A Tour of the Rouge National Urban Park

A tour of the diverse landscape of the future Rouge National Urban Park in metropolitan Toronto.

As part of the TBEX (travel media) conference that was recently held in Toronto, I had the opportunity to take a tour of the Future Rouge National Urban Park which encompasses more than 40 square kilometres and is accessible just a short distance from downtown. The tour was organized by Tourism Toronto and conducted by employees of Parks Canada and the Rouge Park.

Rouge Park, as it currently exists, was created in 1995 to protect the wilderness area located in the eastern sector of Canada’s largest metropolitan area. The park, which extends from the Oak Ridges Moraine north of the city to the sandy beaches of Lake Ontario, boasts a variety of ecosystems as well as two National Historic Sites and also has active farms operating within it. 

In the May 2011 Throne Speech, the federal government announced its commitment to creating Canada’s first National Urban Park in the Rouge Valley under the stewardship of Parks Canada and a number of stakeholders have been hard at work on the initiative ever since.

Portions of the park land are located within the city of Toronto as well as the towns of Markham and Pickering and there are also private properties located within the boundaries of the park. This means that in addition to the federal government, the provincial government of Ontario and Parks Canada, there are also three municipal governments and private landowners involved in the process of establishing the urban park.

Parks Canada envisions the creation of a “people’s park” which will “celebrate and protect, for current and future generations, a diverse landscape in Canada’s largest metropolitan area. Linking Lake Ontario with the Oak Ridges Moraine, the park will offer engaging and varied experiences, inspire personal connections to its natural beauty and rich history, promote a vibrant farming community, and encourage us to discover Canada’s national treasured places“. (from Rouge National Urban Park Initiative by Parks Canada) 

I was very excited to have the opportunity to take this tour and learn more about the establishment of Canada’s first National Urban Park. Our tour lasted about 6 hours, including transportation time, and with the size of the park it didn’t allow us a great deal of time for exploration but did provide an introduction to the park and its diversity.

We made four stops within the park: (1) Bob Hunter Memorial Park; (2) Woodland Area; (3) Vista Trailhead; and (4) Rouge Beach. 

Bob Hunter Memorial Park

We had a brief stop in the Bob Hunter Memorial Park area named after the Canadian environmentalist and journalist. 

Woodland Area

Our second stop was in the Woodland Trail area which was once cottage country for Toronto residents prior to being flooded by Hurricane Hazel in the 1950s. A walk along a relatively easy trail led us to the Little Rouge Creek where we paused to enjoy a picnic lunch.

 

Vista Trailhead

Our next stop was the Vista Trailhead where we had excellent views over the valley from a viewing deck.

Rouge Beach

My favourite stop on the tour was the final one at Rouge Beach where we were able to view the marshy wetlands of the Rouge River as well as the sandy shoreline of Lake Ontario. We saw a blue heron and other birds in the marsh, men fishing under the trestle of a bridge at the point where the river runs to the lake, and families and sunbathers enjoying the hot, sunny afternoon on the beach.

What I found most impressive about the park was the incredible diversity within it and the enthusiasm of the people who are involved in establishing a Canadian first. It will be quite interesting to watch the park develop and observe how it is used both by residents and by visitors to the region.

What You Need To Know

• The park is located on the east side of Toronto and runs north into Markham. At 40 square kilometres the park is massive and thus has many access points. Driving directions and a map are available.
• Much of the park is accessible by public transit (Toronto Transit Commission, York Region Transit, and GO Transit). 
• Rouge Park is open to visitors 365 days a year and admission is free. Visitors should be aware, however, that there is no winter maintenance on the trails.
• Not all areas of the park are open to the public.
• Vehicles may only be parked in designated areas.
• Seasonal camping is available at the Glen Rouge Campground and there is a fee that applies. (It’s the only location for camping in the city of Toronto).
• Volunteer-led guided walks are available free of charge.

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