On a weekend with beautiful weather in April, we visited this gem. It was a spot we actually returned a few monther later in June since it was so enjoyable.
We chose to park in a decent sized lot just off Highway 50, north-west of Palgrave past Zimmerman drive. It’s about an hour drive from Toronto and the two times we had visited (both on a Saturday), there were still parking spots left when arriving around noon-ish.
Just off the trail from lot and up a short hill (from entrance 12 to spot 11), you are greeted with an open valley surrounded by tall pine and various conifers. We headed on the trail to the right within the valley to walk through the lush pine forests.
It wasn’t intentional but when writing this post I noticed I took some photos from similar angles; it’s fun reviewing and comparing them and seeing the growth in just two months.
There are multiple smaller side trails off the main trails that are perfect for biking. The main trails are pretty wide and you can walk side by side easily, where the side trails are wide enough for one person. Both of the times we visited we saw about a dozen people on bikes, but it wasn’t busy.
The conservation area (managed by Toronto Conservation Authority) is 360 hectares in size, with over 20 kilometers of trails to explore. Palgrave Forest lies on the Oak Ridges Moraine – a hilly feature of Southern Ontario that was formed 12,000 years ago from retreating glaciers leaving deposits of sediment.
Side trail perfect for biking. 
Main trail is well marked and easy to follow.
There exists a diverse array of flora and fauna, including over 80 bird species. The trails we explored were dominated by coniferous trees including pine, cedar, and spruce.
In our visit in April we often saw fungi growing on both dead and small alive trees adjacent to the trails. 
A cute song sparrow.
Have you visited Palgrave Forest? Let us know about your experience in the comments below.
Happy trekking!
Bruce Trail at Hockley Provincial Park
Hockley Valley Provincial Park
Bruce Trail at Speyside Resource Management Area
We visited two weekends in a row in July. The first visit was incredibly mosquito-ey, but we were determined to return a second time, and came more prepared with long-sleeved clothing and insect repellant. Speyside Resource Management Area is about an hour from Toronto, just northwest of Milton. Speyside Resource Management Area is directly south […]
Mourning Doves Nesting on Balcony
On the morning of May 26 in 2022, I opened up the blinds to our apartment balcony to see a pair of mourning doves perched in our planters. At this point I didn’t know much of anything about mourning doves, so I just thought maybe they were looking for some food. I left them alone. […]
Trails of Silver Creek Conservation Area
Silver Creek Conservation Area is located in Halton Hills, about an hour north east of Toronto. The variety of trail options and unique geological features make it an interesting and worthwhile place to explore. The 1,000+ acres is preserved by Credit Valley Conservation. We walked down Roberts Side Trail and back west down Bruce Trail. […]
Caves at Limehouse Conservation Area in Halton Hills
Our recent visit to Limehouse Convervation Area was absolutely magical. As a proudly standing monument of geological history, the Niagara Escarpment never ceases to amaze me! The Niagara Escarpment runs across Ontario from Niagara to the Bruce Peninsula. The exposed dolostone (limestone) that makes up the escarpment itself is made of compressed sediment layers from […]
Whitevale Park and Seaton Hiking Trail
When we lived in Pickering we often hiked the Seaton Trail through it’s many access points closer to the town (Dixie Road, Valley Farm, Clarkes Hollow). This last visit back to the area, we decided to start our trek using a new entrance – through Whitevale Park. I absolutely love Whitevale in Pickering. I don’t […]
The Ground Stompers 