Bartley Smith Greenway Trails
The Bartley Smith Greenway is a 15 kilometre trail system following the course of the West Don River. The Bartley Smith Greenway is broken into northern and southern trail segments.
The northern segment, approximately four kilometres long, starts at Major Mackenzie Drive West North of McNaughton Road, passes through Mackenzie Glen District Park and along a series of open space area and local parks ending at Teston Road.
One of the key highlights along this northern trail segment is the Mackenzie Glen District Park, which includes a pedestrian bridge with scenic vantage points onto the adjacent pond and various water streams along the way.
The southern trail segment, approximately 11 kilometres long, begins at Steeles Avenue east of Dufferin Street, travels north through Marita Payne Park, under the 407 highway, and continues to Langstaff Road where the trail ends. At this point, a short walk west on Langstaff Road onto Planchet Road will connect you back onto the trail, continuing to Rutherford Road, through Routley Park and ending at Reeves Park.
A highlight along this trail is Langstaff EcoPark, north of Rivermede Road, the most
significant natural regeneration area in the Upper West Don sub watershed. There you will find a variety of trees including black willows, black walnuts and sugar maples. Depending on the season and time of day, it is possible to catch sight of coyotes, foxes, beavers, mink, snakes, turtles, frogs and many species of birds. During late spring through fall, the meadows are peppered with butterflies, bees, dragonflies and other insects and are full of colour from wildflowers and flowering shrubs. A stop at beautiful Keffer Marsh lookout is highly recommended. This destination, named after an early settler who farmed this part of Vaughan Township in the early 1800s, contains the marsh itself and a larger deciduous swamp, believed to be the largest constructed area of its kind in Ontario.
Link to trail map: Found in Vaughan drop down menu:
https://www.york.ca/recreation/trails
We would also direct you to read our DISCLAIMER and our TRAIL USERS CODE.
Region(s): York RegionNearby towns and cities: Richmond Hill | Woodbridge
Bartley Smith Greenway Trails characteristics
Length: 15 kmDifficulty: Moderate (Trail classifications)
Trail surface: Paved and Stone Dust
Trail use: Hiking, Cross-country skiing, and Cycling
Accessibility Notes: Not known
Fees: None
Flora & Fauna:
Not reported yet
Amenities: Washrooms
Attractions: Marsh
Contact:
Access Vaughan 905-832-2281 vaughan.ca
Find it: South end of the South section starts at 1350 Steeles Ave W, Vaughan
GPS Coordinates (main trailhead):
Latitude: 43.7878540
Longitude: -79.4675010