Enjoy fall colours at Rouge National Urban Park in Markham

As fall arrives, Markham residents have a stunning natural escape right in their backyard — Rouge National Urban Park.

Spanning over 79 square km across the Greater Toronto Area, it is the largest urban park in North America. In Markham, the park comprises over 16 per cent of the city’s land area, with multiple hiking trails spread across the city’s eastern side.

The park is home to over 1,700 species of plants and animals, including 44 mammals, 247 birds, 27 reptiles and amphibians, 73 fish species, and over 1,000 plants.

The park also contains about 9,000 acres of farmland, where over 60 farmers produce food and other goods.

The park offers a variety of activities for visitors, including hiking, birding, photography, camping, and biking.

One benefit of visiting the park in Markham is that it is less busy compared to certain trails and other areas in Scarborough. Some hiking trails to try out include Central Trail, Harvest Trail, and Northeast Trail.

To learn more about fall activities in Rouge National Urban Park, head to https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/rouge/activ/automne-fall.

*Story and photos submitted by David Yin.