Itinéraire
Cheltenham Badlands
Commonly known as the Cheltenham Badlands, between 1850 and 1950, European settlers cleared the area for homesteads, leading to soil erosion and the distinct Queenston shale formations. The removal of trees and early farming caused rapid erosion of the shale, creating the iconic ridge and gully landscape now recognized as the Cheltenham Badlands.
Street address
1739 Olde Base Line Road
Caledon, Ontario
Hours
May 9 to November 17, 2025, dawn to dusk
By reservation only
Entrance fees
Entrance fees are charged per vehicle. All transactions must be made through ParkPass. Most bookings are for 90 minutes. Limited spots are available, however, for three-hour bookings.
Monday to Friday: $10 + HST for 90-minute visit
Weekends and holidays: $20 + HST for 90-minute visit
Monday to Friday: $18 + HST for three-hour visit
Weekends and holidays: $35 + HST for three-hour visit
Portable washrooms available on site
Land acknowledgement
Kid friendly
Parking
Partial wheelchair access
Self-guided tours available
Washrooms
Photography allowedEntrance fees are charged per vehicle. All transactions must be made through ParkPass. Most bookings are for 90 minutes. Limited spots are available, however, for three-hour bookings. See above for rates.
The work of the Trust in conserving Ontario’s heritage would not be possible without the support of donors, corporate sponsors and partners across the province. Your support will ensure that the Cheltenham Badlands are enjoyed by future generations.
Make a donation to help protect the Badlands and many more of Ontario's natural heritage spaces.
Reservations are required to access the parking lot and must be booked before your visit. To avoid issues, all parking reservations should be made in advance using our online booking service, ParkPass. For those who enter their licence plate numbers, the gate should scan your licence plate and open automatically. Alternatively, you can pay for a parking reservation on arrival to the Badlands through the online ParkPass booking system (cellular internet connection required). Online payment options include debit or credit card. No cash or cards are accepted at the Badlands parking lot. All purchases are done through the website.
If you don’t know your vehicle’s license plate number when booking (for example, you are using a rental vehicle), simply enter any combination of four letters and three numbers into the ParkPass system (e.g. ABCD 123). When you arrive, the gate will not recognize your license plate, but you can still enter the parking lot by scanning the QR code or entering the PIN included with your booking confirmation.
Note that only regular-sized vehicles are permitted — no RVs, buses or trailers allowed. The spaces in the parking lot cannot accommodate larger vehicles and trailers. Admission also only covers the occupancy of one space.
Motorbikes are allowed in the parking lot, but you will need to use the QR code or the pin code on your booking confirmation email to open the gate as the reader cannot see the license plates on motorbikes.
Bicycles are allowed on the site. There are bike racks available in the parking lot. Note: There is no charge for those who visit on bicycle or on foot.
The accessible parking space is available to use on the weekends by reservation only. The accessible space may be used only by vehicles displaying a valid accessible parking permit and proof of permit will be required. When you arrive, please go to the main parking lot and speak to the security agent who will move their vehicle from the accessible space. From the accessible parking spot, it is about 15 metres (50 feet) or more to the boardwalk. To use the space during the week, it is available on a first come, first served basis.
The Badlands feature is a provincially significant Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. Its distinctive hills and gullies showcase Queenston shale, which is as striking as it is delicate. Erosion is what first exposed the shale after decades of human and environmental activity, and any trespassing onto the Badlands will further erode this unique landmark.
It is important to stay on designated trails, boardwalks and sidewalks.
Boardwalk (60 metres/197 feet)
The accessible viewing platform extends across a portion of the Badlands to ensure its protection. Remain on the platform. Walking on the Badlands itself is strictly prohibited.
Badlands trail (0.32 km/1,050 feet)
This trail connects the Bruce Trail to the viewing platform. The route takes you through a young forest habitat full of native trees and shrubs.
Bruce Trail (1.33 km/1,455 yards)
The Bruce Trail is Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath. This part of the trail connects and passes through the Badlands and takes you through hawthorn, ash and apple trees and over a tributary of the Credit River.
For general inquiries, email badlands@heritagetrust.on.ca. Please note that we are only able to respond to emails during regular business hours, Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
You can make changes to your booking by clicking the “view or make changes to your reservation” link that can be found in your confirmation email. Please note that the cancellation policy does not allow for any changes to the date and time of your reservation within 48 hours of your scheduled booking time. Refunds are also not permitted within this timeframe.
If you made an error when making your reservation — such as an incorrect email address or licence plate number — you still have options. As long as you have entered the correct licence plate number, the gate should open automatically when you arrive for your visit, so there is no need to do anything even if you did not receive the confirmation email. If you didn’t enter your licence plate number (or entered it incorrectly) and didn’t receive your confirmation email, please email us as soon as possible so that we can reissue the confirmation.
