Rockwood Conservation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rockwood Conservation Area |
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Rockwood Conservation Area
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 Rockwood Conservation Area
Location in Ontario
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| Location | Ontario, Canada |
| Established | 1963 |
The Rockwood Conservation Area, also known as Rockwood Park, is a cool outdoor spot in Rockwood, Ontario, Canada. It's a protected area where nature is kept safe. You can visit the park from May 1st until the first Sunday after Thanksgiving.
There's a small fee to get into the park. But if you plan to visit often, you can buy a membership. This membership lets you into eleven parks run by the Grand River Conservation Authority. Rockwood Park is super popular with over 65,000 visitors each year. People love to explore its unique rock formations and the old ruins of the Rockwood Woolen Mills.
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Where is Rockwood Park?
Rockwood Conservation Area is in Rockwood, Ontario. It's not far from the city of Guelph. The Eramosa River flows right through the park.
This park is easy to get to from many big cities in Southern Ontario. Highways 401 and 7 are nearby. This means you can easily visit from places like Toronto.
A Look Back: Rockwood's History
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The Rockwood Woolen Mill started in 1867. It was built by three brothers, John Richard, Thomas, and Joseph Harris, and their brother-in-law, Thomas Wetherald. They made and sold wool products.
The mill used the Eramosa River's water for power. Later, it also used electricity and steam. In the 1880s, a big fire damaged the mill. But they rebuilt it with strong stone in 1884.
John Richard Harris passed away in 1899. His sons then took over the family business. During the First World War, the mill was very busy. It often ran 24 hours a day. They made lots of blankets for the Canadian army. The mill finally closed in 1931. This was during the Great Depression, a time when many businesses struggled.
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After the mill closed, William Harris, one of John Richard's sons, turned the area into a private park. He called it Hi-Pot-Lo Park. In 1959, the Grand River Conservation Authority bought the mill and land from Harris. The official opening of Rockwood Park happened in 1963.
The old mill ruins were fixed up in the winter of 2010. This made them safe for visitors to explore in 2011.
Cool Nature Features
Rockwood Conservation Area has amazing and special geological features. These include glacier bluffs, potholes, and caves. It also has some of the oldest trees in Ontario!
Exploring the Caves
The park has a system of 12 caves. This is one of the biggest cave networks in Ontario! Inside the caves, you can see something called flowstone. This forms over many years. It happens when water flows and leaves behind a type of rock called calcite.
Giant Potholes
Another cool feature at Rockwood is the potholes. There are over 200 potholes in the park. They come in all different sizes. These potholes are also known as giant's kettles. They are large holes drilled into the rock. This happens when flowing water carries stones and gravel, spinning them around.
Glacier Bluffs
You can also see glacier bluffs at Rockwood. These huge cliffs formed thousands of years ago. They were created after the Earth's most recent ice age ended. These bluffs can be small, or they can be as large as 30 meters deep and 200 meters wide!
Wildlife You Might See
Rockwood is home to many animals common in Southern Ontario. You might spot deer, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, skunks, beavers, ducks, and geese. The Eramosa River also has many types of fish. These include perch, crappie, rock bass, sunfish, and chub.
A special animal that has returned to Rockwood is the wild turkey. Long ago, wild turkeys disappeared from this area because of too much hunting. But about 20 years ago, eastern wild turkeys from the southern United States were brought here. Now, they live in the park permanently!
Fun Things to Do
Camping Adventures
Rockwood Conservation Area has about 105 campsites. They are spread across four main campgrounds. You can choose campsites with services (like electricity) or without. There are also washrooms and a snack bar.
Fishing Fun
You can go fishing in the Eramosa River. The Grand River Conservation Area and the Ministry of Natural Resources add rainbow trout to the river once a year. This helps make fishing even better!
Hiking Trails
The park has two main trails. Some parts have high cliffs and steep hills. Hikers can walk beside the river or through the forest. Most areas of these trails are good for wheelchairs. You can get to the trails from the beach or the old mill ruins.
Swimming at the Beach
There's a big sandy beach in the park. Visitors can go swimming there during the summer. There isn't a lifeguard, but you can borrow a life jacket if you need one.
Other Recreation
Near the park entrance, you'll find a mini golf course. There's also a playground for kids. Canoeing is one of the most popular activities here. You can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards on weekends during the summer.
Rockwood Nature Centre
The Grand River Conservation Authority runs the Rockwood Nature Centre. It's open during certain seasons. The Centre offers cool programs about nature. You can learn about caving and geology, study streams, try orienteering (finding your way with a map), and go canoeing. They also have family events and day camps focused on the environment.
