remain closed.

Most GRCA owned and managed trails and natural areas are open at this time; however, no winter maintenance is undertaken.

GRCA Administration Centre

Following recent announcements by the Province focused on reducing the spread of COVID-19, the GRCA’s Administration Centre in Cambridge will be closed to the public as of noon on December 24. Most GRCA staff are working remotely, and will continue to serve the community over the phone, by email and through the online permit application system. For more information on the GRCA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic along with answers to frequently asked questions, visit www.grandriver.ca/COVID19. 

For complete details about winter activities, please visit our newsroom.

September 25, 2020: Update on GRCA Programs and Services

The GRCA continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario. While most of the GRCA's programs and services have now resumed, some remain limited or suspended at this time. For information about how the GRCA's programs and services are currently being impacted by the pandemic, please visit our FAQ page.

July 30, 2020: GRCA playgrounds and tubing to reopen on long weekend

The GRCA will be reopening playgrounds at Grand River Parks, as well as its tubing operations at the Elora Gorge Conservation Area on Saturday, August 1.

GRCA Playgrounds

“We conduct annual safety inspections of the playground equipment within our parks. Due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic on our operations, these inspections were delayed and playgrounds were expected to remain closed in 2020,” says Pam Walther-Mabee, GRCA Manager of Conservation Areas. “With all of our watershed municipalities now in Stage 3 of the Province’s framework for reopening, we have reviewed our initial decision. Our staff have been completing the required inspections and we’re pleased to be able to offer another amenity for visitors in our parks this year.”

Nevertheless, Grand River Parks continue to operate at a reduced capacity. As such, sanitization of playground equipment is not possible. Park visitors are reminded that all GRCA playground activity is at the risk of the user and should be supervised closely by caregivers. Playground users are asked to maintain physical distancing on the equipment and to ensure their hands are washed or sanitized before and after playground use. Signage will be posted at playgrounds to remind visitors of health and safety considerations.

Tubing at Elora Gorge Conservation Area

Tubing operations will also resume on Saturday, August 1, but will be limited this season with new protocols in place to ensure visitor and staff safety. 

Visitors will need to purchase tickets for tubing online in advance of arriving at Elora Gorge Conservation Area. This includes equipment rentals if needed. No walk up sales for tubing will be available at the park. Park admission is separate, and must be paid upon entry at the gate.

The tubing hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with the last equipment rental out at 4 p.m. Rented equipment must be returned by 7 p.m. on the same day. Tubing fees are non-refundable and non-exchangeable for any reason after the order transaction is completed online through the GRCA’s website. The only exception to this policy will occur if tubing is closed by the Grand River Conservation Authority. Visitors are reminded that tubing takes place on a natural river, and it may shut down without notice for many different reasons, including those times when river levels are too high. River levels can rise rapidly following heavy rainfall.

For complete details about tubing at Elora Gorge Conservation Area, please visit the GRCA’s tubing page. Please visit the Elora Gorge page for more information about the park.

Below is an overview of what’s open and closed in Grand River Parks this summer:

Open

• most Grand River Parks (with the exception of the Elora Quarry Conservation Area) are now open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; gatehouses are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• beaches
• some washrooms in day use areas only
• Grand River Parks memberships are available for purchase at gatehouses during gatehouse operating hours, as well as online
• seasonal boat launch passes are available for purchase at the Belwood Lake and Conestogo Lake gatehouses during operating hours
• overnight camping at Brant, Byng Island, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake, Pinehurst Lake and Rockwood conservation areas; reservations may only be made online in advance; walk-up campsite bookings are not being accepted at the gatehouse
• some washrooms in overnight camping areas
• all playground equipment
• tubing at Elora Gorge Conservation Area

Closed for 2020

• the Elora Quarry Conservation Area
• the splash pad at Elora Gorge Conservation Area
• swimming pools at Brant and Byng Island conservation areas
• overnight camping at Conestogo Lake and Laurel Creek conservation areas
• all showers and change rooms
• washrooms in seasonal camping areas
• all pavilions, picnic shelters and other group facilities
• all food concession stands
• group camping
• the Learn to Fish program
• the fishing equipment rental program and the life jacket loaner program
• boat, canoe and kayak rentals at all conservation areas

July 16, 2020: New information tool now available to help Grand River Parks visitors

We have launched a new tool to provide guests visiting Grand River Parks for the day with real-time information about the capacity at our parks. You can now check www.grandriver.ca/parkstatus to find out if a park is welcoming visitors or if it has reached its daily capacity. The site provides real-time updates regarding the status of each park.

