Hello, I’m Rochelle 👋 a Realtor who loves sharing what
living on the western shores of Lake Ontario is all about!
Today we are taking a look at one of my absolute
favourite conservation areas in the Halton region -
Crawford Lake.
Hello, I’m Rochelle 👋
A Realtor who loves sharing what
living on the western shores of
Lake Ontario is all about!
Today we are taking a look at one of my absolute
favourite conservation areas in the Halton region -
Crawford Lake.
This
small but mighty lake is
incredibly special for so many reasons,
but most notable is its
newly declared global status as the Golden Spike.
We will chat about that a little bit more, but for most locals, that’s just a wonderful recognition
of this incredible place, we’ve gotten to enjoy as a
conservation area since it was acquired in 1969.
This
small but mighty lake is
incredibly special for so many reasons,
but most notable is its
newly declared global status as the Golden Spike.
We will chat about that a little bit more,
but for most locals, that’s just a wonderful recognition of this incredible place,
we’ve gotten to enjoy as a
conservation
area since it was acquired in 1969.
Crawford Lake Conservation Area is just over 570 acres of beautiful nature
set along the Niagara Escarpment
on the outskirts of Milton, Ontario.
Of course, there is the Lake itself which has been
instrumental in understanding the world around us,
including the
1971 discovery of corn pollen in the layers of sediment at the bottom of the Lake.
That discovery led to
archaeologists uncovering the footprint of 11 Longhouses
& settlements on the grounds, along with an
assortment of artifacts you can explore!
Crawford Lake Conservation Area is
just over 570 acres of beautiful nature
set along the Niagara Escarpment
on the outskirts of Milton, Ontario.
Of course, there is the Lake itself which has been
instrumental in understanding the world around us, including the
1971 discovery of corn
pollen in the layers of sediment
at the bottom of the Lake.
That discovery led to
archaeologists uncovering the footprint of
11 Longhouses & settlements on
the grounds, along with an
assortment
of artifacts you can explore!
- Longhouse Museums & Iroquoian People -
- Longhouse Museums
& Iroquoian People -
While science hasn’t been able to identify who exactly called these longhouses home,
they
determined the inhabitants were from the Iroquoian linguistic group
& it appears the area was
occupied during 3 potential periods from the 13th - 17th century.
The
3 reconstructed Longhouses recreate
the village as it
might have looked during the 15th century…
With an
estimated village population of 250 - 300 people,
there were
more than 10,000 artifacts discovered
on site,
many of which you can see
on display inside the Longhouses.
While science hasn’t been able to identify who exactly called these longhouses home,
they
determined the inhabitants were from the Iroquoian linguistic group & it appears the area was
occupied during 3 potential
periods from the 13th - 17th century.
The
3 reconstructed Longhouses recreate
the village as it
might have
looked during the 15th century…
With an
estimated village population of
250 - 300 people,
there were
more than 10,000 artifacts discovered
on site, many of which you can see
on display inside the Longhouses.
You can explore the village & step back in time with the Longhouse museums which were
recreated with the help of many elders, archaeologists and scholars over the years.
Come for the day or just a couple of hours &
explore the incredible culture of the people
who called the shores of Crawford Lake home.
Because the hours can change, be sure to check out the most
current times on the
Conservation Halton website
as they do fluctuate with the seasons.
While you're there - you can
make a reservation for your visit online for easy access!
You can explore the village & step back in time with the Longhouse museums which were
recreated with the help of many elders, archaeologists and scholars over the years.
Come for the day or just a couple of hours &
explore the incredible culture of the
people who called the shores of
Crawford Lake home.
Because the hours can change, be sure to check out the most
current times on the Conservation Halton website
as they do fluctuate with the seasons.
While you're there - you can
make a reservation for your visit online
for easy access!
Tucked in behind the Longhouse village, you’ll find
The Gathering Place,
which has been host to popups like
NishDish - a First Nations owned
& operated business serving some delicious local seasonal foods.
You’ll also find the
Three Sisters Garden
where you can take a stroll in the
medicine garden to
learn about indigenous agriculture & foodways.
