Is Ontario's geography underrated?

[megadude]

In terms of the ROC, I don’t see any place as being overrated. If anything, everywhere is underrated if using my method of residents and outsiders’ understanding of a province’s geography. But if I had to categorize in general terms, I’d break it down like this:

Underrated: AB, SK, MB, NL
Accurately rated: BC, QC, NB, NS, PEI

[vid]

So I'll be in Southern Ontario next week for 8 days, and I thought I might stop by the Caledon badlands and check that out since it looks neat.






I honestly didn't know it was only 2 acres in size.

[Innsertnamehere]

I seem to recall them being closed,
Make sure you can get to them!

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

I seem to recall them being closed,
Make sure you can get to them!

Website says they reopened last fall.

https://www.caledon.ca/en/explore/Badlands.asp

[acottawa]

Part of Ontario’s challenge is just how enormous it is. Cornwall to Kenora is a 2k drive, that is like driving from Rome to Copenhagen.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by vid

So I'll be in Southern Ontario next week for 8 days, and I thought I might stop by the Caledon badlands and check that out since it looks neat.






I honestly didn't know it was only 2 acres in size.

I've wanted to see that site for the last few years but haven't had a chance. A very nearby (just a few kilometres from the badlands) drive that I've heard is interesting is the Forks of the Credit River Road. Drive it from end to end. Pretty impressive scenery and also impressive that it's in the GTA. You may remember seeing that famous 90 degree bend in the road going up a hill in the Kathleen Wynne Ontario Liberal Party TV ad back in 2013-14.

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/BciqMUGFyDLFptNVA

Wynne ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2PXySGHbnk

[DavefromSt.Vital]

FOTC Road is indeed a fun drive, although my favourite time to do it is a weekday during fall colours (weekends are overrun). Definitely stop at one of the places in Belfountain for an ice cream.

Vid, if you want to check out some more interesting quirks of nature and you are in the Hamilton area, walk out to the Dundas Peak. Easiest place to park is Tew Falls, although there is a fee. While Dundas Peak is much lower than Mt. McKay in Thunder Bay, there is development almost right to the base of the cliff, a busy CN line underneath and a partial view of the Hamilton skyline.

[megadude]

Since the re-opening of the Badlands I'm guessing you can't venture out past that new boardwalk. Previously it was in its natural state. Pull over on side of the road, get out and go do whatever you want. Basically trample all over them, which is why it was closed for a few years.

Same like on FOTC Road you could pull over at the side of the hairpin and do whatever. Photographers would always be there. Now that has a barrier.

Fond memories of getting that ice cream in the tiny village of Belfountain. My wife was an extra in a movie there as a teenager. Starred Kirsten Dunst and Katie Holmes.

Couple minutes the other way from there Mississauga Rd passes by that private ski club. Nice little stretch of road that drops down and does a couple twists.

I'm a fan of Caledon. Lots of little hamlets, creeks and ups and downs. Apparently has the most millionaires per capita in Canada. Plus rated as Canada's safest city by Macleans many times. But living there comes with more snow.

[megadude]

I think the Badlands consists of some iron sediment or whatever. Same can be found in valleys along Sixteen Mile and Bronte Creeks in Oakville/Milton right in the middle of the city. I only visit a couple of times during trout and salmon seasons even though I'm a two minute drive from one of the access points. Makes for a nice setting, especially if you're not catching. And also makes the GO train commute less tedious when you're passing over these rivers along with Grindstone, Credit, Etobicoke, Mimico and Humber Rivers/Creeks. That's along LSW line.



https://hikingthegta.com/2017/10/14/...ek-at-the-qew/


James Hackland / Alamy Stock Photo


https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/thread...s-hollow.4869/

[megadude]

While in the east end, in Scarboro and Pickering, the Rouge Valley's cliffs consist of the same material as the Bluffs. Again, good setting for trout and salmon fishing, but there are bigger smallmouth bass here than in the two west end systems I mentioned.



https://www.durhamradionews.com/archives/97440


Jill Morgan / Alamy Stock Photo

[DavefromSt.Vital]

It was a sunny day and we were looking for things to do so checked out the Cheltenham Badlands for the first time since they re-opened. Rather disappointing compared to the old days. Minimum $6.50 to park. Only thing open is a viewing platform that shows the one hill adjacent to the road. You can't actually see most of the site. A Consevation Authority worker was standing in the parking lot making sure no one used the currently closed Bruce Trail section that would normally access at least part of the area.

