York Regional Forest Walks and Events
Join us for a FREE guided walk or event to learn about and experience the beauty of the York Regional Forest!
The best way to be notified about walks and events is by following us on social @YorkRegionGovt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
We want to hear from you! Tell us what you think of your 2023 guided walk/event for a chance to enter a draw for a $100 grocery gift card! Survey closes January 11, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. View full contest details.
Looking for at-home and self-guided outdoor activities, information on your York Regional Forest or low-cost tree planting programs for your property? Sign up for our Greening e-Newsletter.
Click on the Greening e-Newsletter accordion below to see past editions.
Guided Walks
Each walk targets specific age groups; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required and opens a month in advance.
Please continue to check this page for any updates.
Discover Your Forest Kits
Discover Your Forest kits are back! In it you’ll find forest-related items and activities suitable for the whole family. The kits are available to York Region residents on a first come, first served basis through your local city or town library. Please contact your library for availability.
| City/Town | Library |
|---|---|
| Aurora | Aurora Public Library 15145 Yonge Street (905) 727-9494 |
| East Gwillimbury | Holland Landing Branch 19513 Yonge Street (905) 836-6492 Mount Albert Branch 19300 Centre Street (905) 473-2472 East Gwillimbury Sports Complex 1914B Mount Albert Road (905) 478-2241 |
| Georgina | Keswick Branch 90 Wexford Drive (905) 476-5762 Peter Gzowski (Sutton) Branch 5279 Black River Road (905) 722-5702 Pefferlaw Brach 76 Pete’s Lane (705) 437-1514 |
| King | Schomberg Branch 77 Main Street (905) 939-2102 |
| Markham | Aaniin Branch 5665 14th Avenue (905) 513-7977 ext. 4470 Angus Glen Branch 3990 Major Mackenzie Drive (905) 513-7977 ext. 7100 Cornell Branch 3201 Bur Oak Avenue (905) 513-7977 ext. 3460 Markham Village Branch 6031 Highway 7 (905) 513-7977 ext. 4271 Milliken Mills Branch 7600 Kennedy Road, Unit 1 (905) 513-7977 ext. 5337 Thornhill Community Centre Branch 7755 Bayview Avenue (905) 513-7977 ext. 3521 Thornhill Village Branch 10 Colborne Street (905) 513-7977 ext. 3481 Unionville Branch 15 Library Lane (905) 513-7977 ext. 5517 |
| Newmarket | Newmarket Public Library 438 Park Avenue (905) 953-5110 |
| Richmond Hill | Central Branch 1 Atkinson Steet (905) 884-9288 Oak Ridges Branch 34 Regatta Avenue (905) 773-5533 Richmond Green Branch 1 William F. Bell Parkway (905) 780-0711 Richvale Branch 40 Pearson Avenue (905) 889-2847 |
| Vaughan | Ansley Grove Library 350 Ansley Grove Road (905) 653-READ (7323) Bathurst Clark Resource Library 900 Clark Avenue West (905) 653-READ (7323) Civic Centre Resource Library 2191 Major Mackenzie Drive (905) 653-READ (7323) Dufferin Clark Library 1441 Clark Avenue West (905) 653-READ (7323) Kleinberg Library 10341 Islington Avenue North (905) 653-READ (7323) Mackenzie Health Vaughan Library 3200 Major Mackenzie Drive West (905) 653-READ (7323) Maple Library 10190 Keele Street (905) 653-READ (7323) Pierre Berton Resource Library 4921 Rutherford Road (905) 653-READ (7323) Pleasant Ridge Library 300 Pleasant Ridge Avenue (905) 653-READ (7323) Vellore Village Library 1 Villa Royale Avenue (905) 653-READ (7323) VMC Library 200 Apple Mill Road (905) 653-READ (7323) Woodbridge Library 150 Woodbridge Avenue (905) 653-READ (7323) |
| Whitchurch-Stouffville | Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library 2 Park Drive (905) 642-7323 |
Please note: If your library runs out of Discover Your Forest kits, it is likely that we will offer them again soon. Please continue to check back with your library, or follow us on social @YorkRegionGovt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.
Nature Activities
Missed a guided walk/event or Discover Your Forest kit, or looking for more forest fun? Download these activities:
- Build a Bark Quilt, Focus on Forests resources, True Colours, Tree Wheel activity sheet or Tree Bee identification tool by Forests Ontario
- Bat box plans, bookmark and origami activity by the Toronto Zoo
- Nature Activity, Wreck This Nature Journal or Gratitude checklist by Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
- Nature Hunt by Eco-Spark
- Sound Map Activity by Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests
Visiting the York Regional Forest
To ensure your safety and the safety of others please:
- Check weather forecasts and dress accordingly
- Ensure dogs are leashed wherever indicated
- Do not litter
- Do not smoke
- Be kind and act responsibly
- Do not drive unauthorized motorized vehicles
Find trail maps and more information about the Forest in the Everyday Guide to the York Regional Forest or york.ca/yrf
Greening e-Newsletter
York Region’s Greening e-Newsletter is full of inspiring at-home and self-guided outdoor activities, information on your York Regional Forest, low-cost tree planting programs for your property and much more.
Current edition
09/21/2023 - Fall into Forest Adventures!
Past editions
07/06/2023 - Every summer has a story!
03/24/2023 - Welcome Back Spring!
12/20/2022 - Walking in a Winter Wonderland
09/22/2022 - The Fabulous Forest in the Fall
07/05/2022 - Beat the heat this summer in the York Regional Forest
03/31/2022 – Discover the York Regional Forest this Spring
12/09/2021 – Fun in the Forest this Winter
09/09/2021 – Don’t miss your chance to spot im-peck-able birds this fall
06/10/2021 – Adventure Awaits in the York Regional Forest
03/18/2021 – Step Into Spring!
08/12/2020 – Season's Greetings!
09/14/2020 – National Forest Week Turns 100!
07/23/2020 – Get outside this summer!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still register for a walk or event if I don’t live in York Region?
Yes, residents living outside of York Region can register for a walk or event.
Will the walk or event be cancelled if it’s raining or if there is a snowstorm?
Walks and events are held rain or shine, however, they may be cancelled due to extreme weather conditions (i.e., extreme heat or cold, lightning storm, snowstorm, freezing rain, etc.). In the event of a cancellation, people registered for a walk or event will be contacted directly at the email address or phone number provided at the time of registration.
My library has run out of Discover Your Forest kits. Will they be made available again?
It is likely that we will offer the Discover Your Forest Kits again soon. Please continue to check back with your library, or follow us on social @YorkRegionGovt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.
Where can I get more information about the York Regional Forest?
Visit york.ca/Forestry or york.ca/YRF
Check out York Region’s Partner Events and Resources:
- Evergreen
- Forests Ontario
- Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA)
- Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests (LEAF)
- Oak Ridges Trail Association
- Rouge National Urban Park
- York Region Food Network
