Vaughan brings together reasons to visit with very different focuses: a trail system along the West Don River, a gallery of Canadian and Indigenous art, wooded land in the Humber River Valley, reptile exhibits and Canada’s Wonderland. When planning, you can first decide whether trails, art and landscape or major entertainment attractions should be your priority.
Trails in Vaughan: Network and Greenway
For residents, Vaughan’s trail network includes more than 60 kilometres for walking, cycling and travelling with mobility devices. One specifically named option is the Bartley Smith Greenway: a 15-kilometre trail system along the West Don River and a multi-use recreational trail. It connects users with nature, cultural heritage, communities and distinctive attractions in Vaughan.
The figures describe two scales: the more than 60 kilometres refers to the trail network for residents and its stated uses; the 15 kilometres marks the length of the named Greenway along the river. This draws attention both to the trail network as a whole and to one specific recreational trail.
Art and Landscape in the Humber River Valley
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection offers a striking cultural contrast. It is Canada’s only publicly funded art gallery devoted exclusively to Canadian and Indigenous art, past and present. Its permanent collection includes more than 7,500 works of art. This combination gives the art offering a clear direction: its subject matter and historical breadth are equally defining.
The grounds add a landscape dimension to the art experience: visitors can explore 100 acres of wooded land in the Humber River Valley. Access to trails may change during the gallery’s redevelopment. So if you plan to visit the outdoor areas, check trail status before your visit.
A garden is located beside the Humber River on the traditional Carrying Place Trail. It supports the return of native flora, promotes biodiversity and serves as an environmental education resource. The McMichael therefore offers both a clearly defined artistic focus and a distinct connection to forests, river landscapes and environmental education.
Reptilia and Canada’s Wonderland
Reptilia Vaughan is Canada’s leading reptile zoo, with 25,000-square-foot immersive indoor exhibits featuring reptiles. This is a distinctly different focus from the art and landscape of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection: here, the focus is on reptiles in indoor exhibits.
Canada’s Wonderland is located at 1 Canada’s Wonderland Dr. in Vaughan and features more than 200 attractions and 17 roller coasters. These figures may change; check them before your trip. The total number of attractions and the number of roller coasters offer two specific ways to consider what’s on offer and can help you match the park to your leisure interests.
Discover more destinations: Nobleton, Markham, Richmond Hill, Georgina, Newmarket, King City, Schomberg, Whitchurch-Stouffville
For the broader travel overview: Regional Municipality Of York.
