Rattlesnake Point (Canada)

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View from the Niagara Escarpment near Rattlesnake Point

Rattlesnake Point is an eco-tourism area located near Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Spanning roughly one-hundred square kilometres across and near the Niagara Escarpment in Halton Region, the Rattlesnake Point area is home to many golf courses, country markets and equestrian training and boarding facilities.

As urban sprawl continues to increase in Southern Ontario, proposed new housing developments have begun to encroach upon Rattlesnake Point. Land once deemed off-limits because of its relatively difficult accessibility and seemingly untouchable status as a United Nations Biosphere-protected area is being sought after for its prime real estate value as an underdeveloped and environmentally pristine region near the core of one of Canada's most dense urban areas.

Rattlesnake Point receives its name from the snake-like path cut by glaciers along the edges of the Niagara Escarpment, rather than from the timber rattlesnake, which formerly lived along the escarpment but have not been seen in Ontario for many years.^[1]

1 Conservation area
- 1.1 Trails and access
2 External links
3 See also
4 Footnotes

[edit] Conservation area

Limestone cliffs of Rattlesnake Point.

Panoramic view from the Rattlesnake Point with Mount Nemo seen in the background.

The Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area was established in 1961 and is a conservation area owned and operated by the Halton Region Conservation Authority. It is a popular destination for hikers, backpackers, cyclists, rock climbers and nature-lovers in the Greater Toronto Area along with Mount Nemo Conservation Area. The park's ten kilometres of cliff edge and forest trails connect with the Bruce Trail and Crawford Lake. The conservation area also has facilities for organized and family camping with 18 group campsites.

[edit] Trails and access

Access to the Bruce Trail at Rattlesnake Point is available at several locations, including Mount Nemo. Other hiking and biking launch spots include Lowville, Kelso and Kilbride. Outdoor enthusiasts can connect to the long Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail.