Cheltenham Badlands

“Badlands” is a geologic term for an area of soft rock devoid of vegetation and soil cover that has become molded into a rolling landscape of rounded hills and gullies. Such areas are rare in Ontario and this is one of the best examples. They exhibit the reddish hue of the Queenston Shale that forms them; the iron oxide in the shale produces this colour. The narrow greenish bands that can be seen throughout the shale are due to the change of red iron oxide to green iron oxide brought on by the circulating groundwater. The relatively soft shale is essentially clay and is easily eroded by water. This site was acquired by the Ontario Heritage Foundation in 2000 and is under the care of the Bruce Trail Association. Due to massive overuse, and a failure to follow the posted rules, the club has closed all trails connecting to the badlands. Public access to the badlands is only available at the viewing area at the top of the badlands slope.  Acccessbile from the road and parking area - no need to traverse sensitive areas! Through signage, visitors are asked not to leave the viewing area at the top of the slope.  Leaving the viewing area is no longer sanctioned. The quarry is now off limits.  Geocaching is not allowed.