Belwood Lake Conservation Area

Activities: Admission, Lake River Reservoir, Handicapped Access, Facilities Rental, Equipment Rentals, Picnic Facilities, Boating, Swimming Water Sports, Hiking, Fishing, Sports Fields, Cycling, Active Adventures

Belwood Lake was created in 1942 with the construction of the Shand Dam, the first dam in Canada built solely for water control purposes. Conservation area visitors can stand on the top deck of the dam and see the vista of the Grand River valley below. A stairway along the face of the dam allows visitors to walk down to its base. The flow from the dam is used to generate hydroelectricity. The 12 km-long lake (7.5 miles) offers excellent boating, fishing and water-skiing, while a small spring-fed quarry offers an ideal spot for people to cool off on hot summer days.