The Torrance Barrens is a Conservation Reserve consisting of 1990 hectares of crown land south-east of Bala, which is administered by the Province of Ontario. The first of its kind in Canada, the Torrance Barrens is now officially recognized as a Dark Sky Reserve. A combination of ancient rock outcrops, peaceful wilderness and rare plants and wildlife makes Muskoka’s Torrance Barrens a unique Conservation Reserve.

The southern Georgian Bay region (near Collingwood), about a two hour-drive northwest of Toronto, is an excellent choice for a fall tour. Spectacular views of the Niagara Escarpment with fall colors!

Belfountain Conservation Area is part of the Credit Valley Conservation. For hikers, a short trail loops around the pond, while the Trimble Trail, a side trail of the Bruce Trail, stretches 3 km downstream with lookouts on the Niagara Escarpment. Charles W. Mack, the inventor of the cushion-back rubber-stamp, purchased the land in 1908 and put stone masons to work on ideas he acquired while travelling. The waterfall is a miniature Niagara Falls. The cave is modelled after those of Yellowstone. The bell-shaped fountain was built to honour the village. From 1840- 1870 the area was mined for brownstone.
This stone was used in the construction of the provincial parliament buildings in Toronto.

Forks of the Credit is on the famous Bruce Trail. The park features the excitement of the Credit River, as it narrows and rushes through a deep gorge, plunging over a falls. Geological features that were deposited or carved out by retreating glaciers, such as kame hills and kettle lakes, surround the river.

The Regional Municipality of York has owned the York Regional Forest since 1924.

Fort willow was constructed in haste during the war of 1812 to protect vital supply lifelines to British troops fighting in Michigan and lake Superior.

The Cheltenham Badlands are a bizarre geographical spectacle that lie hidden in the Caledon Hills. "Badlands" is a geological term for an area of soft rock devoid of vegetation and soil cover that has become molded over time into softly undulating hills and gullies. The reddish hue of the Queenston Shale is caused by iron oxide, while narrow greenish bands show where circulating groundwater has transformed the rock from red to green iron oxide. This distinctive geological phenomena is extremely rare in Ontario, and the Cheltenham Badlands are one of the best examples in the province.

It's only Russians can understand me when I made photos of these beautiful mushrooms and didn't touch them at all... Very hard to to resist the temptation..... :-)

Gorgeous lake, about 160 km from Toronto. It seems to me so cozy...

Tiffany Falls Conservation Area, Ancaster

Fall in Kelso Conservation Area, near Milton

Замечательные водопады на маленьких речках Ниагарского разлома. особенно впечатлил Rockway водопад - к нему было оччень трудно добираться вдоль речки, но зато сколько Fun!

Fall 2002, November 9