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.

Have you visited the Forest recently? Share your thoughts through a short online survey.

The survey will take no more than five minutes to complete and is available from September 15 to October 27, 2022.

Complete the survey

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 unauthorized 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 like ATVs and dirt bikes
• 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