Displaying items by tag: hiking

Oct. 10, 2019 – We’re updating Foley Mountain Conservation Area’s management plan, and we want your input on the future of Westport’s favourite outdoor oasis.

The updated plan will guide the next 10 years of resource management, habitat enhancement, programming, infrastructure upgrades and other developments at Foley Mountain to best meet the needs and desires of visitors, donors, nearby businesses and other stakeholders.

“We welcome public input, especially from our regular visitors and supporters who spend a lot of time in the park,” said Rebecca Whitman, site supervisor at Foley Mountain. “This is your chance to tell us what you love about Foley, and what you’d like to see improved.”

Foley Mountain Conservation Area is one of 11 conservation areas owned and operated by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. Located in Westport, ON overlooking the Upper Rideau Waterway, Foley is famous for its Spy Rock lookout, 10 kilometres of scenic hiking trails and hands-on outdoor education programs. The 337-hectare (833-acre) site is also known for its abundance of wildlife, including the threatened black rat snake which thrives on Foley’s granite ridge that forms part of the UNESCO-designated Frontenac Arch biosphere.

Once completed, the new management plan will provide clear goals and objectives for the site and offer strategies and recommendations to enhance the site for public use and enjoyment over the next decade. 

Take our 10-minute survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FoleyMountain. 

Leave your email address to be entered in a draw for an annual pass to all RVCA conservation areas, worth $50!

For more information about Foley Mountain, visit www.rvca.ca/conservation-areas/fee-required/foley-mountain-ca.

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RIDEAU VALLEY, June 1, 2022 – No cell service? No problem! Visitors to RVCA’s conservation areas can now navigate even our most remote trails with confidence thanks to a new partnership with Avenza Maps. 

The Toronto-based mobile app offers GPS-enabled maps that can be used offline and without cell service to keep your bearings even in the deepest woods. 

“Safety is number one, and this is an innovative tool to help our visitors stay on track while exploring our beautiful properties,” said Conservation Lands Manager Chelsey Ellis. “We’re pleased to partner with such an ambitious and community-oriented organization.”

Tristan Lyttle, senior product manager with Avenza Systems Inc., agreed.

“We’re thrilled to see our local conservation authorities become early adopters of this technology,” Lyttle said. “Getting outside and exploring our surroundings has never been more important, and Avenza makes it even easier.” 

The app is supported by Android and iOS. Instructions on how to get started and use the mobile app can be found at https://www.avenzamaps.com/maps/how-it-works.html. QR codes for the RVCA’s new Avenza maps have been installed at the trailheads of eight conservation areas, and can also be found on their property-specific webpages at www.rvca.ca/conservation-areas. Scanning these QR codes will download RVCA’s maps to your phone to take out onto the trail. Ifyou don't have Avenza Maps app, you will be guided through the installation process

To avoid installation issues, the RVCA encourages visitors to download the free app before leaving home. Traditional trailhead maps and printed brochures will continue to be available, as well as downloadable PDF maps on the RVCA website. 

The RVCA offers a total of 42 km of trails through forests, wetlands, meadows and more. From the Chapman Mills boardwalk in Barrhaven to the Spy Rock lookout at Foley Mountain, our 11 conservation areas offer something for everyone, all year round.

For more information visit www.rvca.ca/conservation-areas or contact Conservation Lands Manager Chelsey Ellis at .

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