Rouge National Urban Park is a unique wilderness setting in the midst of Ontario’s capital. Eventually, it will cover more than 50 square kilometres, following the river valleys and nearby lands of the Rouge River system from the Oak Ridges Moraine to Lake Ontario.
Visitors may enjoy hiking, riverside camping, spectacular views, and more.
Rouge Marsh Trail: .5 km
43.789969 -79.121698
The Rouge Marsh Trail offers a short hike with stunning views of the largest remaining wetland in the City of Toronto. Connecting with the Waterfront Trail and Pan Am Path at Lake Ontario, the trail provides pedestrian and cycling connections with Toronto and Pickering. Parks Canada’s guided walks meet next to the Rouge River pedestrian bridge in the lower parking lot. If the lower parking lot is closed, meet at the corner of Rouge Hills Drive and Lawrence Avenue East at the upper parking lot. The trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Mast Trail: 5 km return
43.805023 -79.139414
This classic Rouge Valley hike features excellent examples of rare Carolinian ecosystems while traversing a 200-year-old former logging route where pine trees were cut and floated down the river, eventually bound for ship building yards in Europe. The trail leads from the Glen Rouge Campground over the “hog’s back”, or ridge, to north to Twyn Rivers Drive where it meets up with the Orchard and Vista trails. Parks Canada’s guided walks meet next to the Glen Rouge Campground parking lot at the trailhead.
Glen Eagles Vista Trail: .6 km
43.809557 -79.165611
With outstanding scenery all year, and especially striking colours on display in the autumn, Glen Eagles Vista Trail provides brilliant views of the Rouge River and Little Rouge Creek and geologically-significant bluffs. The trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Celebration Forest Trail: .5 km
43.814403 -79.154325
Located across the road from the Twyn Rivers Area’s main parking lot, the Celebration Forest Trail features a forest memorial paying homage to community leaders and pioneers whose efforts to protect the Rouge Valley led to the creation of Canada’s first national urban park.
Vista Trail: 1.5 km
43.81852 -79.170313
The Vista Trail’s two-level viewing platform is one of the best places to view Toronto’s autumn colours and spectacular valley views. Guided walks depart from Parks Canada’s Visitor Welcome Area, next to the main trailhead and the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre. Parks Canada’s Visitor Welcome Area is staffed from May to October.
Orchard Trail: 2 km
43.819372 -79.16585
A classic Rouge Valley hike, the Orchard Trail features young forests mixed with wetlands and traces of early European settlement, including remnant orchards, residences and an old mill. The trail can be accessed at two places: the north trailhead is located at the bottom of Zoo Road on the south side of the road (next to a portable washroom), a short 5-minute walk from Parks Canada’s Welcome Area at the top of Zoo Road; and the south trailhead is accessed via Twyn Rivers Drive. Guided walks meet in front of the Parks Canada Visitor Welcome Area, behind the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre off Zoo Road.
Cedar Trail and Beare Wetland Loop: 4.5 km
43.830865 -79.180497
Featuring lush green forests and wonderfully restored wetlands, the Cedar Trail has two main access points, with plenty of options for longer and shorter walks. Note that street parking is not permitted near the north trailhead on Meadowvale Road (see below). Guided walks for the Cedar Trail or Beare Wetland Loop meet in front of the Parks Canada Visitor Welcome Area, behind the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre off Zoo Road. Note that sections of the trail may be slippery in the winter or after rainfall. Watch your step and hike carefully.
Woodland Trail: 4.5 km
43.847775 -79.197864
The Woodland Trail provides shorter and longer walking options set against a backdrop of forests, meadows and water. Watch for signs of beaver activity, including gnawed trees, fallen branches and dams along the Little Rouge Creek. Parks Canada guided walks for the Woodland Trail meet in the main parking lot.
