Get Outdoors this Winter at SNC’s Year-Round Conservation Areas
As the cold weather blows in and the winter season is about to begin in Eastern Ontario, South Nation Conservation (SNC) has started to close its seasonal Conservation Areas and is currently removing safety booms and shoreline docks along rivers in the region.
SNC manages seasonal Conservation Areas and municipal partner sites with river access from May to October each year. To prepare for the park closures in November, water levels were adjusted on the South Nation River at the Chesterville Dam for winter operations. Several safety and debris booms have already been removed ahead of the water control structures. The remaining booms and public docks will be taken down from all sites in the coming weeks.
While the closure of seasonal river-access sites in November signals the arrival of winter, SNC wants to remind residents that it maintains nine public parks with recreational trails year-round, making them ideal destinations for winter activities during the colder months of the year:
- Two Creeks Forest Conservation Area, Morrisburg, ON – 5.5 km
- Robert Graham Forest Conservation Area, Glen Stewart, ON – 2 km
- Warwick Forest Conservation Area, Berwick, ON – 6 km
- Nokomis Park - 464 Limoges Road, Limoges, ON – 1 km
- J. Henry Tweed Conservation Area, Russell, ON – 0.8 km
- W. E. Burton Conservation Area, Russell, ON – 1.2 km
- Russell Recreational Trail, Russell, ON – 7 km
- Oschmann Forest Conservation Area, Ormond, ON – 1.2 km
- Reveler Conservation Area, Crysler, ON – 3.2 km
“Keeping these select trails open during the winter offers residents a space to get outdoors even in the snowy months.” said John Mesman, Managing Director of SNC’s Properties, Conservation Lands and Community Outreach. “Trails are groomed after every major snowfall, making the trails accessible through winter for hiking, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing,” added Mesman.
As trails can be slippery and wet during the winter months, SNC reminds residents to wear proper footwear and warm clothing while using SNC trails.
For fall visitors during hunting season, SNC is reminding residents that hunting and trapping is not permitted in SNC Conservation Areas with active trail networks. All park visitors are encouraged to wear orange, high-visibility, and reflective clothing during fall. Hunters with valid SNC permits are encouraged to access the over 8,500 acres of land the Authority makes available for hunting.
“Many residents in the watershed cherish these trails, and we see around 200,000 visitors using them each year,” said Mesman. “We try to hold off on closing the seasonal trails and keep them accessible for as long as possible, but seasonal closures typically occur from mid to late November, depending on the weather.”
As a not-for-profit, community-focused environmental agency, SNC relies on donations and self-generated revenue to protect and enhance the local environment across its 4,480 square-kilometer area, serving 16 partner municipalities.
For a complete list of Conservation Areas managed by SNC, please visit: https://www.nation.on.ca/recreation/about-recreation
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Erin Thorne, SNC Communications Specialist, 1-877-984-2948 ethorne@nation.on.ca.