Comfort Maple

905-788-3135

636 Metler Rd, Fenwick, ON L0S 1C0

conservationareas@npca.ca

Year Round, Sunrise to Sunset

Parking
Weddings
Picnic
Sailing
Fire
Boating
Water Skiing
Canoeing
Fishing
Geocaching
Camping
Forest
Hiking
Birding
Swimming
BBQ
RV
Cabin
Beach
Volleyball
Playground
Hunting
Winter
Splashpad
Ziplining
Wakeboarding
Paddleboarding
Washroom

Winter Weather Notice

Conservation areas remain open daily from sunrise to sunset for passive winter recreation such as hiking and birdwatching. However, note that natural trails are not maintained for winter recreation such as cross-country skiing, and parking lots and sidewalks will be maintained on a ‘as-required’ basis.

Visitors are reminded to take precaution and prepare appropriately for the weather and trail conditions, especially when inclement weather and conditions may arise. In the event of inclement weather, NPCA conservation areas remain open, but activities and services may be limited and facilities may be closed. Please expect maintenance delays in the event of heavy snowfall.

Check NPCA conservation area pages on Facebook for closure postings, as these are updated regularly.


Conservation Area Strategy

The NPCA developed a Conservation Area Strategy (CA Strategy) focused on sustainable management, long-term planning, and alignment with NPCA's strategic goals, ensuring compliance with the Conservation Authorities Act. The CA Strategy provides high-level guidance for managing NPCA conservation areas, focusing on biodiversity, climate change, invasive species, and greenspace accessibility, with specific site priorities to be outlined in future management and action plans starting in 2025. LEARN MORE.

Land Inventory

NPCA’s Land Inventory identifies every parcel of land that NPCA owns and includes some basic information for each parcel, such as location, acquisition date, method, and land use category, among others. The Land Inventory will be reviewed and updated from time to time and is an internal document that is not available online. 
 

The Comfort Maple Conservation Area conserves what is widely believed to be the oldest and finest sugar maple tree in Canada, which was designated a heritage tree in June 2000 under the Ontario Heritage Act.

In 1975, the Ontario Forestry Association estimated the tree to be 400-500 years old. Located in the Town of Pelham, the Comfort Maple towers about 24.4 metres at its crown with a trunk circumference of 6 meters and symbolizes Canada’s strength and tradition.

Originally in an area of hardwood forest, this tree’s size and shape suggest the forest was cleared when the tree was still young, likely for agricultural purposes. The 0.2-hectare area was part of the land purchased by the Comfort family in 1816 and was later entrusted to the NPCA to conserve this ‘old growth’ tree for its historical and biological significance.