Grand River Parks are very busy on weekends and holidays and often reach capacity. Once a park has reached capacity, it will be closed for the remainder of the day and no additional visitors will be permitted entry. People may wish to consider visiting the parks during the week, when they are less busy.

The experience at Grand River Parks is much different this year due to the ongoing pandemic. The GRCA is providing programs and services for our park visitors where we are able to offer them safely and responsibly.

July 10, 2020: Watercraft rentals not available this year, tubing tentatively set to reopen in late July

The experience at Grand River Parks is much different this year due to the ongoing pandemic. The GRCA is providing programs and services for our park visitors where we are able to offer them safely and responsibly.

Watercraft rentals

As we continue to review our operations, we have determined that we are not able to offer watercraft rentals (canoe, kayak, boat, paddleboat, and paddleboard) in 2020. We hope that we will be able to resume these activities next year.

Tubing

Tubing at Elora Gorge Conservation Area is another popular summer activity for our park visitors and we are tentatively planning to offer this service in late July. Tubing activities will be limited this season and new protocols will be put in place to ensure visitor and staff safety. More details will be released later in July. In the meantime, tubing remains closed at Elora Gorge. 

Overnight camping

Overnight camping has reopened at Brant, Byng Island, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake, Pinehurst Lake and Rockwood conservation areas and reservations are being accepted through our Campsite Reservation System. Reservations may only be made online, in advance. Walk-up campsite bookings are not being accepted at the gatehouse. If you need assistance with your online reservation, please contact the park where you plan to stay directly via email. Our parks are very busy at this time and staff will get back to you as quickly as possible,; however, delays should be expected.

If you have specific questions regarding what is open or closed in our parks, please check our COVID-19 FAQ. 

June 30, 2020: More programs and amenities reopening at Grand River Parks in July

The GRCA will reopen additional programs and amenities in its Grand River Parks beginning in July.

Starting July 10, select Grand River Parks including Brant, Byng Island, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake, Pinehurst Lake and Rockwood conservation areas will offer limited overnight camping.

To support this, the GRCA camping reservation system will reopen on July 6 at 9:00 a.m. for online bookings only. Conestogo Lake and Laurel Creek conservation areas will not offer overnight camping in 2020. Campers who have previously made reservations at these two parks will be contacted directly regarding their refund.

While more washrooms will open in campgrounds, there will be no shower facilities or group camping available this year.

In addition to governmental and public health guidelines, there are a number of considerations the GRCA is taking into account when making decisions on which programs and amenities it is able to reopen, and the associated timelines. These include health and safety, staffing, managing capacity, enforcement challenges, as well as financial considerations.

Below is an overview of what’s open and closed in Grand River Parks this summer:

Open now

• most Grand River Parks (with the exception of the Elora Quarry Conservation Area) are now open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; gatehouses are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• beaches
• some washrooms in day use areas only
• Grand River Parks memberships are available for purchase at gatehouses during gatehouse operating hours, as well as online
• seasonal boat launch passes are available for purchase at the Belwood Lake and Conestogo Lake gatehouses during operating hours

Opening in July

• the camping reservation system will reopen on July 6 at 9 a.m. for online bookings only
• overnight camping at Brant, Byng Island, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake, Pinehurst Lake and Rockwood conservation areas will reopen on July 10
• some washrooms in overnight camping areas

Closed for 2020

• the Elora Quarry Conservation Area
• the splash pad at Elora Gorge Conservation Area
• swimming pools at Brant and Byng Island conservation areas
• overnight camping at Conestogo Lake and Laurel Creek conservation areas
• all showers and change rooms
• washrooms in seasonal camping areas
• all pavilions, picnic shelters and other group facilities
• all playground equipment
• all food concession stands
• group camping
• the Learn to Fish program
• the fishing equipment rental program and the life jacket loaner program

Closed until further notice

• boat, canoe and kayak rentals at all conservation areas
• tubing at Elora Gorge Conservation Area

A decision regarding these amenities is anticipated by July 10.

Visitors should check www.grandriver.ca/COVID19-FAQ for information about which facilities and services are available before visiting Grand River Parks. If visitors have further questions, they are asked to contact the parks directly.