Tucked in behind the Longhouse village, you’ll find
The Gathering Place,
which has been host to popups like
NishDish - a First Nations owned
& operated business serving some
delicious local seasonal foods.
You’ll also find the
Three Sisters Garden
where you can take a stroll in the
medicine garden to learn about indigenous
agriculture & foodways.
Most people who visit Crawford Lake are coming for a hike
& luckily there are plenty to choose from!
(Scroll down to see the full trail map)
If you’re looking for an
easier hike,
there are two great options….
🟢
Woodland Trail
which is a 1.5 km loop
🟢
Crawford Lake Trail which is a 1km loop around the lake.
Both of these are
mostly level with very few tripping hazards & are stroller-friendly.
Neither are truly wheelchair accessible,
but I have seen people with
walkers & a wheelchair on the boardwalk as there are no mandatory steps,
but
the width of the path prevents it from being recommended as accessible.
Most people who visit Crawford Lake are
coming for a hike
& luckily there are
plenty to choose from!
(Scroll down to see the full trail map)
If you’re looking for an
easier hike,
there are two great options….
🟢
Woodland Trail
which is a 1.5 km loop
🟢
Crawford Lake Trail which is a
1km loop around the lake.
Both of these are
mostly level with very few tripping hazards & are stroller-friendly.
Neither are truly wheelchair accessible,
but I have seen people with walkers & a wheelchair
on the boardwalk as there are
no mandatory steps,
but
the width of
the path prevents it from being recommended as accessible.
If you’re
hiking with kids, be sure to take a stroll through the Species at Risk Trail 👇
where
you can
look for 10 larger-than-life wood sculptures of at-risk animals here in Ontario.
From the stunning detail of the
Monarch Butterfly to the
proud howl of a wolf
or the long & low
Jefferson Salamander,
there are a lot of incredible animals to discover in the forest!
If you’re
hiking with kids, be sure to take a stroll through the Species at Risk Trail 👇
where
you can
look for
10 larger-than-life wood sculptures of
at-risk animals here in Ontario.
From the stunning detail of the
Monarch Butterfly to the
proud howl of a wolf
or the long & low
Jefferson Salamander,
there are a lot of incredible
animals to discover in the forest!
There are also
trails for those looking for a little more of a workout…
🟡
Pine Ridge Trail which is a 3.6km loop
🟡
Escarpment Trail
which is a 2.4km loop
🟡
Snowshoe Trail which is a 3km loop
Perfect for, you guessed it…
Snowshoeing & cross-country skiing!
There are also
trails for those looking for a little more of a workout…
🟡
Pine Ridge Trail which is a 3.6km loop
🟡
Escarpment Trail
which is a 2.4km loop
🟡
Snowshoe Trail which is a 3km loop
Perfect for, you guessed it…
Snowshoeing & cross-country skiing!
For those ready for a workout…
🔴
Nassagaweya Canyon Trail is 4.7km & will take you from Crawford Lake
along the escarpment
& over to Rattlesnake Point!
Now just a heads up,
this one is
not a loop and takes about 4 - 5 hrs to walk there & back,
but the views are incredible!
For those ready for a workout…
🔴
Nassagaweya Canyon Trail is 4.7km & will take you from Crawford Lake
along the escarpment & over to Rattlesnake Point!
Now just a heads up,
this one is
not a loop and takes about
4 - 5 hrs to walk there & back,
but the views are incredible!
There is also the
Bruce Trail which runs through the conservation
area making a
total of 7 trails plus one garden walk
to enjoy here at
beautiful Crawford Lake.
There is also the
Bruce Trail
which runs through the
Halton Conservation Area
making a
total of 7 trails
plus one garden walk
to enjoy
here at
beautiful Crawford Lake.
- HISTORY OF THE CRAWFORDS -
Ready for a little backstory on how this amazing
conservation area came to be?
George Crawford bought the lake & 100 acres in 1883.
His son
operated a lumber mill at the south end of the Lake & on the north shore,
you can
still see the porch foundation of their family cottage.
