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Cheltenham Badlands Bedlam

Posted by Jerrold Litwinenko / October 9, 2006

9 Comments

badlands04.jpgWe stopped at a convenience store to pick up some sugary snacks for our mini-hike. As I passed the newspaper stand on my way out of the store I noticed that familiar, dusty, rolling red clay. There it was on the front page of today's Toronto Star - a large colour photo of people frolicking in Cheltenham's Badlands and we just happened to be on our way there.

Located not far north of Brampton, the Cheltenham Badlands are a vibrantly coloured and intricately contoured geological phenomenon. They're also a relatively short drive from Toronto and offer a unique viewing and hiking experience.

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Thanksgiving Monday was the perfect day for the family to head out of the city, breathe in some fresh air, and take in the turning of the leaves. Many people had the same scenic spot in mind (which would be the case with or without the Star feature).

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We parked on the side of the road and walked toward the trail head, side-stepping minivans and small droves of people making their way out.

The scene we arrived to was not far from bedlam - an erosion free-for-all of sorts. People were everywhere, and very few were taking into consideration the requests on the information signs at the trail head. Although the area is vulnerable to natural erosion, The Bruce Trail Association owns and vows to protect the Cheltenham Badlands. The signs inform us that human impact will quickly destroy the formations and ask that all visitors stay on the designated trails. As you can see, this clearly isn't information that's reaching visitors.

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The Badlands are crumbling. Do I want to see the area roped off? Not really. But without better marking of the walking trails and without making it clear to visitors that the red rolling hills are not to be trampled on, I fear that in just a few short years this amazing, beautiful, natural wonder will be no more.

Please do go and see the Badlands - they're stunning to look at. But please, please don't trample them!

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cheltenham_infosignsmall.jpg[ - view it much larger - ]

Discussion

9 Comments

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Rajio / October 9, 2006 at 07:59 pm
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I was passing by there today (or atleast trying to), it was so packed we just parked instead of fighting the traffic. I took a few photos. I've never seen SO MANY people there. it was absurd. I even saw some lady trying to push her baby actross the dunes in a pram (and not the kind with those huge offroad tires!)
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i are see / October 10, 2006 at 12:14 am
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the boardwalk at ashbridges bay was <em>jammed</em> with people today too. very out-of-the-ordinary for a thanksgiving monday. i think it's a sign of the coming apocalypse...
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jerrold / October 10, 2006 at 01:06 pm
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Maybe the Badlands needs a boardwalk or a viewing platform to keep people off the delicate formations?
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Jamie / June 25, 2007 at 10:49 am
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I grew up a few kilometres away from the 'red hills' and visited it every summer. 10-15 years ago it was rare to see another person there!

The slopes of the red hills are very brittle and crumble when walked on. They definately need to restrict access - only moving around the hills, not climbing on them.
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Jim / September 30, 2007 at 09:45 pm
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I have lived beside the "Badlands" all my life. The locals know them as the "Red Clay Hills". I frequently played on this hills as a child in the 60's and 70's. I remember sharing the Red Clay Hills with cattle that were pastured in the surrounding fields. My father liked to shoot cans off the hills back in the 40's and 50's and my mother grew up playing on hills as far back as the 1920's (my family were the original settlers of this area). The "Badlands" are actually located closer to the ghost hamlet of Glencoe Corners (corner of Olde Base Line Road and Creditview Road) than to Cheltenham. I have watched the "Badlands" become transformed gradually over the years to the tourist attraction they are today. I am saddened in some ways that my private playground has become overrun. I am also very upset that the Niagara Escapment Commission is not doing more to protect them and the tourist visitors. The hills are being flattened faster by the tourists than they have been in the past by the rain and wind. There have been numerous car accidents due to precariously parked cars in blind spots in between the hills. The town of Caledon widened the shoulders of the road this past summer to allow more parking but it hasn't helped matters. There are twice as many vistors this year and it isn't even Thanksgiving weekend yet. I agree with jerrold and Jamie. The town and the NEC need to be more proactive in protecting the "Badlands" and the tourists. I guess it will take a terrible fatal accident before anyone takes action.
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Dave / January 30, 2008 at 02:58 pm
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I just wanted to comment about one of the remarks in the website. It says the walking trails on the site should be better marked. There is only one walking trail through this site, and that is the main Bruce Trail. It traverses the western portion of the property, does not touch the Badlands formations themselves, and it is extremely well-marked. THERE ARE NO OTHER TRAILS ON THE PROPERTY! That is because we don't want people walking there. There used to be a trail called the Russell Cooper Side Trail, that went along the edge of the badlands and did a loop around the property. But due to the heavy traffic and the nature of the soils, it was an almost-impassable quagmire much of the year. It had become unmaintainable, and we felt it was causing damage to the surrounding environment. Therefore, it was closed, posted and physically barricaded. Vandals may have taken down the barricades and signs, but the trail is still closed.
If people visit the site (and we really wish they wouldn't!)then they should just stand at the top of the hill beside the interpretive sign and look down on it. They should not proceed any further.
Dave,
Land Stewardship Director,
Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club
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Oscar Carillo / July 1, 2008 at 10:47 am
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I have not been to the site yet but yes, people traffic has to be regulated. Maybe we can bring this to the attention of 'wildlife canada' group to see what they can do to help the local group (who acts as steward to this land site). The money invested now toprotect this area will benefit the future generation. The problem with people who walk on this fragile land formation is ... selfishness, arrogance and complete disregard for other living beings. Could somebody from the Knights of Columbus local chapter see what they can do to help, rather than donating money to Rome and improve the Vatican building.
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Trish / October 24, 2008 at 09:45 pm
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I was also very saddened to see the lack of consideration and respect from visitors climbing all over this wonderful site. Yes Bedlam Thanksgiving Monday 2008. I too have visited over many years and would appreciate ANYTHING that can be done to keep people off these lands and protect them, so we will be able to enjoy the view and wonder for many years to come. We have brought our children & Grandchildren up to read the notices and respect the rules for preservation of the Red Hills, hoping they would be able to show their children this majestic piece of land, though will hardly be able to feel the tranquility that we enjoyed in the past. Maybe larger notices in other language would help, as well as a viewing platform or something.
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chris replying to a comment from Trish / November 15, 2009 at 10:59 pm
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I couldn't agree more with Trish. It took moving to a large urban area for me to learn the value of our natural surrounds. The lack of care taken by so many people on this site was astounding and disappointing. Someone was even throwing a stick down the slopes for his dog to retrieve. No one was keeping their children off the slopes. We have responsibilities to think of more than just ourselves. Until then, however, the trail club taking care of the Badlands must enforce more restrictions on the access to this place; a designation of natural importance would help along with fines perhaps?...
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