For more information, please see the latest media release.

June 19, 2020: Reminder – Grand River Parks Need to Know

As we start to see more summer-like weather, visitors are reminded that experiences at Grand River Parks will be different this year. Our parks are operating at a reduced capacity, and we are implementing a number of measures to address overcrowding and promote physical distancing. This includes limiting the number of daily visitors. If capacity is reached, our parks will close early.

Please note Grand River Parks are very busy on weekends. If you are able, please consider visiting at a less busy time.

If you do visit our parks, garbage bins are available and will be emptied as frequently as possible. However, people are asked to visit responsibly and if garbage bins are full, to take their waste with them and dispose of it at home.

A reminder that Belwood Lake, Conestogo Lake, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake and Rockwood conservation areas are subject to orders in place by the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit. All visitors who enter gatehouses and public washrooms in these parks must wear a face covering.

Currently Open

• Grand River Parks (except Elora Quarry) are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
• gatehouses are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily
• beaches and swimming areas where applicable
• washrooms in day use areas only

Closed until further notice

• the Elora Quarry Conservation Area
• boat, canoe and kayak rentals
• pavilions, picnic shelters and other group facilities
• playground equipment
• overnight camping, including group camping
• tubing and the splash pad at Elora Gorge Conservation Area
• showers and change rooms
• washrooms not in day use areas
• the Learn to Fish program
• the fishing equipment rental program and the life jacket loaner program

Closed for the remainder of the 2020 season

• swimming pools at Brant and Byng Island conservation areas
• food concession stands

For further details, please check www.grandriver.ca/COVID19-FAQ, and if you have further questions, please contact the parks directly.

The GRCA will make a decision on its ability to offer other recreational activities, such as overnight camping, by the end of June.

June 16, 2020: More amenities reopening at Grand River Parks

The GRCA has begun to open gatehouses, beaches and some washrooms in most of its conservation areas.

The Ontario government recently announced more businesses and services are permitted to reopen, provided that the proper health and safety measures are in place. The Province’s announcement currently applies to most conservation areas within the Grand River watershed, with Byng Island in Haldimand County entering this stage beginning June 19. Local health units may have additional requirements that must be followed.

“As the GRCA reopens more amenities and activities for visitors in our Grand River Parks, the health and safety of staff and the community remain our highest priority,” says GRCA Chair Helen Jowett. “We are pleased to reopen more amenities, and while this is good news, it’s also important to remember it will not be business as usual in our parks this year. As always, we encourage people to be responsible so that we can continue to offer an enjoyable experience for all visitors.”

In light of the province’s recent announcements, the GRCA will make a decision on its ability to offer activities, such as overnight camping, in the near future. A decision on overnight camping is anticipated by the end of June, and will be communicated via the GRCA’s website, social media channels and through the news media.

The following is a list of parks and recreational activities that have currently reopened:

• most Grand River Parks are now open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; gatehouses are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• beaches and washrooms in day use areas only
• Grand River Parks memberships are available for purchase at gatehouses during gatehouse operating hours, as well as online
• seasonal boat launch passes will be available for purchase at the Belwood Lake and Conestogo Lake gatehouses during operating hours

Visitors should check www.grandriver.ca/COVID19-FAQ for information about which facilities and services are available before visiting Grand River Parks. If visitors have further questions, they are asked to contact the parks directly.

The following GRCA conservation areas, facilities and programs remain closed until further notice, including:

• the Elora Quarry Conservation Area
• boat, canoe and kayak rentals
• pavilions, picnic shelters and other group facilities
• playground equipment
• overnight camping, including group camping
• tubing and the splash pad at Elora Gorge Conservation Area
• showers and change rooms
• washrooms not in day use areas
• the Learn to Fish program
• the fishing equipment rental program and the life jacket loaner program

The following facilities and programs will remain closed for the remainder of the 2020 season, including:

• swimming pools at Brant and Byng Island conservation areas
• food concession stands

To help protect both staff and visitors, the GRCA will be implementing a number of measures to address overcrowding and promote physical distancing in its parks and facilities. This may include limiting the number of daily visitors and increased patrols. Visitors should be aware that parking is limited, and while garbage receptacles are now available and will be emptied as frequently as possible, people are reminded to visit responsibly and if garbage bins are full, to take their waste with them and dispose of it at home.