[vid]

Jesus I never even though about paying for parking. Here they just have a little can to drop coins into.

Scarborough Bluffs and the scenic areas of Hamilton are on my list, it's only a matter of time. I'm still debating whether or not to check out Niagara Falls as well.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

FOTC Road is indeed a fun drive, although my favourite time to do it is a weekday during fall colours (weekends are overrun). Definitely stop at one of the places in Belfountain for an ice cream.

Vid, if you want to check out some more interesting quirks of nature and you are in the Hamilton area, walk out to the Dundas Peak. Easiest place to park is Tew Falls, although there is a fee. While Dundas Peak is much lower than Mt. McKay in Thunder Bay, there is development almost right to the base of the cliff, a busy CN line underneath and a partial view of the Hamilton skyline.

Forks of the Credit Rd. is a beautiful drive no matter what season. Fall especially but spring/summer it's so lush, and winter provides a different beauty. Good call on doing it on a weekday, even off-season.

Farther along Hwy 10, north of Hwy 9, I also recommend Hockley Rd., through the Hockley Valley. Not as dramatic as FOTC but a really pretty tour, and many of the intersecting roads are worth a side-track (Airport Road has some amazingly large roller-coaster hills; Mono Cliffs Provincial Park to the north is a great stop as well, lots of variety on its trails).

Dundas Peak is really terrific. Two gorgeous waterfalls along the same trail, which is a fairly easy walk, and the best view of the valley. The parking issues are due to such high demand in the warmer months... it was getting out of hand with all the visitors and so there's also a shuttle service that runs from a nearby conservation area

One of the nicest views of Hamilton from the west is farther east of the Peak, from the lookout at the top of Sydenham hill.

[DavefromSt.Vital]

Originally Posted by vid

Jesus I never even though about paying for parking. Here they just have a little can to drop coins into.

While $6.50 is not a huge parking fee in the GTA, given that we spent less than 6.5 minutes actually looking at the badlands I was a little miffed that I paid more than $1 per minute. Don't bother with the "deal" of paying $10 for two hours.

Please note that virtually all Conservation Areas actively charge to park, many also charge to enter on foot at busy times.

Apart from the places already mentioned, just some random places to potentially check out:

In Toronto, Broadview Avenue looking over the Don Valley and Riverdale Park at the downtown skyline. You can cross the DVP using a pedestrian bridge and check out old Cabbagetown.

If you do check out the Dundas Peak in Hamilton, also check out some of the waterfalls in the city. When I introduce someone to Hamilton who has only seen the dirty, stinky steel factories from the Burlington Skyway one of the first things I do is hike out to the Dundas Peak. Then drive down the escarpment on nearby County Road 8 (old Highway 8) down into the old town of Dundas right below the Peak. Once in downtown Dundas waggle along using Ogilvie, Old Ancaster, Old Dundas. Stop off to use a very short trail to see Sherman Falls. Continue up along past the Ancaster Mill and go along Rousseaux/Mohawk. Take the 403 back down the escarpment for a speedy fun ride to Hamilton's downtown. Exit at Main and go east. Hamilton's downtown is not that exciting while in it but turn right on John and follow the signs for "Mountain Access". Once at the summit turn right and park in Sam Lawrence Park. Escarpment cliffside view of downtown at skyscraper level. Very similar to the Chalet Lookout on Mont Royal in Montreal but with the bonus of the Toronto skyline in the distance on a clear day (and parking is still free!).

If you do go to Niagara, consider how you get there and back. Most just pound back and forth on the six lane QEW. The only thing more stressful than that is getting stuck in the frequent traffic jams on the QEW. Whenever I have time I take County Road 81 (The Wine Route) in one direction for a change of pace. While the two routes are only a few hundred metres apart in a few places, they are a world away in look and feel. If you are into wine, stop in at one or more wineries. If the air is clear check out the little tasting tower at Flat Rock Cellars as you can easily see the Toronto skyline across the lake.