North East Trail: 10.7 km one way. Glasgow Trailhead 1867 Concession Road 2, Whitchurch-Stouffville
Lat: 43.991537, Long: -79.203597
This trail connects Reesor Road Day Use Area (soon to change its name to Black Walnut Day Use Area) to Glasgow Trailhead. It traverses diverse landscapes including wetlands, forests, meadows and agricultural fields. It features a total of seven boardwalks, including a pergola seating area overlooking a marsh. The boardwalks are made of a fiberglass substructure that will last hundreds of years and are one of Rouge National Urban Park’s newest green initiatives. The northern end of this trail is located in the headwaters of West Duffins Creek, which is fed by groundwater from the Oak Ridges Moraine. This trail connects to the Goodwood Resource Management Tract (managed by the TRCA) and the Oak Ridges Trail to the north. Travelling this trail from end to end requires navigating three gaps in the trail network using municipal roads. Please take responsibility for your own safety, as no trail infrastructure exists along these municipal road sections: Concession Rd 8 (285 m), Sideline 34 (150 m), Uxbridge-Pickering Townline (105 m).
Trail- 5.1 km linear. 10725 Reesor Rd, Markham. Lat: 43.937734, Long: -79.223041
This family-friendly linear trail weaves through fields of crops, marshland, and shaded woodlots. Scenic lookouts and rest areas are offered along the trail. Visitors can observe farming in action, from planting to harvest, of crops like soy, corn and wheat. Keep to the trail to respect farming activity and for your safety. The trail connects to the Reesor Road Day Use Area.
Central Trail: 10.5 km one way. Reesor Road Day Use Area (soon to change its name to Black Walnut Day Use Area)
7445 Elgin Mills Rd E, Markham Lat: 43.937775, Long: -79.2239
This section of trail winds along hedgerows, with views of agricultural and urban landscapes. Following the Katabokokonk creek, and then the Little Rouge creek, hear the sounds of ever-present water. Please note the trail will only connect at Reesor Road once a pedestrian crossing is installed. There is a trail gap until then. Parks Canada does not recommend crossing busy roads such as Reesor Road, or walking along the roadside.
South Central Trail: 2.1 km one way. Monarch Trailhead 7933 14th Avenue, Markham Lat: 43.86918 Long: -79. 113093
This section of trail starts in Cedar Grove, connects to Monarch trail in the West, and traverses hedgerows and a restoration area.
Tallgrass Trek: 3.2 km loop. 7277 14th Ave, Markham Lat: 43.860700, Long: -79.210934
This loop trail winds past restored wetlands, meadows and grasslands leading to sweeping south facing views across the landscape. These habitats lack tree cover, offering a year-round open sky experience.
Monarch Trail: 7.6 km one way 7277 14th Ave, Markham Lat: 43.860700, Long: -79.210934
This gently rolling loop trail takes you through a mix of habitats from rare cedar savannah to adjacent farm fields and a restored stand of white pine. Year-round wildlife sightings, seasonal viewscapes and connections to the other Bob Hunter Memorial Park trails offer a new experience with each visit.
Reesor Way/Tanglewood Trail: 3.3 km loop. 7277 14th Ave, Markham Lat: 43.860700, Long: -79.210934
The Reesor Way trail provides two distinct experiences. The east section runs parallel to the Little Rouge River in a mix of established habitats, with excellent birding opportunities. The west section’s emerging forest and open sky recall the years of restoration that created Bob Hunter Memorial Park.
Explore microclimates first hand on the Tanglewood trail. Carved out from glacial activity, the Little Rouge River flood plain is in direct contrast to its spacious deciduous west slope and cedar dominated coniferous east slope.
Link to info on how to download the interactive mobile “The Rouge App”: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/rouge/visit/app
Rouge National Urban Park is just one of the many nature trails and hiking trails you can find throughout Ontario by using the search features of OntarioNaturetrails.com
We would also direct you to read our DISCLAIMER and our TRAIL USERS CODE.
Region(s): Toronto
Nearby towns and cities: Pickering | Toronto - Scarborough
Trail feature tags: Boardwalk | Lookout | Marsh | national park | partial wheelchair accessible | swimming
Rouge National Urban Park characteristics
Length: 16 trails totaling 60 km.Difficulty: Moderate (Trail classifications)
Trail surface: Natural
Trail use: Hiking and Cycling
Partially wheelchair accessible
Accessibility Notes: Partially wheelchair accessible.
Fees: none
Flora & Fauna:
Not yet reported.
Amenities: picnic tables, washroom
Attractions: lookouts, marsh, swimming, national park
Contact:
info@trca.on.ca
Toronto Regional Conservation Authority Phone: 416.661.6600
Find it: 1749 Meadowvale Road Scarborough, ON
GPS Coordinates (main trailhead):
Latitude: 43.7899690
Longitude: -79.1216980