Two GRCA parks open for winter activities

Two Grand River Conserva­tion Authority parks are open for winter activities, and two more parks are expected to open soon.

Belwood Lake Conserva­tion Area on County Road 18 upstream of Fergus is open from 8:15am to 4pm for:

- ice fishing for pike, perch and walleye starting on Jan. 10;

- parking is $6 and includes admission;

- ice huts available for $30 per person for a full day, $22 per person for a half day, with a two adult minimum per hut;

- minnows are available at $5 per dozen; and

- there is no charge for children 12 and under.

Pinehurst Lake Conserva­tion Area,  north of Paris on Pinehurst Road, (formerly High­way 24A) is open for:

- ice fishing for blue gill and crappie in a nine-hectare kettle lake;

- snowshoeing on 8km of trails;

- open daily from 8am to 4:30pm.

- admission is $4.25 for adults, $2.50 for children (6 to 14) and free for children under 5. and

- snowshoes are available for rent for $10. Snowshoe rentals are available only by reservation. To reserve them, cal (519-442-4721) through the week; there are no reservations necessary on weekends.

Two other parks will open when snow and ice conditions allow them to be used with safety.

- Shade's Mills Conserva­tion Area, 450 Avenue Road., Cambridge, will offer ice fish­ing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing; and

- Laurel Creek Conserva­tion Area, 625 Westmount Road in Waterloo will offer cross-country skiing.

Updates to winter activity conditions can be found in the Newsroom of the GRCA website at www.grandriver.ca.