Furthermore, Belwood Lake, Conestogo Lake, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake and Rockwood conservation areas are subject to orders in place by the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit. All visitors who enter a commercial establishment, including Grand River Park gatehouses and public washrooms in these areas, must wear a face covering.

Like many organizations and businesses across Ontario, the GRCA has needed to adapt its operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even where the Province and the local health units permit an activity to occur or facility to open, the GRCA may determine that certain activities will not occur and certain facilities will not open on GRCA properties. As an organization, the GRCA must consider both its ability to meet the government’s public health safety guidelines, as well as the financial feasibility of permitting certain activities and/or opening facilities, when making decisions about which programs and services it is able to provide in 2020.

June 9, 2020: Belwood Lake, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake and Rockwood conservation areas temporarily closed until June 15

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has closed Belwood Lake, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake and Rockwood conservation areas and will reopen them again on Monday, June 15.

Brant, Byng Island, Conestogo Lake, Laurel Creek, Pinehurst Lake and Shade’s Mills conservation areas, as well as Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area, are not impacted by this temporary closure.

Elora Quarry Conservation Area remains closed until further notice.

Over the past few weeks, several Grand River Parks have experienced significant challenges with the number of visitors in attendance. In addition, some visitors are not following rules and are disregarding provincial guidelines established to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Beyond people not respecting area closures, congregating in large groups and not practicing appropriate physical distancing measures, a considerable amount of garbage and other waste is being left throughout the parks and natural areas.

It has also been noted that some people are accessing the conservation areas without paying the standard entrance fees. While it is often thought that the GRCA’s Grand River Parks are funded through tax dollars, this is not the case. These areas are able to operate only on the funds they receive through gate access fees, camping revenue, and pay-for-use items like canoe and kayak rentals.

All of these challenges have put further strain on the GRCA’s already limited resources.

“Given the limited staff that the GRCA currently has in place, and the work we need to complete in order to prepare our conservation areas for additional activities, we are temporarily closing the parks where we’ve had the most significant challenges,” says Pam Walther-Mabee, Manager of Conservation Areas. “We are taking this action so that our staff can focus on completing this work, rather than managing capacity and enforcement issues.”

Additional activities and services

On Monday, June 8, the Ontario government announced more businesses and services will be permitted to reopen as of June 12 in many regions of the province that will enter Stage 2 in the government’s the reopening framework. This announcement applies to most conservation areas within the Grand River watershed, with the exception of Byng Island in Haldimand County, which remains in Stage 1 at this time. Beginning June 15, the GRCA will begin to open beaches and some washrooms in most of its conservation areas, except Byng Island.

In light of the province’s recent announcement, the GRCA will also be making a decision on its ability to offer additional activities, such as overnight camping in the near future. A decision on overnight camping is anticipated by the end of June, and will be communicated via the GRCA’s website, social media channels and through the news media.

“As the GRCA reopens, the health and safety of staff and the community remain our highest priority. In addition to our ability to meet the government’s new public health and safety requirements, as a board, we will also need to consider the financial feasibility of reopening these additional activities,” says GRCA Chair Helen Jowett. “Like many organizations and businesses across Ontario, the GRCA’s operations have changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The GRCA continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in Ontario, and follow the guidance of federal and provincial governments and public health authorities. However, even where the province and the local health units permit an activity to occur or facility to open, the GRCA may determine that certain activities will not occur and certain facilities will not open on GRCA properties.

For more information about which GRCA properties are open and closed to the public, and what activities are permissible, please visit www.grandriver.ca/COVID19-FAQ.

June 6, 2020: GRCA reminding visitors to respect rules and restrictions

On Saturday, June 6, several Grand River Parks experienced significant challenges with visitors who were not following rules and respecting restrictions and closures. GRCA staff reported people not respecting area closures, people on beaches and people not practicing appropriate physical distancing measures.

Further to this, a considerable amount of garbage and other waste was left throughout the conservation areas, in particular at Guelph Lake. As a result, Guelph Lake will not open until 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 7, due to the amount of clean up that is required.

Should the GRCA continue to experience significant challenges in its conservation areas with visitors not respecting the rules in place, access will be restricted or the areas may be forced to close altogether.