Shipping season has started on the Great Lakes. While places like Sault Ste. Marie use locks to deal with slight changes in elevation, the Welland Canal gets ships up and down a huge height. There is a viewing complex at Lock 3 but you can chase ships up and down the locks. More info on schedules here: https://www.stcatharines.ca/en/exper...nalsCentre.asp

Niagara Falls is a must do if you are interested at all in geography - a honking big amount of water falling off a cliff! (Plus a bunch more being diverted behind the scenes to generate electricity) Apart from the actual waterfalls, there are hundreds of attractions in the area. The Adventure Pass Plus is well worth the investment. https://www.niagarafallstourism.com/...adventure-pass

Please note that for Niagara hotels Saturday is the most expensive, weeknights the least. I never pay the sometimes outlandish parking fees of $40+ per night. If you are not opposed to gambling, park at either the Fallsview Casino or Casino Niagara parking garages. Go inside and get a Players Advantage Club loyalty card. It is free and takes seconds. Go to a slot machine and let $20 cycle through the machine. This normally gets you free parking.

Message me if you want more ideas...

[vid]

If I go to Niagara Falls, it's as a day trip/detour on the way to Toronto.

Where I come from, a two hour drive is "right there". I was honestly shocked that Guelph is only 50-60 minutes from Toronto. Drive an hour away from Thunder Bay and your options are nothing, nothing, nothing, and Grand Marais.

[DavefromSt.Vital]

Lol - I was on a training course (in Toronto) with a couple of people from Regina. They were asking about visting Ottawa to vist their HQ and they asked how far Ottawa was from Toronto. I said four or five hours. They immediately asked how many times per year I visited there since it was so "close". People in the GTHA don't do that.

If you have never seen Niagara Falls definitely do it on a detour/daytrip. However, it is the place where people from the GTHA tend to go for fun on a an overnight if not longer trip. I send people there and no one has said they were disappointed,. Check it out.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by vid

If I go to Niagara Falls, it's as a day trip/detour on the way to Toronto.

Where I come from, a two hour drive is "right there". I was honestly shocked that Guelph is only 50-60 minutes from Toronto. Drive an hour away from Thunder Bay and your options are nothing, nothing, nothing, and Grand Marais.

If you go an extra 10~20 km east of Nipigon, though, you can see that huge piece of table rock by Kama Bay. Also I heard red rocks are cool.

[F. Lionel]

Originally Posted by vid

Where I come from, a two hour drive is "right there". I was honestly shocked that Guelph is only 50-60 minutes from Toronto. Drive an hour away from Thunder Bay and your options are nothing, nothing, nothing, and Grand Marais.

Hey now... take that hour drive east of Thunder Bay and you can see the majestic new Nipigon River Bridge. That's something at least. You are right about the other two nothings though.

There's a lot of geography to see inside that 2-hour circle though...

[Dengler Avenue]

I was on the 11 from GTA to North Bay* this afternoon. It was neat to see how after Washago the terrain gets rocky all of a sudden. Then the view right after the 90-degree turn at Gravenhurst was just beautiful~

* I was supposed to get off at Exit 294 so I could go down the entire Highway 124, which I just did, but I missed the exit. That’s when I decided to take it all the way to North Bay.

[vid]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

Lol - I was on a training course (in Toronto) with a couple of people from Regina. They were asking about visting Ottawa to vist their HQ and they asked how far Ottawa was from Toronto. I said four or five hours. They immediately asked how many times per year I visited there since it was so "close". People in the GTHA don't do that.

If you have never seen Niagara Falls definitely do it on a detour/daytrip. However, it is the place where people from the GTHA tend to go for fun on a an overnight if not longer trip. I send people there and no one has said they were disappointed,. Check it out.

If I lived down there I'd be visiting other cities all the time. Fuck when I was in Vancouver I went to Langley just to see Langley.