Valens Lake Conservation Area is located on 1961 Regional Road 97 in Flamborough, ON. The park is on a dammed section of the Spencer Creek known colloquially as Valens Lake. The park is popular for its winter program and its proximity to Hamilton and Toronto. We most recently visited in January 2024.
Valens Lake was formed in the late 60s by damming the Spencer Creek for flood control reasons. The park opened for camping in 1968. The lookout tower was built in the mid 70s and is currently being replaced. See here.
Valens was a Roman Emperor. Not a clue what he has to do with Flamborough, however.
The freezing of rain on a pine branch after a storm.
Valens Lake offers:
- swimming on a large sand beach
- biking on a majority of trails
- fishing for largemouth, pike, carp, catfish
- new cabins available to rent
- great for day tripping and picnicking.
My favourite trails here are:
Circumnavigating the northern half of Valens Lake is the Boardwalk Trail, an easy way to see a majority of the park, including the lookout tower and scenic footbridge. (bikes not recommended, but possible)
The other half of the Boardwalk Trail is the Lakeview Trail, leading to Valens Dam. As the name suggests, this trail offers exceptional lake views. (same story for biking this trail as the Boardwalk Trail)
Drive in. A curved road past a pond leads to a gatehouse. Keep going to see a dump station and storage facility on the left and the beach and parking on the right. Don't forget Forest Edge, White Tail, and Beaver Nook group sites on the left. Take a long road past the boat launch, fishing bridge, and lakeview cabins to the campground. First is Spruce Hollow, Tamarack, and Ironwood on the left, along with Cedars straight ahead and Trillium on the right. Continue into Pines Campground, with Fox Run Group Site on the left, and Pinegrove on the right. The road ends at Dogwood Campground. The Camp Store is after Trillium but before Pines.
Note that the photos in this section are not explicitly from this park, they are good photos of species that live here.
Ducks and Geese
Swans
Coniferous Forests
Wildberries
Book a winter campsite for tent camping or stay in the winter program. Or better yet - book a warm cabin.
You can day trip to Spencer Gorge. It is the same creek after all!
You can also day trip to Tiffany Falls.
Do the trail route suggested below.
Visit Valens in the winter! It's great. Even if the conditions aren't good enough to ice fish or ice skate (which are both permitted based upon conditions), you can explore the whole park year round. Trails are winter maintained and they provide awesome and unique winter landscapes. Another tip is to be lucky enough for rainfall and then snowfall afterwards. It makes for frozen ice atop the leaves and flora. Other than that, you can leave your trailer here as a seasonal - in winter! Making for more ways to explore.
(I usually do not talk like a travel agent, by the way - I just really love these programs)
We revisit here every year in winter because of their programs and I love it each time. Recommended. 7/10.