Visitors are reminded that:

• the Elora Quarry Conservation Area remains closed until further notice
• other Grand River Parks are open for limited recreational activities (hiking, birdwatching, fishing, boating) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with the exception of Guelph Lake on June 7, which will open at 10 a.m.)
• parking is limited; if capacity is reached, access will be restricted
• people should plan for short visits to ensure the space can be shared; if the areas are busy, people should leave and return at another time
• all beaches and swimming areas are closed
• all buildings and on-site facilities, including washrooms, gatehouses, picnic areas and playgrounds remain closed; no equipment rentals are available
• no garbage receptacles are available and visitors must carry any garbage or pet waste out with them
• physical distancing is required; people should stay at least two metres or six feet apart, and are not to congregate in groups
• some portions of the conservation areas are not accessible
• visitors must obey all signage and keep their pets on a leash at all times

Standard entrance fees apply. At Shades’ Mills and Laurel Creek conservation areas, visitors may enter with a valid Grand River Parks membership pass or can pay by credit card at the automatic gate. At the other conservation areas without an automatic gate, visitors may enter with a valid Grand River Parks membership pass or must pay by cash (exact change only) in payment boxes located at the gatehouses. Standard boat launch fees for motor boats at Belwood Lake and Conestogo Lake conservation areas apply and must also be paid upon entry.

June 4, 2020: GRCA cancelling all summer day camps

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the GRCA has made the decision to cancel its day camps for the summer of 2020. 

The GRCA continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, and follow the guidance of federal and provincial governments and public health authorities in Ontario. On June 2, 2020, the provincial government released its public health guidelines for the safe operation of day camps in Ontario. Upon review of the guidelines, the GRCA has determined that the restrictions would significantly impact its ability to deliver quality day camp programs in the current COVID-19 environment.

On March 16, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) closed all of its nature centres to the public and cancelled its March Break Camps. All events, like birthday parties, were also cancelled. The GRCA’s day camp programs were developed pre-pandemic, and include large gatherings both indoor and outdoor, as well as in-person interactive activities.

The health and safety of our staff and campers remain our highest priority and the restrictions would significantly impact our ability to deliver quality day camp programs in the current COVID-19 environment.The GRCA has a low threshold for risk when it comes to the safety of our campers and staff. We feel that erring on the side of health and safety is the right decision, given the style of programming that we are known for.

All registrants affected by cancelled programming will be receiving a full refund in the coming weeks, and are being contacted directly.

The GRCA encourages families to visit its Connect with Nature at Home webpage for a list of nature activities they can do together at home or in their local park, while practicing appropriate physical distancing measures.

At this time, all GRCA nature centres and their surrounding property remain closed to the public and all events are cancelled until further notice.

For complete details about which GRCA properties are open and closed to the public, and what activities are permissible, please visit www.grandriver.ca/COVID19-FAQ. 

May 29, 2020: GRCA reopening additional parks on May 30 for limited use

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has added five more conservation areas to the list of properties it has been able to reopen this month since government restrictions in response to COVID-19 forced the closure of all GRCA owned and managed properties in March.

This Saturday, May 30, Brant (Brantford), Byng Island (Dunnville), Elora Gorge (Elora) and Pinehurst Lake (Ayr) conservation areas, as well as Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area (Grand Valley), will reopen for limited recreational activities. With the exception of the Elora Quarry Conservation Area, all Grand River Parks have now reopened for limited day use activities. At this time, the timeline to reopen the Elora Quarry remains uncertain.

All buildings and on-site facilities, including washrooms, gatehouses, picnic areas, playgrounds, and beaches in these areas will remain closed. No equipment rentals are available at this time. In addition, no garbage receptacles will be available and visitors are asked to carry any garbage or pet waste out with them.

Visitors are reminded that these areas will be open between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and that parking is limited. If capacity is reached, access will be restricted. Since there is no automatic gate at these conservation areas, and gatehouses remain closed, visitors without a Grand River Parks membership pass are required to pay by cash (exact change only) in payment boxes located at the gatehouse. Standard entrance fees apply. Standard boat launch fees for motor boats at Belwood Lake and Conestogo Lake conservation areas apply and must also be paid upon entry.

The GRCA is also resuming sales of its Grand River Parks membership pass beginning Monday, June 1. The $140 membership pass, which grants cardholders access to all parks that have been reopened, will only be available for purchase online. For complete details beginning Monday, June 1, visit www.grandriver.ca/park-membership. 

