Celebrate National Forest Week (NFW) by exploring the York Regional Forest, which offers more than 150 kilometres of trails for you to enjoy.
Canadians are invited to learn more about Canada’s forest heritage and to raise awareness about this valuable and renewable resource during NFW, which kicked off September 18 and runs through September 24. Each year, NFW highlights a specific theme or aspect of Canadian forestry. This year’s theme is ‘Canada’s Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate.’
The York Regional Forest is open to the public 365 days per year and there’s no cost to enter. The Forest covers about 2,500 hectares and is made up of 24 forest tracts – 22 of which are currently open to the public – located throughout the Region. You can use the York Regional Forest for walking/hiking, dog walking, bird watching, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and mountain biking.
Free guided walks return this fall and provide an opportunity to experience the beauty of the forest while learning more about it. They’ll be held once a month in October, November and December. Fall Colours and Slippery Critters will be held Saturday, Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Discover Your Forest will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and Wonderful Winter Wildlife will be held Saturday, Dec. 3 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Spots are limited and registration is required. Registration opens one month before each walk.
York Region maintains three trails accessible to wheelchairs and other assistive devices in the York Regional Forest: Hollidge Tract at 16389 Hwy. 48 (north of Aurora Road), North Tract at 17054 Hwy. 48 (south of Davis Drive) and Hall Tract at 15681 McCowan Rd. (north of Aurora Road).
Photo courtesy of York Region.
