Keith McLean Conservation Area is a 130 hectare property located at 18331 Kent Bridge Road in Morpeth, ON. The park includes a 4km nature trail passing by Patterson's Creek, acres of cropland, a farm, McLean's family home, and a few small ponds, which Keith dubbed "Lotus Ponds". I visited in April 2025.
Keith McLean was an ardent environmentalist that used to own and maintain this land. He dug the three "lotus ponds", and gave them that name after introducing the "sacred lotus" flower from Asia to them. Keith allowed visitors to come and enjoy the wildlife of his property without any cost, including the aforementioned ponds, as well as a creek system just east of them. After McLean's death, the park was donated to the St. Clair Conservation Authority, who still owns and operates the park under his name.
Keith McLean was the original owner.
Keith McLean offers:
- a 4km nature trail, allowing hiking
- bike accessible trails
- a lookout tower overlooking the Lotus Ponds
- great birding all throughout the park
- a great spot to stop when visiting Rondeau
There is one trail system, with multiple sections.
Lotus Pond Trail - 0.25km
The entry to the park is a very pretty one - the access to interpretive panels, the tower, and the 3 beautiful ponds Mr. McLean loved so dearly.
East Pond Trail - 1km
This is a good way to return to the parking lot after completing the Farm Trail. A quick jaunt passing by lakes filled with interesting birds, swans, and mussels.
Farm Trail - 2km
This trail passes the lookout tower before splitting between two ponds to go north. This northbound travel ends at a barn and 2 silos where you can make a left to a small loop in the forest.
Spur - 0.25km
A walked path by mistake - a supposed trail leading nowhere. Don't go here.
Please note that these are not the actual trail names. I made the names up as an easy way of explaining and categorizing the different trail sections.
Drive into the parking lot.
I recommend visiting this park from Rondeau, i.e. booking a campsite at Rondeau and coming here for a hike. You can actually bike to this park from Rondeau in just a few minutes.
Note that the photos in this section are not explicitly from this park, they are good photos of species that live here.
Swans
Red-winged blackbirds
European reed
Canada geese
Sacred lotus (native to Asia)
Tallgrass prairie
Visit here from Rondeau.
Take the Lotus Pond Trail to the Farm Trail, and take the Farm Trail to the barn. Once at the barn, circle back to the East Pond Trail and return to the start with that. From there, you can retrace your steps home.
The obvious star of Keith McLean is the Lotus Ponds, providing a very scenic entry to the park. These ponds not only offer a great spot to see wildlife, they also offer 4 informational panels (below) which are a great way to know what to look for when exploring a new park. For instance, you can find the Lotus flower scrattered around the ponds, something I wouldn't have realize if it hadn't have been for the signs. Lest we forget the lookout tower. It's only around 15 feet tall, but it feels like you're on top of the world. This provides a great view of the whole park, and the wildlife below you.
If you want photography that says "Keith McLean" written all over it, takes your pictures here.
Right click and hit "open image in new tab" to expand.
It's alright. Very much just a day hike, however. If it's not too sunny, come take the dogs for a walk and watch them chase and bark at the birds. It's a 5/10 for what it is.
Map:
