Mount Nemo Conservation Area is small but mighty and the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Toronto. Mount Nemo is one of eight parks within Halton Parks and is located along the Niagara Escarpment. It is one of the smaller parks in the area, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for with amazing views, hidden caves and caverns, and birds galore. It is the perfect place to escape the crowds and get into nature. So, pack a picnic lunch and head out to one of the best hikes near Toronto!
Mount Nemo sits atop the Niagara Escarpment, a massive rock cliff ledge that runs through Ontario and beyond. It is the same land-form that is home to Niagara Falls and other beautiful waterfalls. There are so many hidden gems and places to explore the Niagara Escarpment from outside of Toronto. Check out our extensive list of places to see this geological beauty here.
How to Get to Mount Nemo
Mount Nemo is located near Burlington, Ontario and is part of the Halton Parks Conservation Area. The park can be accessed by car from Toronto by taking either the 403 or the 407 Highway. It is approximately a 50-60 min drive from downtown Toronto to the park entrance making it a perfect day hike from Toronto. You can find the park entrance at 5317 Guelph Line.
When you enter the park, there is a large gravel parking lot beyond the park gate with bathroom facilities available. A sign board with a trail map marks the trail head and is where your adventure begins.
Park Fees
Entrance to park is managed by Halton Parks. Entrance fees are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5.25 for children between the ages of 5-14. Children under the age of 5 are free. Your daily entrance fee receipt provides access to ALL Halton Parks for that same day. Simply keep your receipt and show it at the entrance to any other Halton Parks upon entry.
When to Visit
Mount Nemo is a year round destination and is often less crowded than other parks in the area. The spring and summer months offer excellent hiking opportunities as well as caving, rock climbing and bird watching. Turkey vultures are known to ride the thermals along the cliff’s edge and the frequent look out points offer a unique vantage point for looking down on top of the soaring birds!
Fall is a spectacular time to visit the park as the trees turn a blaze of autumn colours. It is a beauitful when set against the backdrop of the white and grey limestone cliffs!
Winter brings snow to the trails, but don’t let that stop you! Strap on some snowshoes and enjoy a quiet snow covered trail!
Mount Nemo Trails
There are two 2.5 km trails covering a modest 5 km of easy terrain. The North and South loops both offer beautiful look out points, access to hidden cave systems and meander through beautiful forests.
Mount Nemo’s trails are for the whole family (including furry four legged members on leash!). The trails are relatively flat but keep you on your toes with lots of tree roots and rocks to traverse. Kids will love exploring the many rock crevices and caves that can easily be found along the trail. Budget extra time for these hidden cave explorations as they are what make Mount Nemo so unique!
If hiking with toddlers, take care of the cliff edges and rock caverns that are open along the side of the trail. They are fun to explore for the adventure loving child, but do present a hazard for toddlers running ahead of the crowd!
What are the Views Like?
There are multiple view points along the trail that give you a chance to look out at the beautiful Niagara Escarpment. On a clear day you can see across to the CN Tower in downtown Toronto from the popular Brock Harris Lookout. We preferred to find a quiet opening in the trees to enjoy a picnic lunch with a view of not only the escarpment, but the rock climbers scaling the cliffs below and the turkey vultures riding the thermals along the cliff’s edge!
Rock Climbing at Mount Nemo
The Niagara Escarpment is a rock climbers paradise and Mount Nemo has a lot to offer with fewer crowds than other popular destinations such as Rattlesnake Point. There are more than 200 routes to scale the limestone cliffs and both traditional and sport climbing is available.
Whether you are visiting Toronto on a trip through Canada or are a local Southern Ontarian looking for somewhere new to explore, make sure you add Mount Nemo Conservation Area to your list! It gives a taste of what this region has to offer.
Looking for beautiful places to explore in Ontario? Check out our other adventure guides:
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park: Camp in the historic Mattawa Valley and explore Ontario’s fur trading roots, or just enjoy the pristine beauty of the park’s lakes and rivers.
Lion’s Head Provincial Park: Hike the limestone cliffs of Georgian Bay and feel like you have left Canada behind and entered into a tropical oasis.
Top 10 Places to Hike the Niagara Escarpment: See more of the land-form known for its world-class waterfalls. Get your fill of beautiful hiking trails, cave explorations and rock climbing in our guide to exploring the Niagara Escarpment.
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