St. Johns

Notice

CONSERVATION AREA IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND PASSIVE RECREATION FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF VARIOUS UPGRADES. PLEASE READ BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS.

905-788-3135

3101 Barron Rd, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E6

info@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

St. Johns Conservation Area Enhancement Project

The NPCA is pleased to announce that the St. Johns Conservation Area has been further upgraded to improve public safety and enhance accessibility at the site to ensure the year-round enjoyment of this protected natural area for visitors. 

  • A new granular surface for the main entrance driveway and existing parking was installed to provide better access.
  • The site’s front entrance was refreshed with improved design elements.
  • A new front entrance sign will soon be installed to enhance the area’s sense of arrival.
  • A modern gate system will be installed in the spring to improve traffic flow, and to manage access and safety at the site. The conservation area can be accessed for passive day-use at no-cost. 

Thanks to site improvements that took place earlier in the year at St. Johns, the conservation area already includes the following updates:

  • Six dedicated accessible parking spaces located next to the pond access trail.
  • Reconstructed pedestrian trails and washroom sidewalks.
  • A new and dedicated barrier-free asphalt parking area to improve site access for visitors with mobility needs.
  • An infiltration gallery along the edge of the parking lot to direct stormwater runoff into the ground to help recharge local groundwater.

To provide feedback or input on these St. Johns upgrades, please contact conservationareas@npca.ca


Located within the Niagara Escarpment and Twelve Mile Creek valley, this natural area provides a tranquil setting for wildlife and visitors. A hot spot for seasonal trout fishing, St. Johns is also known for bird watching and nature education.

Boasting four trails of varying lengths and difficulty: The Tulip Tree, Sassafras, Horseshoe, and St. Johns Ridge trails each wind their way through this large interior forest. Some trails are wheelchair and stroller accessible.

St. Johns is a sensitive ecosystem, so please help us protect it by keeping to the trails, and refraining from removing any plants or animals (including minnows, tadpoles and frogs).

Healthy Ecosystems and parks = healthy environments for us all.  All species and their populations at the site work together and are dependent on one another with a balance between producers and consumers. If some are removed, the balance is offset.  For example, if turtles, tadpoles, frogs  which eat algae, are removed from the pond at St. Johns, algae along with warm temperatures and excessive nutrients (i.e. from  food feed to animals) will increase. Algae blooms can be harmful to fish and aquatic species.

As a result to help protect these important areas and functions, we thank you for taking memories and pictures only, and keeping wildlife and plants in the wild.  

Fishing: MNRF Fishing Regulations apply at the Conservation Area. For more information, please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/fishing or  https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT FEED WILDLIFE

Wildlife in nature are part of a bigger system dependant on one another for food and cover. Feeding wildlife can make them depend on humans for food and they lose their natural fear and may put themselves in dangerous situations such as crossing a road for search of food, or become aggressive if food is not provided. ·       

In addition, if bread, crackers, popcorn, or other high-carbohydrate foods are fed these have little nutritional content. Birds fill up on them and will not seek other, nutritious food in nature. This can cause the birds to become malnourished, which can contribute to a host of health problems

A diet rich in carbohydrates will cause the birds to defecate more, which can spread bacteria that can contribute to disease. Any uneaten bread left on the ground could:

Become moldy and cause aspergillosis, a lung infection that can be fatal to waterfowl

Decompose and lead to growth of excessive algae which can be out of balance and affect the health of other fish and wildlife, and attract other pests, such as rats, mice, and insects, which could spread disease. 

We thank you in advance for your cooperation. 

INFORMATION EN FRANCAIS

Situé dans l’escarpement du Niagara et de la vallée Twelve Mile Creek, cet environnement naturel fournit un décor paisible pour la faune et les visiteurs. Un endroit prisé pour la pêche saisonnière à la truite, St. Johns est également connu pour l’observation des oiseaux et l’éducation pour la nature. On y trouve quatre sentiers de différentes longueurs et difficultés à St.Johns: The Tulip Tree, Sassafras, Horseshoe, et St. Johns Ridge. Chaque sentier jalonne cette large forêt intérieure. Certains sentiers sont accessibles aux personnes en fauteuil roulant et aux poussettes.

St. Johns est un écosystème fragile, alors aidez-nous à le protéger en demeurant sur les sentiers, et en vous abstenant d’enlever des plantes ou animaux (incluant les vairons, les têtards et les grenouilles).

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