Explore Mount Nemo
With ancient cedars, one of the best examples of a cliffs-edge ecosystem in Ontario & a quarry to explore - this is one you have to see to believe!
Oh, and did I mention the view?
Mount Nemo offers one of the best examples of a cliff edge ecosystem in Ontario & makes an amazing place to explore the limestone cliffs dotted with ancient cedars that appear to grow out of the rock face. It’s a pretty special area where you can enjoy this rare, old growth Carolinian forest in all of it’s spectacular glory!
Located on Guelph Line in Burlington just outside the urban sprawl, Mount Nemo is 363 acres of conservation lands with 5 km of scenic trails (scroll down for the map)
The trail head itself is right beside a large parking lot with an
easy & fairly level walk in, but as you
approach the outer edges of the escarpment, you’re greeted by
crevice caves, mossy limestone inclines & some truly spectacular views!
Mount Nemo first opened up to the public in 1971, but the initial 88 acres of land were acquired back in 1959 in an effort to stop the Lowville Quarry from expanding their operations. Land continued to be added through the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s which eventually led to the approval of the Niagara Escarpment Plan in 1985.
The
quarry operated for just 2 years - from 1958-1959 creating aggregate from the limestone & you can see the
ruins throughout the landscape as you wander the trails.
You can even access the old quarry from one of the side loops via an access road down into the regrowing quarry pit full of the last of the exposed limestone that was never processed.
In 1990, the
Niagara Escarpment became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in recognition of the balance created between nature & humans -- something
we should be proud of & continue working hard to protect!
The best & safest views are at the Brock Harris Lookout which is conveniently at the end of the main trailhead path.
The lookout opened in 1993 & sits at
295m above sea level, or about half the height of the CN Tower -- which you can see out on the horizon if it’s a clear day.
There are multiple other places you can enjoy the views out towards Milton, Mississauga & Toronto, but the dilemma with these other outcroppings is that it’s very risky to get too close to the edge.
Every year people fall from the escarpment & those stunning views or amazing selfies are not worth your life.
Please, be safe & stay away from the cliff’s edge.
Now, if you’re looking for a challenge & want to up the difficulty of your hike, you can take the Bruce Trail entrance off of Walker’s Line.
The parking lot is much smaller, but instead of starting on top of the escarpment, you’ll get to hike in & climb up. This trail in will also give you an appreciation for the ancient cedars, the dwarfed cliff-growing trees, many of which are over a thousand years old!
FUN FACT:
Nemo is latin for “No One” as in, no one could agree on a name for the local community back in 1906 when a post office was established.
So, Mount Nemo is "Mount No One" based on the escarpment location & an homage to the community that is now a part of Burlington!
When it comes to Rock Climbing, you’ll be using the limestone anchors on the North Loop & I recommend you check the Conservation Halton website for any waivers or permits you may need before your climb. Also, be aware that there is a strict environmentally conscious climbing practices to protect the fragile escarpment ecosystems. So, no top ropes or wrapping trees!
If you hadn’t noticed, living in the Burlington, Hamilton & Surrounding areas is my passion so if you’re thinking about a move,
feel free to reach out
as I’m always happy to chat about your real estate goals!
Thank you so much for exploring Mount Nemo with me, be sure to
subscribe on YouTube
so you can be in the know when I share another local nature space!
👋🏼 Rochelle Edwards
The Genuine REALTOR®
The Genuine Blog
