Vanderwater Conservation Area — Attraction in Tweed

Vandewater is a beautiful place that I've enjoyed hiking in for over 30 years. I haven't been into the park for a few years but today I took my dad's dog in there to go for a swim in the river. I was surprised to find you now must pay to enter the place. $7.00. (An automated toll gate like you find in City parking lots.) No big deal. If it helps the conservation area keep the place going....fine. However when you drive less than halfway in, to the flat rock area that everyone loves to swim at, there is another gate that blocks the road so you can't drive any further. It's probably another kilometer plus from that gate to the flat rock area. I'm in good physical shape and I could sprint that distance. However, I came upon an elderly lady, probably 70 plus years old, who was struggling to finish walking in. She wanted to see the place she remembered when she was young. She looked like she was about to have heat stroke. I talked to a couple with small children on my way out who had a picnic basket and we're struggling with their small kids and all they were carrying to walk the distance.

That 'midway' gate needs to be open.

There are many people young and old that love this area and it has been made hard to access. If you're going to charge people to enter you need to keep that gate open in the middle! If not, you need to notify people at the pay gate that the fee doesn't allow you access all the way in! I hope this changes for...

The Red Trail is well worth taking. It is best to download the map because there are a few branches on the path that are not well marked. It is a beautiful trail, quiet and scenic, with lots of birds, chipmunks and tree frogs. At about the half way point you can hear the rapids from the Moira River. There are stairs that take you down to the road with access to the river. It is well worth the detour. It is a nice place to cool off, by wading on the water. There is also a picnic table to sit and eat lunch. You must pay to park at this conservation area now. The two outside toilets by the parking area...

The park is very beautiful with easy to medium terrain in the winter. The biggest problem is that the trails really aren’t marked at all. When I read this in a review, I thought, how bad can it be? Well, it was pretty bad. Thankfully, we made some okay guesses after a few wrong turns, then asked the right person for directions. Thank you, sir and madam, for the very detailed descriptions. We found our way back no problem and even ended up completing the hike we set out to do. So, I do recommend these trails, but would suggest you go earlier in the day so you’re not caught...