Cave Springs

905-788-3135

3949 Cave Spring Rd, Lincoln, ON L0R 1G0

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. 
 

This property features spectacular vistas overlooking Lake Ontario and the old Lake Iroquois shore, and is an exquisite representation of the Niagara Escarpment’s talus slopes and cliffs. The escarpment rim and bedrock plain forests are dominated by Sugar Maples. The rich and unique diversity of plants and habitat on these rare escarpment features provide a linear migration corridor for animals and plants.

The cultural folklore and mystique of Cave Springs is as rich as its natural diversity. The late Margaret Reed, from whom the property came to NPCA, fondly spoke of the spring’s reputation as a ‘fountain of youth’. There is a famous ice cave, once used for refrigeration, which was regrettably blocked by a failed expansion attempt. There is an underground lake, a wartime hideout, mysterious rock carvings, and a nearby native North American encampment site.

Recently completed in fall 2022, Cave Springs Conservation Area now features dedicated access off of Cave Spring Road, with vehicle and bicycle parking. The Bruce Trail and the Margaret Reid Side Trail can be accessed from this location. Cave Springs also features a 200m accessible trail and interpretive courtyard.

INFORMATION EN FRANCAIS

Cet endroit présente une vue spectaculaire du lac Ontario et des rives du vieux lac Iroquois, et une représentation magnifique des talus escarpés et des falaises de l’escarpement du Niagara. Les bordures de l’escarpement et la forêt de la plaine de substrat rocheux sont principalement composés d’érables à sucre. La riche et unique diversité des plantes et habitats sur ces rares caractéristiques de l’escarpement fournit un corridor linéaire de migration pour les animaux et plantes.

La culture folklore et mystique de Cave Springs est aussi riche que sa diversité naturelle. La regrettée Margaret Reed, dont la propriété se trouvait sur le territoire de Conservation Niagara, a évoqué avec émotion la réputation de Cave Spring comme étant une ‘fontaine de jouvence’. On y trouve une grotte de glace célèbre, utilisée autrefois pour la réfrigération, qui a été malheureusement bloquée par une tentative manquée d’expansion. On y trouve également un lac souterrain, un refuge du temps de la guerre, de mystérieuses sculptures sur pierre, et un campement autochtone nord-américain tout près.