Point of Interest 3 - The 3 Terraces

The area you are now standing on was the previous delta or mouth of the creek as it entered the glacial Lake Iroquois, an ancestor of Lake Ontario. Lake Iroquois had a much higher water level then Lake Ontario has today. At some unknown point, the water level of the lake quickly dropped, leaving its previous shore line behind. Keep in mind that fast moving water erodes more material then slow moving water. So when the lake level dropped, the flow rate of the river increased which eroded more shoreline material then when the flow rate was slower. This process creates a flat plateau of land and a steep slope called a terrace. The lake level dropped three times creating three terraces, the first of which you are standing on right now. If you look in front of you, you will see the edge of the second terrace. As you continue along the trail look around you and you will notice the step-like plateaus of land (note: the third terrace can be hard to find! Can you see it?).

Upon completion of the trail we invite you to visit the Nature Centre (open seasonally) where you can see a display model of the ravine.

Please proceed to post 4 which is located in the lower valley. Please use the sloped gravel path.