Ready for a little backstory on how this amazing conservation area came to be?
George Crawford bought the lake
& 100 acres in 1883.
His son
operated a lumber mill at
the south end of the Lake
& on the north shore, you can
still see the porch foundation
of their family cottage.
- RARE MEROMICTIC LAKE
& GOLDEN SPIKE -
- RARE MEROMICTIC LAKE & GOLDEN SPIKE -
What makes this lake so incredibly special is that it is
one of 5 Meromictic Lakes in Ontario
& only one of 10 in all of Canada!
These unique bodies of water are
deep lakes where there is a
clear separation between the upper & lower levels of water.
Unlike a typical lake,
Meromictic Lakes never see those layers mix together.
Taking the rarity up even higher,
Crawford Lake is an extra special Meromictic Lake because
both of those layers are oxygenated whereas most Meromictic lakes are
anoxic at the bottom - or without oxygen.
The lower level of this
approximately 24m deep lake, is fed by groundwater which
keeps the sediment of the lake at a steady cold temperature year-round.
Add in the
no swimming, no boating as well as no fishing
& you’ve got the
ideal conditions for investigating the layers of sediment each season.
What makes this lake so incredibly special is that it is one of 5 Meromictic Lakes in Ontario
& only one of 10 in all of Canada!
These unique bodies of water are
deep lakes where there is a
clear separation between the upper & lower levels of water.
Unlike a typical lake,
Meromictic Lakes never see those layers mix together.
Taking the rarity up even higher,
Crawford Lake is an extra special Meromictic Lake because
both of those layers are oxygenated
whereas most Meromictic lakes are
anoxic at the bottom - or without oxygen.
The lower level of this
approximately
24m deep lake, is fed by groundwater which
keeps the sediment of the lake at a steady cold temperature year-round.
Add in the
no swimming, no boating as well as no fishing
& you’ve got the ideal conditions
for investigating the layers of
sediment each season.
Crawford Lake’s sediment is so well preserved that the easily discernible 2 layers created each year
have led to incredible
insights into the atmospheric changes annually going back thousands of years.
This combination of events
led the site to become the one chosen out of the 12 considered around the planet.
The Golden Spike title
means that Crawford Lake was the
most suitable site in the
world to help define a new epoch or more simply,
help identify the start of a new era
which notes the
vast impact humans have had on the planet.
Scientists are looking to make the
beginning of this new epoch in the 1950s when the
great acceleration
post-WWII led to mass population growth, an explosion of fossil fuel use
& immense changes to worldwide atmospheric chemistry.
Crawford Lake’s sediment is so well preserved that the easily discernible 2 layers created each year
have led to incredible
insights into the atmospheric changes annually going back thousands of years.
This combination of events
led the site to become the one chosen out of the 12 considered around the planet.
The Golden Spike title
means that Crawford Lake was the
most suitable site in the
world to help define a new epoch or more simply,
help identify the start of a new era
which notes the
vast impact humans have had on the planet.
Scientists are looking to make the
beginning of this new epoch in the 1950s when the
great acceleration post-WWII led to mass population growth, an explosion of fossil fuel use & immense changes to worldwide atmospheric chemistry.
- THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW -
Final thoughts & notables before we close this one out…
(See FAQs at the bottom of the page for more)
There are
washroom facilities in the visitors centre & around the parking lots.
You can & should
pre-book your timeslot to save on gate fees as well as reserve your spot.
It also allows the gate to grant access via your license plate.
Dogs are welcome so long as they remain on leash.
Seriously... this is an
important & ecologically sensitive lake,
so keep your dog on a leash!
There is
no swimming, fishing or boating of any kind.
Stay out of the water &
do not throw anything in!
Of course,
always be respectful, leave nothing behind
& do not pick or remove any of the plants or animals
that call this beautiful ecosystem home!
Final thoughts & notables
before we close this one out…
(See FAQs at the
bottom of the page for more)
There are
washroom facilities in the visitors centre & around the parking lots.
You can & should
pre-book your timeslot to save on gate fees as well as reserve
your spot. It also allows the gate to
grant access via your license plate.
