EXPERIENCE WILDLIFE VIEWING RIGHT IN YOUR
NEIGHBOURHOOD
1225 VICTORIA ST W
WHITBY
623 HALLS ROAD S
WHITBY
To minimize wildlife disturbance, leashed pets are only welcome on the paved Waterfront Trail. Feeding birds is not permitted due to Avian Flu precautions.
Parking Notice for Lynde Shores Conservation Area
The 1225 Victoria Street parking entrance is now designated for Annual Parking Pass holders ONLY.
The new public parking lot is located just a short distance away at 623 Halls Road. Pay-and-Display Parking is still $6 per day. If you prefer the Victoria Street entrance, please purchase an annual parking pass.
This change is being implemented as part of the Lynde Shores Conservation Area Management Plan designed to accommodate the increase in visitors experienced over the past 10 years and to address traffic and safety issues at the Victoria Street parking lot location.
AMENITIES
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5 km of trails (trails not maintained in winter)
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Waterfront Trail - accessible
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Pay-and-display parking, $6/vehicle/day (Visa, MasterCard, Interac, Tap only)
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Accessible washrooms
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Canoe/Kayak launch (open July 15-Sept. 15 only)
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Four marsh-viewing platforms
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All groups planning to visit during school hours must call in advance to check availability: 905-579-0411
ACTIVITIES
#CLOCA
Extremely popular for wildlife viewing, Lynde Shores Conservation Area has a number of looping trails (5 km including the 1 km looping trail within the Cranberry West Tract). These trails, especially the Chickadee Trail, are just the right length for little ones and are generally stroller and wheelchair friendly.
Established in 1972, the Lynde Shores Conservation Area (272 hectares), together with the adjacent Cranberry West Tract (40 hectares) provide excellent habitat for nesting birds and are an important stopover point for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds.
Both the Lynde Creek Marsh and Cranberry Marsh provide many important functions that are typical of the few remaining coastal wetlands found along this northern section of the Lake Ontario shoreline. As result, these two marshes are designated as provincially significant wetlands and are part of a long-term study: the Durham Region Coastal Wetland Monitoring Project.
We have several accessible viewing areas located throughout the site including around our newly created wetland. Dogs on Leash are permitted on the Waterfront Trail only. Please respect posted signage.
Have your cameras and phones ready for photos and videos as you never know what you might see.
WILDLIFE FEEDING - As of March 2023, Feeding wildlife and birds of any kind is not permitted due to Avian Flu Precautions
Please feed only song birds (small). Large animals (raccoons) and birds (geese/ducks) may become aggressive when searching for food and are a hazard to visitors, especially small children.
PLEASE! Leave the bread at home! Bread, cake, donuts, and popcorn offer no nutritional value. Feed songbirds seeds only and only one handful per person.
If the feeders on the trails are full, please take your seed home, store it properly and bring it with you the next time you visit. If they're empty, you may fill them (thank you).
Please don't leave unused seed around the trails, asit only attracts the animals at Lynde Shores Conservation Area who are more than capable of finding their own food.
CANOE/KAYAK LAUNCH
Kayaks and Canoes are permitted in Lynde Marsh from July 15 to September 15 only due to marsh bird breeding. A CLOCA Annual Parking Pass is required for vehicle parking.
WHY NO DOGS? REDUCING WILDLIFE DISTURBANCE
This Conservation Area includes two provincially significant wetlands: Lynde Marsh and Cranberry Marsh. Because of these marshes' location on the shores of Lake Ontario and their diversity in both wetland and upland plant communities, these two wetland areas are extremely important to many wildlife species including birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
Although the wetlands themselves provide critical habitat for many species, the upland areas (both grasslands and woodlands) adjacent to the wetlands area are also critical to many water-dependent wildlife. Many ground-nesting birds, including some duck species, require these upland habitats adjacent to wetlands for nesting and food gathering.
Dogs have been known to destroy these nests or scare birds off their nest. To help keep Lynde Shores Conservation Area a wildlife-friendly zone, please leave your pets at home when visiting this important wildlife area.
Note: Leashed dogs are permitted on the Waterfront Trail, which is the paved trail that passes through Lynde Shores.
AVENZA MAPS
A free, downloadable map is available for this conservation area through the Avenza Maps app. Once downloaded, this map can be used offline and will track your location within Lynde Shores Conservation Area using your device's GPS. Offline location helps you stay on track, on the trail, and out of restricted areas.
Download the free Avenza Maps App onto your device from The App Store or Google Play. Allow your location to be known, create an account, and search "Lynde Shores". To find all available Central Lake Ontario Conservation Maps, search "CLOCA".
Download the maps you need so they are available offline anytime and you can stay safe and aware, even in the remotest of places.
MAINTAINED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Conservation Area
Trail Stewards (CATS)
Our Conservation Area Trail Stewards program was initiated in January 2020 in an effort to improve the experience for our visitors and help keep the wildlife safe and wild. Identified by their yellow 'Volunteer' vests, these trained volunteers visit our conservation areas at least once a month to engage and educate visitors, and maintain the trails.