From Lake Simcoe to Mill Pond: Where to get outside in York Region
In York Region, you’re never far from an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors
Yorkregion.com
May 10, 2019
LAKE SIMCOE
Located to the far north of the region, Lake Simcoe provides four seasons of water-based recreation.
With public beaches, nature and conservation areas and Sibbald Point Provincial Park dotting 52 kilometres of shoreline, you can indulge in swimming, boating and fishing, as well as hiking, camping and birdwatching.
In the winter, ice fishing is the activity of choice -- for seasoned anglers and newbies, who can rent a hut from one of several local outfitters.
CONSERVATION AREAS
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority in the north and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority in the south and together oversee more than two dozen conservation areas in York Region.
These forest, shoreline and wetland habitats are not only critical for preserving and restoring the ecological health of area but also provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and the enjoyment and appreciation of nature.
For example, Rogers Reservoir Conservation Area in East Gwillimbury is a great place to watch nesting birds, cast a fishing line, have a picnic and cycle along trails that are part of the Nokiidaa. The concrete lock and its swing bridge are remnants of a "ghost" canal system built and abandoned in the early 1900s -- without ever having been used.
Situation in the Oak Ridges Moraine, Thornton Bales Conservation Area offers steeps slopes, rugged beauty and a challenging hike. Newmarket’s quaint Fairy Lake is a gathering point for community events, including free concerts, fishing, environmental and cultural festivals and holiday celebrations.
The Kortright Centre for Conservation in Vaughan features 325 hectares of pristine woodlands, hiking and cross-country skiing trails and Canada’s largest educational demonstration of renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies.
Bruce’s Mill in Whitchurch-Stouffville is home to Treetop Trekking, a zip line and aerial game park, as well as a BMX track with nine obstacles and a rhythm section. Every spring the conservation area draws thousands of visitors for it Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival.
Cold Creek Conservation Area in Nobleton is home to hiking trails, a high and low ropes course and rock climbing wall. Cold Creek hosts events throughout the year, including guided hikes, astronomy, moonlight snowshoeing and birding.
lsrca.on.ca | trca.ca
YORK REGIONAL FOREST
Open to the public 365 days a year at no cost, York Regional Forest comprises 2,300 hectares of protected land on 18 properties in different parts of the region. Take a solo hike or join a free guided, educational walk.
york.ca/forestevents
URBAN TRAILS
In York Region, green space rubs elbows with streetscapes. Here are just a few of the dozens of spots to stretch your legs.
The 20-kilometre Nokiidaa Trail follows the Holland River and connects neighbourhoods and green spaces in the towns of East Gwillimbury, Newmarket and Aurora.
Richmond Hill’s Mill Pond is an oasis of mature forest, fields and waterways with interconnected paths and boardwalks -- perfect for a summer stroll or brisk winter walk.
The Stouffville Town Trail travels along Main Street, with its shops and restaurants, to the 21-hectare Stouffville Reservoir, which features woodlots and wetlands.
york.ca/trails
