Day Use & Activities
Hiking at Falls Reserve
Falls Reserve Conservation Area offers a wide variety of day-use opportunities. The park is open year-round from dawn to dusk. Features include:
- Picnic areas
- Reservable day use sites, each with a fire pit, picnic table and charcoal BBQ for grilling. Water and electricity are nearby (bring your own extension cord). These six sites are reservable on-line and at the Gatehouse.
- 7 + km of hiking/biking trails
- Swimming
- Fishing in the river and at the stocked pond
- Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing
- Natural waterfalls to explore
Get Your Permit
A membership pass provides year-round daily gate access to Falls Reserve Conservation Area for one-year from the date of purchase. Passes can be purchased:
- At the Gatehouse when it’s open
- Using the self-serve kiosk at the park entrance. Please note that the kiosk only accepts debit or credit payment.
- Drop your payment in the “Tin Man” drop box next to the Gatehouse.
- Using e-transfer payment to: [email protected]
- On-line at https://maitlandvalley.goingtocamp.com/ On-line entry permits can be purchased up to 7 days in advance
Annual Membership Pass
A membership pass provides year-round daily gate access to Falls Reserve Conservation Area for one-year from the date of purchase. Passes can be purchased:
- On-line at https://maitlandvalley.goingtocamp.com/
- By calling the Gatehouse at 519-524-6429
- In person at the park when the Gatehouse is open.
Picnic Pavillion
The is one picnic pavilion available for rent in the day-use area. This roofed shelter (no sides) has water and electricity. If you’re interested in renting the picnic pavilion, please email [email protected] or call the Gatehouse at 519-524-6429.
Trespassing
- Parking along Falls Reserve Line, or on neighbouring lands outside the park, and then entering the property without a paid entry permit is trespassing.
- Parking in the Conservation Area without a paid pass or entry permit is trespassing.
- Entering the Conservation Area without a paid pass or entry permit is trespassing.
Select an item below to expand its contents:
Swimming
The low waterfall in the Maitland River is a picturesque swimming and wading spot.
Accessibility Note: There is a single width staircase with 25 steps that provides access to the falls from the day-use area.
River Safety
- Stay away from the river during periods of high flows.
- Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.
- The use of lifejackets or personal floatation devices is encouraged, especially for young children.
- The swimming area is considered “use at your own risk”. It is the responsibility of those using the swimming area to accept any associated risks.
Hiking
Grab your camera and a water bottle and explore the Falls Reserve trails network. There are over 7 km of trails within the park.
- Orange Trail – 1.5 km
- Blue Loop – 457 m
- Roadside Trail – 637 m
- Blue Trail – 814 m
- Conifers Corners trail – 824 m
- PK’s Passage Trail – 420 m
- Deer Run Trail – 529 m
- Maitland Trail – 2.9 km within the park. The 50 km Maitland Trail stretches from Auburn to Goderich and passes through Falls Reserve at the km 16 to km 19 mark. The Maitland Trail Association is celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2025. Find out more about the trails they maintain at: https://www.maitlandtrail.ca/
Trails are outlined on the park map. Trail use is at your own risk.
Trail Etiquette:
- Stay on the trails. Help protect natural habitats and wildlife and avoid poison ivy!
- Respect our neighbours – do not trespass.
- Pack out your garbage
- Leave flowers, plants and animals undisturbed.
- Keep your dog on a leash (2 metres or less) at all times.
Fishing
Falls Reserve Conservation Area has a reputation for excellent year-round fishing. Rainbow trout and salmon migrate up the river in spring and fall. Smallmouth bass provide great fishing opportunities during the summer months. Young anglers can try their luck at the stocked pond.
The Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary provides information on licenses, open and closed seasons and catch limits. This document is available to view at the Ministry of Natural Resources website (www.mnr.gov.on.ca). The summary also available as a .pdf file. Click the link below to confirm angling open season dates, catch limits and fishing license information:
2025 Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary – https://www.ontario.ca/files/2024-12/mnr-2025-fishing-regulations-summary-en-2024-12-09.pdf
Please be sure to read, understand and follow the rules regarding fishing in Ontario, including the requirements for Ontario’s Fishing Management Zone (FMZ) 16, related to the Maitland River.
Witness a Fishing Violation?
Report Resource Abuse to the MNR TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667
Fishing Licenses
You must purchase a Resident Fishing Licence unless you are under 18 years of age or 65 years of age or older. People who are under 18 years or are 65 or older do not need a license but have all the rights and responsibilities of people with a license. Visitors from outside the province require a Non-Resident Fishing License.
River Fishing
There is a staircase to access the river from the day-use area. The falls area at the park is a hotspot for anglers and swimmers alike. Anglers are asked to be considerate of other users. To fish in the park visitors need either a day-use entry permit or a camping permit.
