Christie Lake From Above

Over sixteen thousand people know Christie Lake as the Christie Antique Show place. Over seven thousand more know Christie Lake as the Greenbelt Harvest Picnic venue and even thousands more know and enjoy Christie Lake for the swimming, boating and picnic facilities. Few people see Christie Lake when it is waiting for winter to arrive, and even fewer get the chance to see it from above.

On a sunny calm day in late November, I had the unique opportunity to fly over Christie Lake and get a wonderful birds-eye view. The lake had just reached its winter elevation (six feet lower than what it is in the summer swimming season).

Looking from the southwest, the beach and Beach House Pavilions are in the center of the photo, Lakeside Pavilion is in the bottom left and the Marina and McCoy Pavilions are just visible on the right side as the Spencer Creek winds out of the frame.

Directly over the beach, the fields await the next Antique Show, vendors filling the grass around the beach pavilion and spectators parking on the other open green fields.

The Christie Lake Dam located at the south east end of the park was completed in 1971 and is the largest flood control structure in the Hamilton watershed. Built to reduce flooding in Dundas, it also provides low flow augmentation in dry summers and creates a vibrant habitat for recreation and wildlife. The McCoy Pavilion and soccer field can be seen below the parking lot at the top of the photo. As the Spencer Creek passes through the dam, white water of the Darnley Cascade are visible before the creek reaches the Darnley Mill ruins.

The opportunity to view  Christie Lake from above is an experience that very few get to have and is one that I will never forget.

Bruce Harschnitz

Park Superintendent

Christie Lake Conservation Area

Photos by Bruce Harschnitz and HCA

Beat the Heat

Its summer time here in Ontario and it is HOT!

If you are looking for a way to cool off during the summer, HCA has many great places for you to beat the heat!

Christie Lake and Valens Lake Conservation Areas offer beautiful natural settings for you and your family to relax and enjoy the summer heat. Spend the day relaxing on the beach or if you are feeling adventurous, go for a paddle on the lake and enjoy the time spent on the water. Christie Lake and Valens Lake both offer boat rentals.

HCA also offers two beach locations on Lake Ontario. Visit Fifty Point Conservation Area for one of the warmest and cleanest beaches on the lake, or head to Confederation Park and enjoy the refreshing lake water. Confederation Park also offers an outdoor pool and splash pad at the Lakeland Centre.

If you are looking for a more heart pumping experience, visit Wild Waterworks in Confederation Park and ride the two body slides and four tube slides, catch a wave in one of Canada’s largest outdoor wave pools or relax in the eazy river.

 

Little ones will love Little Squirt Works, our fun wading pool with slides, mists and fountains.

No matter how you want to beat the heat, HCA has something for everyone.