Dogs are welcome so long
as they remain on leash.
Seriously... this is an
important & ecologically sensitive lake,
so keep your dog on a leash!
There is
no swimming, fishing
or boating of any kind.
Stay out of the water
&
do not throw anything in!
Of course,
always be respectful,
leave nothing behind
& do not pick
or remove any of the plants or animals
that call this beautiful ecosystem home!
There are so many amazing places to explore here on the Western Shores of Lake Ontario!
If you have any
questions about the area or are thinking about a move,
I'd love to connect
& hear more about your goals.
It's a no-pressure chat to get to know where you are in the process
& connect you to the right people if my skillset doesn't align with your plans 😊
Thanks so much for touring Crawford Lake with me...
Until Next time, Keep it genuine!
Rochelle Edwards | Broker
S. Todd Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage
Hello@GenuineRealtor.com
Office:
905-639-3300
There are so many amazing places to explore here on the Western Shores of Lake Ontario!
If you have any
questions about the area or are thinking about a move,
I'd love to connect
& hear more about your goals.
It's a no-pressure chat to get to know where you are in the process & connect you to the right people if my skillset doesn't align with your plans 😊
Thanks so much for touring
Crawford Lake with me...
Until Next time, Keep it genuine!
Rochelle Edwards | Broker
S. Todd Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage
Hello@GenuineRealtor.com
Office:
905-639-3300
The following was pulled
directly from Conservation Halton Website
Do I need to make a reservation to visit?
No,
reservations are not required to visit Conservation Halton Parks, however they are recommended.
By booking in advance, you can guarantee your spot and save on gate fees.
Reservations can be made at parkvisit.ca.
Is swimming allowed in the lake at Crawford Lake?
No,
swimming is not allowed at Crawford Lake, because the lake is an ecologically sensitive area.
For this reason, we ask that you
keep your pets on a leash while at the park,
to prevent them from entering the lake and disturbing the ecological balance. Kelso is the only park where swimming is allowed. Click here for more information about swimming at Conservation Halton Parks.
Is boating allowed in the lake at Crawford Lake?
No,
boating is not allowed at Crawford Lake, because the lake is an ecologically sensitive area. Click here for more information about boating at Conservation Halton Parks.
Is fishing allowed in the lake at Crawford Lake?
No,
fishing is not allowed at Crawford Lake,
because the lake is an ecologically sensitive area. Click here for more information about fishing at Conservation Halton Parks.
When are the Longhouses open to the public?
The
longhouses are open 10am-4pm on
weekends and holidays (except December 25th) all year long.
They are open 10am-4pm on weekdays June 1 until Labour Day.
Please be aware that longhouses may be reserved for pre-booked groups.
The following was pulled
directly from Conservation Halton Website
Do I need to make a reservation to visit?
No,
reservations are not required to visit Conservation Halton Parks, however they are recommended.
By booking in advance, you can guarantee your spot and save on gate fees.
Reservations can be made at parkvisit.ca.
Is swimming allowed in the lake at Crawford Lake?
No,
swimming is not allowed at Crawford Lake, because the lake is an ecologically sensitive area.
For this reason, we ask that you
keep your pets on a leash while at the park,
to prevent them from entering the lake and disturbing the ecological balance. Kelso is the only park where swimming is allowed. Click here for more information about swimming at Conservation Halton Parks.
Is boating allowed in the lake at Crawford Lake?
No,
boating is not allowed at Crawford Lake, because the lake is an ecologically sensitive area. Click here for more information about boating at Conservation Halton Parks.
Is fishing allowed in the lake at Crawford Lake?
No,
fishing is not allowed at Crawford Lake,
because the lake is an ecologically sensitive area. Click here for more information about fishing at Conservation Halton Parks.
When are the Longhouses open to the public?
The
longhouses are open 10am-4pm on
weekends and holidays (except December 25th) all year long.
They are open 10am-4pm on weekdays June 1 until Labour Day.
Please be aware that longhouses may be reserved for pre-booked groups.
