The York Region trail network extends through all nine cities and towns in the region. It provides a common thread for planning a trip if you want to explore the area through its landscapes and trails: outdoor experiences can be considered as a theme in their own right, alongside historic sites, art and events.
Trails and landscapes
York Regional Forest covers more than 2,600 hectares and includes 22 public tracts. The size and number of tracts offer two different perspectives on the forest: a vast overall area and individual places that can serve as specific starting points for the nature side of a trip. Nashville Conservation Reserve offers a different focus. It is a property of more than 900 hectares owned by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority in York Region. The reserve provides habitat for various wildlife, significant deer wintering areas and an important migration corridor.
Trails and waterways also shape the region’s landscapes. The Nokiidaa Trail System extends through Aurora, Newmarket and East Gwillimbury. The Nokiidaa Trail runs along the Holland River through the 84-hectare Rogers Reservoir Conservation Area. The Aurora Community Arboretum offers another connection to the river: it comprises more than 100 acres of parkland owned by the Town of Aurora in the valley of the East Holland River. At Lake Simcoe, meanwhile, Sibbald Point Provincial Park has a large sandy beach. The river valley and lakeshore thus offer distinct landscape themes.
History, art and special places
Sharon Temple was built by the Children of Peace, a Quaker sect in Upper Canada, between 1825 and 1831. Its construction period gives the site a clear historical point of reference. Unionville Main Street tells a different kind of story: it dates back more than 200 years, and historic homes, churches and shops line the street. Together, the two places offer different perspectives—on the creation of a single building and on a historically significant street.
Hillary House is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Canada and houses the Koffler Museum of Medicine. Architecture and medical history come together in one place. At the Latcham Art Centre, exhibitions feature traditional and contemporary works by local and provincial artists. Its educational offerings include courses, workshops, artist talks and tours. Art lovers can focus here both on the works and on the different ways they are presented.
A network of paths and trails on the grounds of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection leads to Minokamik Garden. The garden lies on the traditional Carrying Place Trail beside the Humber River and offers space for environmental education. The McMichael Canadian Art Collection cemetery is the final resting place of six members of the Group of Seven, their spouses, and founders Robert and Signe McMichael. The garden, river setting and burial site bring together nature education and remembrance of the artists and founders.
Markets and attractions
Riverwalk Commons hosts a farmers’ market, concerts and events. If you want to plan your trip around a particular event, check the dates in advance. In general, farmers’ markets in York Region typically offer farm produce, baked goods and preserved foods. This gives you an idea of the kinds of products you may find when visiting a market.
Canada’s Wonderland offers a wide range of attractions, including more than 200 attractions, among them 18 roller coasters, two children’s areas and the 20-hectare Splash Works water park. The roller coasters, children’s areas and water park show the different highlights of what the park offers. This makes the park a contrast to the quieter themes of trails, gardens and historic sites that also characterize York Region.
Discover more destinations: Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan, Newmarket, King City, Georgina, Nobleton, Schomberg, Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Return to the main travel overview: Ontario.
