Great place for a hike. The trail had varying terrains which adds adds to the interest of the…read morehike. Nice trees and views.

I've been looking for hiking trails in the GTA and stumbled upon the Oak Ridges Corridor…read moreConservation Reserve. I started at the southeast corner of the reserve and explored the whole east side. There are several small parking lots near the trails. I parked on Bridgewater Drive, just south of Stouffville Road, and headed north towards Jefferson Forest. The trails by Jefferson Forest aren't well marked and are mainly used for mountain biking. It was a bit difficult to figure out which direction to go and was difficult to find this trail off of the main trail. The trail from Jefferson Forest is shaded by trees and the ground is packed dirt. The trail rises and falls in places, but there is no significant elevation change. What I liked about the trail was the change in scenery. At times, I felt like I was walking through the Shire. There seems to be an attempt to grow different trees in the area, so at times it looks like a tree farm. You'll see perfectly formed rows of trees, such as evergreens. Once you reach the main trail, it turns into well-maintained gravel. I traveled northeast towards Oak Ridges Community Centre. The trail goes through a clearing before you start seeing civilization again. The trail passes by neighborhoods of cookie-cutter suburban homes and even passes behind some of the homes. There are several apple trees along the path before reaching the northeast parking lot at Bethesda Sideroad. I tried to head towards Swan Lake, but there is no visible public access from the road. Overall, I thought the trail was well-maintained and enjoyed a nature hike in the middle of suburbia.

Another Great Find in the York Region Forest Tract !!!…read more A 100 hectare property on the Oak Ridges Moraine, Pangman Springs Conservation Area is an excellent example of a mature moraine ecosystem, including both wetlands and upland hardwood forests. While part of this property has been dedicated for use by a youth camp, the public can access the conservation area from the parking lot on Kennedy Road, or from an ORTA side trail which connects to the nearby Porritt tract of the York Regional Forest. https://www.lsrca.on.ca/enjoytheoutdoors/conservationareas/pangmansprings Pangman Springs Conservation Area is managed by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation area. There is a small parking area just off Kennedy Rd in Whitchurch-Stouffville Between St. John's Side Road and Aurora Rd on the West side of Kennedy. If you're not careful you will miss the entrance. The parking area barely holds 10 cars on any given day. Access is also available from The Porritt Tract just south of Pangman Springs which is part of the York Region Forest Tract. This is a smaller Tract, but you could still spend a few hours there. There area has a couple of small ponds and a small lake but they are both off the trail. In all there are a few kilometers of walking trails that can be accessed by people of any age. There are boardwalks and some open areas for people to eat or hang out. Like most of these forest tracts, they are great for hiking, photo's, picnics and exercise. There is enough room to keep your distance from others as well. We saw families with children, dog-walkers and couples during our visit there. We spent about two hours at Pangman Springs before making our way to the Porritt Tract. This is great place to spend a monring or afternoon.

Beautiful easy trail in all seasons!…read more Lots of parking, map was straight forward. The main trail is very spacious even three -four horses could ride side by side. The trail meanders and narrows into a footpath at some routes. It leads down into a a shallow pond for dogs to splash or kids to throws rocks into. We just went back for a winter hike and with all the recent snow, we easily could walk around without difficulty. Lots of people with dogs and hiking sticks passing through but never crowded. No washrooms or hand washing stations so plan well. The turn into the forest parking lot is right off hwy 48, drive slow or you might miss the sign.

Maple Nature Reserve is a hidden gem, nestled in the stretch of road on Dufferin between Major…read moreMackenzie and Teston. It's easy to miss and you'd never know that it was there as you drive by. There are 4 parking spots in the parking lot, but I've seen others park on the grass. It's a 3km circuit hike that includes inclines, some are quite steep. From the parking lot, you can take the Salamander Valley Trail, which is a dirt trail and can get a bit muddy after a rain. Once you're off the Salamander Valley Trail, everything is gravel trail. There are some isolated sections where you can easily forget that you're still in a city. There are plenty of trail maps along the way so that you really can't get lost. There could be better signage at major landmarks. For instance, the trail map indicates that there's an arboretum but I couldn't find it. It's ironic since arboretums are usually have tags identifying trees and plants. Overall, this trail is a good way to get out into nature while still being in the middle of a city.

Friend found this spot while trying to find a middle spot to meet up with friends for an easy hike…read more The entrance could be difficult to find as it's a little hidden. Small parking lot, with one port-a-potty for washroom needs. It'sa very easy loop trail with a pond and close to residential houses. Some of the trails can lead to dead ends, but there were plenty of signs by each fork where it points out where you are located so it's very hard to get lost. There were also a wooden teepee that someone built along the trail. I would say it'd take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete a walk around.

We came here to see the fall colours. As of Oct 12, 2025, we were a little early but there were…read morestill some fully turned trees. When the sun came out, the colours really shone through. Nice patch of nature in the middle of a suburban neighbourhood. There's streams, ponds, and plenty of trees. Lots of birds and squirrels. Also signs here and there explaining trees and flowers. Mostly paved and flat, so the trail seems quite accessible. Depending on how you do the loop, you could spend 30min to 2.5hr in the park. There are also quite a few parking spots around the trail, so park near where you'd like to enter. If you make the wrong turn, you'll find yourself by a busy road, so check googlemaps as you go and stay in the park. The park is also on All Trails.

Sunday May 9, 2021 - My friends decided to go for a walk. When I asked where are we going, they…read moresaid to drop me off and leave me so that I can walk home. LOL .. it's a 9.5hr walk to home from there *cries*. We walked along the trail from Green Lane E to Yonge St. It took about 2.5 hours to go and come. We stopped here and there took photos and rested. It's a really nice trial to walk and there where off trail areas for biking. There was also some nice areas to sit and relax.

Lovely trails for walking and biking. There's a main path/trail and lots of smaller paths off the…read moremain path. It's a nice and relaxing trail that connects to the Tom Taylor trail with lots of shade.

Went for an afternoon hike. This trail is on the east side. Did the blue trail which is 2.9km…read more The terrain is relatively flat with a few slight inclines. Lots of trees, on the younger side. Not a lot of colour variations for fall. Trails are wide with little brush on the track. Nice walk.