Hiking Toronto for Dog Lovers

The Bob Hunter Memorial Park is part of the Rouge National Urban Park.  It is located just north of Toronto at 14th Ave and Reesor Road in Markham. Parking Park at the trailhead located at  7277 14th Ave, Markham, ON . At this parking location, there is a washroom, signage, and a resting area. History From Wikipedia , I learned that  Bob Hunter Memorial Park is a greenspace preserve in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It is named in honour of Robert Hunter, one of the founders of Greenpeace. The park was officially opened in August 2006. There are four trails: Tanglewood, Reesor Way, Tallgrass Trek and Monarch.  We hiked the Reesor Way / Tanglewood Trail, a 3.3 km loop that passes through a young forest to a more mature forest next to the Little Rouge River.  Suggested Hike I used UnderArmor MapMyWalk to record the route we took. If you use the app, follow our route . Young Forest If you walk the route counter-clockwise, the first section you'll hike through is a young...

The Cedar Trail has become my favourite hike of Rouge Park. The path has less traffic than the Vista or Orchard trails and takes you from a pond through a forest to the river with plenty of opportunity for off-leash play, birdwatching, and wildlife spotting. Lucy was able to be off-leash for most of the hike as we encountered very few people.  Suggested Route The hike is about 6 km in length, including the walk to and from the parking area to the trailhead.  Parking Park on the road near the Rouge Valley Conservation Area . Walk down the service road towards the Cedar and Orchard Trails. There are signs at the trailheads, so avoid the temptation to follow one of the side trails for now. The Pond The Cedar Trail begins with a walk along the pond. This is where you're likely going to see a lot of wildlife. On one visit, we encountered staff from the Toronto Zoo, releasing painted turtles in the pond. They were quickly welcomed into the habitat by the locals. Birdwatching Belted ...

The Orchard trail is primarily through a mature forest next to the Little Rouge River. Perhaps there are apple or other fruit trees in the woods, but I only saw acorns on the ground.  This hike is 2 km each way, but if you include the walk from the parking area, it's closer to 3 km if you park on Zoo Road.  Suggested Route Park along the road near the main entrance at 1749 Meadowvale Road . Walk east on the gravel road until you see the signs for the trailhead. The Orchard Trail takes you to Twyn Rivers Road, where you can connect with the Vista Trail to return to your car. The hike begins beside a pond. There are side trails to the pond if you want to get close. Mid to late summer the vegetation is pretty thick, so you may wish to delay visiting the pond until another season. The Trail The trail is well marked with white blazes marked on trees. The main path is also pretty wide and well-worn. If you stay on the main trail, you'll hike through a forest, but if you like to visi...

The Mast Trail is a popular hike in the Rouge National Urban Park between the Little Rouge River and Rouge River. Hike a 5 km loop that begins near Kingston Road through the hills to the Twyn Rivers trail head. The Mast Trail is an intermediate-level hiking trail. Some of the hills are steep, and it is pretty easy to get off the official path, so perhaps it can be considered an advanced-level hike. You won't get lost if you leave the official trail, but you may end up walking further than you anticipated.  Read my blog about the Vista Trail , which is likely the easiest trail in Rouge Urban Park.  Parking The Glen Rouge Campground is still closed due to the pandemic, but the parking lot is open for day-hikers.  This is a popular place for people to hike, especially on weekends. If you find a full parking lot, drive to the  Twyn Rivers Drive parking lot and start your hike there.  Suggested Route The official trail is marked by blazes that are painted on trees....