York Regional Forest
The York Regional Forest is open to the public 365 days per year with no cost to enter. The Forest is approximately 2,500 hectares and is made up of 24 Forest Tracts (22 of which are currently open to the public) located in different parts of the Region.
More than 150 kilometres of trails are available for:
- Bird watching
- Cross-country skiing (trails are not groomed)
- Dog walking
- Horseback riding
- Mountain biking
- Snowshoeing
- Walking/hiking
Find trail maps and more information about the Forest in the Everyday Guide to the York Regional Forest.
Additional information regarding trails in York Region can be found in the York Region Trail Guide.
Forest rules and precautions
Rules
The following rules are in place for visitors to the York Regional Forest:
- Dogs MUST be leashed at all times, except in designated areas
- Pick up and properly dispose of pet waste
- Stay on established trails
- Please be kind and act responsibly
- Do not:
- Bait wildlife (i.e. for the purpose of hunting or taking photos)
- Camp overnight
- Cut or remove trees, plants, fungi or wildlife
- Drive unauthorized motorized vehicles like ATVs and dirt bikes
- Light fires
- Litter
- Smoke or vape
For on-leash tract rules, off-leash tract rules and enclosed dog off-leash area rules visit york.ca/dogsintheforest
Precautions
Exercise caution on the trails as they are not maintained.
Extreme heat can be a serious health threat. Learn about extreme heat and how to keep yourself and your family cool on hot and humid days.
Mosquitoes and blacklegged ticks may be found in the York Regional Forest. West Nile virus is an illness spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Lyme disease is spread through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. For more information, including the safe removal of ticks, visit york.ca/LymeDisease
Parking is limited.
Poison Ivy is a native plant commonly found in the York Regional Forest and provides food and shelter to small animals and birds. In humans, poison ivy is known to cause skin rashes, severe itching and irritation to people who come into contact with it. In severe cases, swelling, blistering and discharge may occur. Symptoms develop within 24 to 48 hours of exposure. Identifying poison ivy features include:
- Three almond-shaped leaflets
- Leaflets have pointed tips, with the middle leaf being the longest
- Leaflets are green in colour, turning darker as they mature and red in the autumn
- Berries tend to be white or cream-coloured
Serious health problems can result from prolonged exposure to the cold, such as frostbite and hypothermia. Learn about extreme cold and how to keep yourself and your family safe.
Wearing insect repellent, closed-toed footwear, light-coloured long-sleeved shirts and long pants, tucked into your socks is strongly recommended.
Accessible trails
York Region maintains three trails accessible to wheelchairs and other assistive devices in the York Regional Forest including:
- Hollidge Tract at 16389 Highway 48 (North of Aurora Road) in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
- North Tract at 17054 Highway 48 (South of Davis Drive) in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
- Hall Tract at 15681 McCowan Road (North of Aurora Road) in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Accessible trails are wider, clear of obstructions and graded to ensure ease-of-movement for all visitors.
Each trail ranges between one-to-two kilometre loops that pass through a variety of landscapes.
Accessible parking is available.
Forest walks and events
Learn about and experience the beauty of the York Regional Forest at our walks and events.
Each walk targets specific age groups; events are open to all ages. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration is required for guided walks and most events and opens a month in advance. Walks and events are held rain or shine.
Visit york.ca/forestevents to learn more and to register.
Nature's Classroom program
Please be advised that Nature's Classroom has been put on hold until further notice due to COVID-19. To join the waitlist and stay informed about the program, fill out the online application form.
Nature’s Classroom is a fun and informative outdoor education program offered to a wide variety of groups and organizations including clubs, community groups, large families and schools.
Held in the York Regional Forest, these educational sessions are designed to teach participants about the forest ecosystem and its importance to our community. Each session includes a guided forest hike.
For more information, please visit york.ca/outdooreducation
Hunting
In accordance with federal and provincial legislation and local municipal discharge of firearms bylaws, hunting is permitted in three specific areas within York Regional Forest Tracts located in Georgina.
- Pefferlaw Tract
- Cronsberry Tract
- Metro Road Tract (bows only)
Hunting is prohibited in all other York Regional Forest Tracts.
York Region does not permit the use of hunting stands or baiting of wildlife.
Contact the Town of Georgina’s bylaw department at 905-476-4301 to confirm areas where the use of firearms (including bows) is permitted.
Visit the Ministry of Natural Resources for more information about hunting in Ontario.
Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre
The Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre is located in the Hollidge Tract in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. It features a classroom and a boardroom which are used for many York Region programs such as guided forest walks and Nature’s Classroom.
Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre is not accepting bookings until further notice.
Facility Benefits
This unique and inspirational building, the Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre, is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Platinum certified and in 2018 became the first in Canada and the twenty-first building worldwide to successfully become Living Certified under the Living Building Challenge. The Living Building Challenge is a program of the International Living Future Institute and is comprised of seven performance areas; site, water, energy, health, materials, equity and beauty.
Some of the innovative features of the building include:
- All wood construction including cross-laminated timbers
- All new wood material used in the building is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified
- Through the use of solar panels, LED light fixtures, heat pumps, radiant heating and triple-glazed windows, the building will generate more energy than it uses
- The building’s canopy gathers rain water and snow melt to service bathroom facilities
- All of the water used comes from the site and is treated and discharged on-site, resulting in net-zero water use
- Much of the building materials were sourced from local manufacturers to reduce carbon emissions
Forest tract locations
East Gwillimbury
Bendor and Graves Tract
17689 Kennedy Road
Town of East Gwillimbury
Directions:
Turn north from Davis Drive onto Kennedy Road.
Forest tract entrance is at the dead-end of Kennedy Road.
Dog off-leash area address:
17858 McCowan Road
Town of East Gwillimbury
Brownhill Tract
4389 Ravenshoe Road
Town of East Gwillimbury
Or
22612 McCowan Road
Town of East Gwillimbury
Zephyr Tract
Parking Lot Address: 5748 Holborn Road
Legal Address: 21325 Highway 48
Town of East Gwillimbury
Georgina
Cronsberry Tract
9526 Old Homestead Road
Town of Georgina
Metro Road Tract
1763 Metro Road North
Town of Georgina
Pefferlaw Tract
24408 Lake Ridge Road
Town of Georgina
King
Happy Valley Forest Tract
15430 7th Concession
Township of King
Nobleton Tract
5345 15th Sideroad
Township of King
Whitchurch-Stouffville
Clarke Tract
15015 McCowan Road
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Dainty Tract
15182 McCowan Road
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Davis Drive Tract
4277 Davis Drive
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Drysdale Tract
16242 York/Durham Line
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Eldred King Tract
16232 Highway 48
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Hall Tract
15681 McCowan Road
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Hollidge Tract
Accessible trail
16389 Highway 48
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Mitchell Tract
4677 Vivian Road
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
North Tract
17054 Highway 48
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Patterson Tract
15461 McCowan Road
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Porritt Tract
15470 Kennedy Road
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Robinson Tract
14989 Warden Avenue
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Scout Tract
16578 McCowan Road
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville