Winter returns to six Grand River parks

After an unseasonably mild winter last year prevented most Grand River Parks from offering traditional winter activities, six Grand River Conservation Authority parks opened on Jan. 6 for the winter.

Shade’s Mills in Cambridge, Pinehurst Lake in North Dumfries, Rockwood and Belwood Lake offer year-round access, providing limited winter maintenance for activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, where available.

Guelph Lake also provides a small parking area for limited winter activities such as hiking.

Winter operating hours are 8am to 5:30pm, seven-days a week.

For more information on winter programs visit www.grandriver.ca/winterprograms.

Ice fishing is available, when conditions allow, at Shade’s Mills, Pinehurst Lake and Belwood Lake. Ice conditions are monitored daily at these facilities. For up-to-date information on ice fishing, call the parks directly.

Ice conditions are not monitored at Guelph Lake and ice fishing is not allowed. Lakes and rivers may look frozen at this time of year, but the ice may still be very thin. Recreational users and the general public are reminded to stay off unmonitored water bodies.

Below is a list of activities that are being offered at each local park at this time:

Belwood Lake Conservation Area

- ice fishing open, minnows not for sale;

- cross-country skiing open, ungroomed trails. Rentals not available

- snowshoeing open, rentals not available; and

- walking/hiking trails open.

Rockwood Conservation Area

- cross-country skiing open, ungroomed trails. Rentals not available;

- snowshoeing open, rentals not available;

- walking/hiking trails open.