Visitors are also reminded to practice physical distancing by staying at least two metres or six feet apart, and not to congregate in groups. The GRCA is also asking the public to plan short visits to areas that have been reopened to ensure the space can be shared with all those looking to get outside and into nature. Some portions of the conservation areas may not be accessible. Visitors are reminded to obey signage, and keep their pets on a leash at all times.

For complete details about which GRCA properties are open and closed to the public, and what activities are permissible, please see our newsroom or visit our FAQ page.

May 22, 2020: Boat launches to open at GRCA conservation areas reopening on May 23

This Saturday, May 23, Belwood Lake (Fergus), Conestogo Lake (Wallenstein), Guelph Lake (Guelph) and Rockwood (Rockwood) conservation areas will reopen for limited recreational activities. Laurel Creek (Waterloo) and Shade’s Mills (Cambridge) conservation areas are also open for limited day use activities.

While it was initially anticipated that boat launches at Belwood Lake, Conestogo Lake, Guelph Lake, Laurel Creek, and Shade’s Mills would not reopen until May 30, GRCA staff have been able to install all required public safety infrastructure around dams and prepare these facilities ahead of schedule.

On May 23, boat launches at Belwood Lake and Conestogo Lake will reopen for visitors to these areas. In addition, boat launches and docks have been installed and are ready for those who wish to canoe and kayak at Guelph Lake, Laurel Creek and Shade’s Mills conservation areas. Boating and fishing are now permitted on these reservoirs. Canoe and kayak rentals are not available. The reservoir at Rockwood Conservation Area will remain closed and canoeing and kayaking is not permitted at this time.

All buildings and on-site facilities, including washrooms, gatehouses, picnic areas, playgrounds, and beaches in these areas will remain closed. In addition, no garbage receptacles will be available and visitors are asked to carry any garbage or pet waste out with them.

Visitors are reminded that these areas will be open between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and that parking is limited. If capacity is reached, access will be restricted.

Since there is no automatic gate at these conservation areas, and gatehouses will remain closed, visitors without a Grand River Parks membership pass will be required to pay by cash (exact change only) in payment boxes located at the gatehouse. Standard entrance fees will apply. Standard boat launch fees for motor boats at Belwood Lake and Conestogo Lake conservation areas will apply and must also be paid upon entry.

For complete details about which GRCA properties are open and closed to the public, and what activities are permissible, please read the news release and our FAQ page.

May 20, 2020: GRCA reopening additional parks and natural areas for limited day use activities

On Saturday, May 23, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) will reopen Belwood Lake (Fergus), Conestogo Lake (Wallenstein), Guelph Lake (Guelph) and Rockwood (Rockwood) conservation areas for limited recreational activities such as walking and birdwatching.

These areas will be open between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Since there is no automatic gate at these conservation areas, and gatehouses will remain closed, visitors without a Grand River Parks membership pass will be required to pay by cash (exact change only) in payment boxes located at the gatehouse. Standard entrance fees will apply.

All buildings and on-site facilities, including washrooms, gatehouses, picnic areas, playgrounds, beaches and docks in these areas will remain closed. In addition, no garbage receptacles will be available and visitors are asked to carry any garbage or pet waste out with them.

The GRCA will also be reopening a number of additional natural areas to the public on Saturday, May 23 for recreational activities such as walking and birdwatching, including:

• Dumfries Conservation Area, Cambridge
• Arkell-Smith, Puslinch (Map) 
• Guelph Lake dam to Victoria Road N (including GORBA trails), Guelph (Map)
• Puslinch Tract, Puslinch (Map)
• Snyder's Flats, Bloomingdale (Map)
• Starkey Hill, Puslinch (Map)

Visitors are reminded to practice physical distancing by staying at least two metres or six feet apart, and not to congregate in groups. The GRCA is also asking the public to plan short visits to areas that have been reopened to ensure the space can be shared with all those looking to get outside and into nature. Parking is limited. Some portions of the conservation areas may not be accessible. Visitors are reminded to obey signage, and keep their pets on a leash at all times.

At this time, overnight camping is not permitted at any GRCA conservation area. It is still uncertain when the GRCA will be able to offer nightly camping this season. It takes at least four weeks to prepare the parks for camping.The GRCA is tentatively planning to open seasonal camping on June 15, subject to its ability to meet all the health and safety requirements of the provincial government. Seasonal campers will receive further information regarding reopening and access to their sites directly from their park in the coming days.

