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 to the public.

Find trail maps and more information about the forest in the Everyday Guide to the York Regional Forest.

Additional information regarding York Region's trails can be found in the York Region Trail Guide.

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
• Do not cut or remove trees, plants, fungi or wildlife
• Do not smoke
• Do not litter
• Please be kind and act responsibly
• No motorized vehicles

For on-leash tract rules, off-leash tract rules and enclosed dog off-leash area rules visit york.ca/dogsintheforest

Visiting the Forest

Use the York Regional Forest for:

• Walking/hiking
• Dog walking
• Bird watching
• Horseback riding
• Snowshoeing
• Cross-country skiing
• Mountain biking

To help protect the Forest, please do not:

• Light fires
• Litter
• Camp overnight
• Smoke
• Drive unauthorized motorized vehicles (Those operating motorized vehicles in the York Regional Forest can be charged by the York Regional Police under the Trespass to Property Act) 
• Cut or remove trees, plants, fungi or other wildlife
• Bait wildlife (i.e.: for the purpose of hunting or taking photos)

Precautions

• Parking is limited
• Exercise caution on the trails as they are not always plowed or maintained
• 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
• 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
• Wearing insect repellent, closed-toed footwear, light coloured long-sleeved shirts and long pants, tucked into your socks is strongly recommended

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy is a native plant commonly found in the York Regional Forest. 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.

Poison Ivy provides food and shelter to small animals and birds living in the forest.

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

Fight the Bite

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.

Cost

All York Regional Forest services and events are provided at no cost.

Accessible Trail

York Region maintains three trails accessible to wheelchairs and other assistive devices in the York Regional Forest. 

• Hollidge Tract at 16389 Highway 48 (North of Aurora Road)
• North Tract at 17054 Highway 48 (South of Davis Drive)
• Hall Tract at 15681 McCowan Road (North of Aurora Road)

The Accessible Trails have been widened, cleared 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

Experience the beauty of the York Regional Forest at our monthly guided events.

Events and activities include:

• Geocaching, tree planting and snowshoe strolls
• Walks with naturalists to identify the local plants and animals
• Holiday themed events for the whole family

For locations and dates, please see our events calendar. Registration opens one month before each event.

Events are held rain or shine.

Eligibility

Children 16 years old or under must be accompanied by an adult.

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 wait list 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.

For more information about hunting see the Town of Georgina’s “No Discharge of Firearms” bylaw.

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.

Note: 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 twenty first building world-wide 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

Related Resources

• Environment Resources

• York Regional Forest precautions during COVID-19

• Visit your local municipality for parks and recreational programs

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