Only 6 kilometres from Holiday Beach Conservation Area and draining into Lake Erie, Big Creek is located at the western tip of Lake Erie. It is the largest wetland in the area and attracts masses of migrating birds as they cross the lake at its narrowest point. It is also the current site of the Janisse-Marcotte-Melady-Sutton-Morris Sutton Heritage Forest.

Controlled waterfowl hunting is available in the fall. Please contact the ERCA office for details.

Recreation Activities Available

Bird Watching A wide variety of raptors and other birds can be seen in this area, particularly during the fall migration as they move south. As a shallow, wide expanse of water, Big Creek is also a popular place with waders such as herons and egrets.

Facilities

There are no facilities specifically for Big Creek Conservation Area, but the facilities at Holiday Beach Conservation Area are adjacent to Big Creek and observation and exploration of Big Creek is most conveniently done from there. Big Creek can also be seen from where County Road 20 crosses over, although there is not a Conservation Authority parking area here. A walking trail winds through the Heritage Forest site, and signage is in place to identify how the program restores select tracts of land to a natural state while memorializing loved ones. People are respectfully requested to not mark trees, as the goal of the Heritage Forest is to become a true natural area. As well, marking tree can cause death or damage to the trees.

Conservations Area Facts

• Big Creek Conservation Area and Holiday Beach were designated an Important Bird Area on September 16, 2000.
• The IBA designation recognizes the importance of Big Creek as an important natural area through which thousands of raptors migrate each fall.
• Controlled waterfowl hunting is available in the fall, contact the office for more details.

Opening Times & Fees

Directions & Map

Big Creek is situated west of Harrow and south of Amherstburg. See map for further information.