As restrictions ease, there are a number of things that must be addressed prior to reopening GRCA properties to the public in order to ensure the safety of both our staff and the community, as well as meet the government’s safety guidelines. The GRCA will continue to reopen its properties in stages, and information will be shared as it becomes available.

For complete details about which GRCA properties are open and closed to the public, and what activities are permissible, please read the news release and our FAQ page.

May 15, 2020: GRCA reopening some trails and parks for limited day use activities beginning this May long weekend

Beginning Saturday, May 16, 2020, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) will reopen its sections of the Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail, and the Brantford to Hamilton Rail Trail for biking and hiking. The GRCA’s remaining closed section of the Elora Cataract Trailway will also open on Saturday. The section between Elora and Fergus was reopened earlier this month under a mutual agreement with the Township of Centre Wellington. The SC Johnson Trail (Paris to Brantford) has remained open as it has been maintained by the County of Brant.

In addition, the GRCA will be reopening Laurel Creek (Waterloo) and Shade’s Mills (Cambridge) conservation areas for recreational activities such as walking and birdwatching. Fishing and boating are not permitted at either park at this time. These areas will be open between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to those with a GRCA membership pass or paying by credit card at the automatic gate. Standard entrance fees will apply.

All buildings and on-site facilities, including washrooms, gatehouses, picnic areas, playgrounds, beaches and docks in these areas will remain closed. In addition, no garbage receptacles will be available and visitors are asked to carry any garbage or pet waste out with them.

Visitors are reminded to practice physical distancing by staying at least two metres or six feet apart, and not to congregate in groups. The GRCA is also asking the public to plan short visits to trails and conservation areas that have been reopened to ensure the space can be shared with all those looking to get outside and into nature. Parking is limited.

For more information please read the news release and our FAQ page.

May 11, 2020: GRCA conservation areas and properties currently remain closed; plan to reopen some properties for limited day use is being developed

On Saturday, May 9, the Ontaro government announced that provinical parks would open for limited day use this week. The province's announcement applies to parks owned and operated by the province. It does not apply to GRCA parks, trails and natural areas, which are different from both provincial and federal parks. At this time, all properties owned and managed by the GRCA remain closed to the public. However, we know how important access to nature is for community health and wellbeing and are working on a plan that will allow us to reopen some GRCA properties for limited day use. We will take a phased approach, with our properties reopening in stages. We do not yet have a timeline, but will provide further information as soon as we are able. The health and safety of our staff and the community remain our highest priority, and we thank you for your patience.

May 7, 2020: GRCA operations continue to be impacted by COVID-19

The GRCA continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on legislation put in place by the provincial government in response to the pandemic, the GRCA has determined the following services are critical during the pandemic:

1. Flood operations and management
2. Land management and property/asset security
3. Planning and Permits (Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act)
4. Source Water Protection
5. Programs that support business operations

At this time, GRCA operations have been reduced to maintain these critical programs and services only. Given the restrictions in place, we are currently not performing any regular maintenance on GRCA owned and managed property, except as it relates to flood operations infrastructure or as required by legal obligations. With the extension of the province’s emergency orders until May 19, it is certain that GRCA parks, trails and natural areas will remain closed, until further notice. For further information related to GRCA programs and services, please see our COVID-19 FAQ.

April 16, 2020: GRCA conservation areas and properties to remain closed, camping season delayed until further notice

The GRCA continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, follow governmental direction and actively take steps to help prevent the spread of infection. With the extension of the province’s Declaration of Emergency until May 12, it is certain that GRCA conservation areas and properties will remain closed, until further notice. It takes at least four weeks to prepare the conservation areas to open, in particular, for camping. This work has yet to occur due to the pandemic and the fact that GRCA operations have been reduced to comply with government directives regarding essential services and social distancing. The GRCA has suspended taking new overnight reservations for camping in 2020 or until such time as the program can be re-instated. In addition to Grand River Parks, passive-use conservation areas and trails remain closed until further notice. For further details, please read the news release and our COVID-19 FAQ page.

April 14, 2020: Reduction in operations extended until further notice

On April 14, 2020, the Ontario government extended the Declaration of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act for a further 28 days. The GRCA's reduction in operations has also been extended until further notice. The reduction in operations and closures to the public apply to all GRCA work locations including the Administration Centre, Grand River Parks, nature centres, the Burford Tree Nursery, as well as all GRCA owned and managed properties, facilities, trails and passive use conservation areas. For the duration of this time period, there will no regular maintenance performed on properties that are owned and managed by the GRCA. Members of the public are not permitted on any GRCA owned and managed properties during this period of time, and those who access these properties are trespassing. Most GRCA staff are working remotely to help further reduce the spread of this virus. We will continue to serve the community as best possible over the phone, by email and through our online permit application system.