Stocked Pond
The stocked pond near the Gatehouse is ideal for youngsters, families and anyone new to fishing. Approximately 450 rainbow trout are stocked in the pond each year. There are fish in the pond that have been tagged. Catch a tagged fish and win a FRCA Membership pass! The pass provides daily FRCA entry for a full year (value of $180.00). To be eligible for the prize, you must have purchased a pond permit prior to catching a tagged fish.
The stocked pond is open daily starting April 26, 2025, and closes for the season on September 30, 2025. Fishing trout at FRCA is prohibited until April 26, 2025.
- Daily Adult Permit: $12.00 including HST, 2 trout limit, must possess an Ontario Fishing Licence
- Daily Youth Permit: $6.00 including HST, 2 trout limit, ages 13 – 17, this age group does not require an Ontario Fishing License
- Daily Child Permit: Free for ages 12 and under. An Ontario Fishing License is not required but children must be accompanied by an adult who has purchased an Adult Pond Permit
- Pond fishing permits are available at the Gatehouse or may be purchased on the day of angling by e-transfer payment to [email protected]
The pond also supports a largemouth bass population. Largemouth bass caught in the pond will be catch-and-release only again for the 2025 season. This is to help with maintaining a sustainable largemouth bass fishery in the pond. Fishing of bass at FRCA is prohibited until Saturday June 28, 2025.
Pond Fishing Rules
- The pond is open during daylight hours only.
- The use of barbless hooks is encouraged.
- Largemouth bass caught in the pond are catch and release only.
- Daily catch and possession limits, 2-trout with a Sports Fishing License (1-trout with Conservation Fishing License). Any injured/expired trout that are released are considered part of the angler’s limit under the permit.
- Please note that under provincial regulations if you assist a child under the age of 18 with fishing (casting a line, reeling in a line, baiting a hook etc.) you are considered to be fishing and you are required to have an Ontario Fishing License.
- Anyone violating the pond fishing rules forfeits their Pond Permit.
OFAH TackleShare Program
No fishing equipment? No problem! Falls Reserve Conservation Area offers access to angling equipment for visitors thanks to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters TackleShare program. It’s easy! Simply sign out a rod and reel and an assortment of tackle from the park Gatehouse. Once you’re finished, return the equipment so that others can give it a try. This program is only available when the Gatehouse is open.
Ontario Family Fishing Events
Join in the province-wide opportunity for Canadian residents to experience fishing in Ontario waters without the otherwise mandatory fishing version outdoor card licence. Check out the websites below for more information:
License-free family fishing dates for 2025 are:
- May 10 & 11, 2025 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday)
- June 14 & 15, 2025 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday)
- June 28 to July 6, 2025 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday).
Participants fishing without a license during license-free Family Fishing periods must fish under the Conservation fishing license limits which are set out in the 2025 Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary – https://www.ontario.ca/files/2024-12/mnr-2025-fishing-regulations-summary-en-2024-12-09.pdf
Please note that during all other time periods, Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64 years of age must purchase a valid Ontario Fishing License to legally fish in Ontario.
While fishing during a license free event you must:
- follow conservation license catch limits
- obey size limits and sanctuaries
- follow the fishing regulations
Cycling
Cycling is permitted on all roadways in the park. Children under 18 years-of-age must follow provincial requirements and wear a helmet.
Mountain Biking
All the trails at Falls Reserve are multi-use. The trails on the north-west side of the park are well suited for mountain bike enthusiasts with steep slopes and challenging terrain. Helmets are recommended for all bikers but are mandatory for anyone 18 years-of-age and younger. Trails are outlined on the park map. Trail use is at your own risk.
G2G-GART Trail
The G2G-GART Trail is an old rail line that is a multiuse double wide trail composed mainly of compact gravel. This trail system is generally flat and ideal for cyclists of all ages and stages. There’s over 132 km of trail to explore! Falls Reserve Conservation Area is near two G2G-GART access points. Both are approximately 5-minute bike rides from the park Gatehouse:
- Marker 11 km to Goderich, 121 to Guelph
- Marker 9 km to Goderich, 123 to Guelph
For more information visit the G2G-GART website at: G2G Rail Experience
Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
During the winter months there’s approximately 5 km of groomed trails at the park for skiers to enjoy.
Snowshoers are also welcome to explore the trails – but please stay off the groomed ski trails.
A day-use entry permit is required to ski and snowshoe at Falls Reserve. Purchase your permit on-line, by e-transfer to [email protected] or drop your payment in the Tin Man at the Gatehouse.
Falls Reserve Conservation Area is located at
80900 Falls Reserve Line in Benmiller.
Click here for Directions