Cheltenham Badlands

The Cheltenham Badlands feature deep red sedimentary rocks with striking erosion patterns spread across exposed ground in rural Ontario. The landscape displays alternating bands of red and green minerals within layers of ancient Queenston shale that have been carved by water and weather.

The land transformed from fertile and forested ground into barren terrain between 1850 and 1950 as European settlers cleared trees and farmed intensively. Once vegetation disappeared, the exposed soil eroded rapidly, creating the dramatic landscape visible today.

The land held deep meaning for the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, who hunted and fished here for generations before European settlement changed everything. Walking through now, you can sense how the terrain shaped their way of life.

Access runs from May through November, and you need to book parking in advance through the ParkPass system before visiting. Wear sturdy shoes since the ground can be slippery and uneven, and allow time to explore the trails safely.

The red rocks here formed from a seafloor that existed 450 million years ago, making this one of the few places where such ancient geological layers are directly visible. You can actually touch stone that's been buried for most of Earth's history, now exposed by recent erosion.