March 31, 2020: Reduction in operations extended to April 13

On March 24, 2020, the GRCA scaled back operations to essential services only. Following the provincial government’s announcement on March 30, 2020, this reduction in operations will now be in effect until April 13, 2020, with the possibility of an extension as the situation evolves. The reduction in operations and closures to the public apply to all GRCA work locations including the Administration Centre, Grand River Parks, nature centres, the Burford Tree Nursery, as well as all GRCA owned and managed properties, facilities, trails and passive use conservation areas. For the duration of this time period, there will not be any regular maintenance nor regular hazard management performed on properties that are owned and managed by the GRCA. Members of the public are not permitted on any GRCA owned and managed properties during this period of time, and those who access these properties are trespassing. Most GRCA staff are working remotely to help further reduce the spread of this virus. We will continue to serve the community as best possible over the phone, by email and through our online permit application system. Please refer to our FAQ page for more information.

March 24, 2020: GRCA reducing operations to essential services

The GRCA is scaling back operations to essential services only, effective March 24, 2020. This reduction in operations will be in effect for 14 days until April 7, 2020 (inclusive), with the possibility of an extension as the situation evolves. This reduction in operations and closures to the public apply to all GRCA work locations including the Administration Centre, Grand River Parks, nature centres, the Burford Tree Nursery, as well as all GRCA properties, facilities, trails and passive use conservation areas. For the duration of this time period, there will not be any regular maintenance nor hazard management performed on GRCA properties. Parking lots in GRCA passive use areas are closed and no pedestrian traffic will be permitted. Most GRCA staff are working remotely to help further reduce the spread of this virus. We will continue to serve the community as best possible over the phone, by email and through our online permit application system. For further details regarding this update, please read the news release.

March 22, 2020: GRCA to close parks effective March 23

Effective March 23, all Grand River Parks will be closed to visitors, including membership pass holders as well as day-use visitors, until April 6, 2020. Please read the news release for details. 

March 19, 2020: GRCA maintaining service delivery to the greatest extent possible

As of March 19, most GRCA staff are working remotely to help further reduce the spread of this virus. We will continue to serve the community as best possible over the phone, by email and through our online permit application system. Please make arrangements directly with staff for any deliveries. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience at this time, and will return to usual operations as soon as possible.

March 17, 2020: GRCA taking steps to protect staff and community

As of March 18, all GRCA offices and facilities within Grand River Parks are closed to the public until Monday, April 6 to help prevent the possible spread of this virus. We will continue to serve the community over the phone, by email and through our online permit application system. The GRCA’s flood forecasting and warning system will continue without interruption. Select Grand River Parks, including Pinehurst Lake, Laurel Creek, Shade's Mills, Rockwood and Guelph Lake remain open for passive recreation, such as walking or bird-watching. Trails are open in these areas, but access may be limited based on spring trail conditions. All on-site facilities, including washrooms, gatehouses and other buildings, will be closed. All other Grand River Parks are seasonally closed to visitors at this time. Events and outdoor education programming have been cancelled up to April 6. For details, please read the news release.

March 16, 2020: Select Grand River Parks remain open at this time, events cancelled

Currently, select Grand River Parks, including Pinehurst Lake, Laurel Creek, Shade's Mills, Rockwood, and Guelph Lake that offer year-round access remain open for passive recreation (walking/hiking) with limited amenities available. We recognize the importance of access to nature for community health and well-being. Trails remain open in these areas, but access may be limited based on trail conditions.

All other parks are seasonally closed to visitors at this time. Passive use conservation areas and trails remain open at this time. 

For more information, please visit www.grandriver.ca/parks.

All GRCA public events previously scheduled through April 5, 2020 have been cancelled. 

March 13, 2020: GRCA nature centres closed - all March break camps and activities cancelled

Effective Monday, March 16, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is closing all of its nature centres to the public and cancelling all March Break Camps in light of recent developments in Ontario due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Any previously scheduled events at natures centres, like birthday parties, are also cancelled. For full details, please refer to the news release.