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 know anyone who lives there, but even driving through it is such…
Valley Farm Ravine in Pickering
Valley Farm Ravine is nestled between the suburbs of Major Oaks and Pine Ridge in Pickering, Ontario. Recently, a trailhead entrance with new parking was upgraded on Valley Farm Road in Pickering just south of Duffins Creek and north of Finch Avenue. The terrain itself is fairly even in its elevation and makes for a nice stroll. There is mix of meadow, creek (Duffins Creek), and forest.…
Heber Down Conservation Area in Whitby
Heber Down Conservation Area is located in Whitby, and is owned by Central Lake Ontario Conservation. The area features 687 acres and three trail loops altogether over 5 kilometres. In exploring, you will come across forest, meadow, and wetlands. Devil’s Den Trail We started our journey from the main parking lot off Lyndebrook Road. There is a large parking lot at the main entrance with pay-and-display parking…
Hiking at Greenwood Conservation and Brock Lands
Greenwood Conservation and Brock Lands are located on the northwest border of where Ajax meets Pickering. The area covers over 1660+ acres of land, and offers 35+ km trails. The terrain is a mix of meadows, forested areas, and rivers. There are a few different entrances featuring parking, including on Church Street, and Concession Road 5, and Greenwood Road. The Outback If you park at the lot…
Sunny Day at Wilder Forest in Uxbridge
The first time in visiting Wilder Forest was so enjoyable, we took the time to visit again (see our first visit to Wilder Forest here). Wilder Forest is just under an hour drive from Toronto, to the north-east. Being the first sunny and warm day of March, we wanted to revisit the forest! The terrain of Wilder Forest features rolling hills and valleys, in which the trail…
Altona Forest and Lacey’s Pond
Nestled in the suburb of Altona in Pickering, Altona Forest is a special reserve of 102 acres of beautiful forest. Owned and managed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Altona Forest features 4.24 kilometres of trail made available to the public. When the Altona suburb was developing in the 1980’s, there were efforts to protect the section now known as Altona Forest. Also in the region,…
Wilder Forest At Sunset
The Wilder Forest and Wildlife Preserve is a newer addition to the Durham trail system. The acreage for the public trail system was donated by the Wilder family in 2007. The terrain is hilly, with the trail weaving over and around hills. We visited in the winter with snow blanketing the ground, but the hills were not too difficult at all to maneuver. We parked at the…
Birding And Wildlife at Lynde Shores Conservation Area
Living in Pickering, I used to travel 2 hours by public transit to Etobicoke to complete some post-graduate studies. There, I met a friendly classmate who was also from East of Toronto. We began discussing cool places to take photos and enjoy nature, and she had suggested that I visit Lynde Shores. The first time I visited was in May of 2019, and I could not believe…
Dixie Cliffs – Pickering’s Hidden Gem
Located in Pickering, Dixie Cliffs offer gorgeous scenic views of the Seaton Hiking Trail and Duffin’s Creek. It’s an unofficial name for a cliff located near the corner of Concession Road 3 and Dixie Road. It is one of the locations I have spent so much time during my youth. It is a great place to meet up with friends, set up folding chairs, and spend hours…
Scenic Lookout Views at Glen Major Forest & Walker Woods
Glen Major Forest and Walker Woods is an area managed by Toronto Conversation Authority, featuring over 3,700 acres and over 47 km of trails. There are multi-use trails for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding. The topography consists of a hilly landscape with open scenic lookout points, and large wooded regions. Located in Uxbridge, ON Glen Forest Trail is just shy of an hour drive from Toronto. There are…
The Ground Stompers 