Durham

• Camping season runs from the last full weekend in April until Thanksgiving weekend.
There are 193 spacious campsites for seasonal and transient campers:
• Non-serviced sites 98
• Water and Power sites 95 (15 and 30 amp)
• Group camping
• Seasonal sites available

• Reserve your campsite online
• Campground Map
• Campground Rules and Regulations

• GPS 44.1847,-80.7960
• Durham Conservation Area is located along the Saugeen River within the town of Durham.  It is east of Highway 6.

• In addition to campsites, there are five recreational trail systems: 
  • Cedar Ridge Trail
  • McManus Trail
  • Gunpit Trail
  • Middle Dam Trail
  • Riverview Trail.
• Together, the trails are about 4 km in length.
• The bed of the river and the impressive falls consist of limestone bedrock. There are many areas of bedrock outcropping to explore.
• Recreational Trail Map

Durham Conservation Area is excited to announce the opening of our new disc golf course!

Disc golf is a fun and challenging outdoor sport that combines the principles of golf with the use of a flying disc, or Frisbee. Players aim to complete each hole in the fewest number of throws, navigating from a tee area to a target, which is an elevated metal basket.

As you progress through the course, you’ll encounter a variety of landscapes and obstacles that add to the enjoyment and challenge of the game.

Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the sport, our disc golf course offers a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors and engage in friendly competition. Come and experience the thrill of disc golf at Durham Conservation Area!

Unlimited rounds of Disc Golf are included in the day-use fee at Durham Conservation Area, and in camping reservations for all campers.  The $60 Seasonal Disc Golf membership covers entrance, parking, a free tee shirt and unlimited disc golf at the Durham Conservation during operation hours and season.

July 8th, 2025

Dear Neighbours of Durham Conservation Area,

Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) is moving ahead with the installation of a fence at Durham Conservation Area to secure the campground. The fence installation will begin in early July and take approximately two weeks to complete. Gate automation hardware and hydro servicing will follow shortly thereafter, with full operational launch expected in August 2025.

We understand that some members of the community are frustrated. Change is hard, especially when it affects places people have used for a long time. Durham Conservation Area has required a paid permit for day use for years, at a cost of $5 per day or $55 for a full year, among the lowest fees of any conservation authority in Ontario. These modest fees help cover the very real costs of maintaining the property: taxes, insurance, garbage collection, staffing, repairs, and basic infrastructure. An annual membership is valid across all 15 of SVCA’s day-use areas.

The upcoming fence will help:

• Enforce closure hours (dusk to dawn) under Ontario Regulation 688/21
• Deter vandalism, squatting, and theft at the campground
• Protect staff and public safety
• Support the conservation of wildlife and natural spaces
• Promote fairness for visitors who contribute to upkeep by paying the fee

Despite clear signage, unpaid access and after-hours trespassing have remained persistent problems.  SVCA must meet provincial rules, ensure safety, and manage costs responsibly.

To help ensure everyone can still enjoy the site, SVCA will be placing complimentary annual passes at local West Grey Libraries for individuals or families who may face financial barriers. We appreciate that not everyone agrees with these changes, but they are necessary to balance public access with the responsibility to maintain and protect conservation lands.

To purchase a day-use pass please visit the or Durham Conservation Area gatehouse. Or annual day use membership can be purchased over the phone, in person at the SVCA Administration Office in Formosa, or online at www.saugeenconservation.ca/annual

Visa is required for payment of annual passes.

• Fishing is permitted within season only (follow Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) guidelines).
• Visit our Fishing page for more information.

• Hunting is NOT permitted at Durham Conservation Area.
• Please visit our Hunting page for more information.

There is a $5.00 parking fee to access Durham Conservation Area.

Pay Day Use Parking Fees Online:

Pay for single vehicle one day parking at any Saugeen Conservation Area: click here.
Pay for single vehicle annual parking at any Saugeen Conservation Area: click here.

• Activity centre
• Badminton
• Boat ramp
• Disc Golf
• Dump station on-site
• Firewood available for purchase at the gatehouse
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horseshoes
• Mobile pump-out
• Modern shower and washroom facilities
• Parking
• Pavilion
• Pets allowed (on leash)
• Playground
• Scenic falls
• Swimming - 2 swimming areas with sand beaches and dressing rooms
• Trails
• Washrooms are open during camping season only
• WiFi available at a central location

• Durham Conservation Area covers over 61 ha (150 acres). This includes over 3 km of Saugeen River frontage.
• Scenic McGowan Falls (named after Robert McGowan) is one of the highlights of this park.
• Mr. McGowan rebuilt the river powered flour mill which supplied power to the town.
• The current dam provides a recreational reservoir upstream for swimming. It also helps in flood control for the town of Durham (controlling ice through the winter and into spring).
• Durham is a Conservation Area and Managed Forest.