Oak Ridges Trail Association upcoming events

Richmond Hill - Jefferson Forest and Bond Lake, Moderate, Amir Alemohammad (Sun, November 15, 2026)

Sun, 15 Nov 2026 13:15:00 GMT

Members only hike. Pre-registration is mandatory.

ORTA Map 3; 14-16 km, 4 hrs; end by noon.

Join us for a wonderful hike in Jefferson Forest and Bond Lake. We will hike among trees and bushes of the Jefferson Forest and across the Bayview-Yonge corridor to make a loop hike.

Some hills and variable terrain.

Hiking boots, poles recommended, bring at least 2L of water and your snack . Hiking duration and distance are adjusted to the weather conditions.

Amir is leading this hike for the Toronto Bruce Trail and ORTA members and non-members are welcome.

Please arrive early to secure your spot in the parking lot and avoid parking along the road.

Meet in the free parking area on the south side of Bethesda SR, 500m east of Bayview Ave. Address: 1235-1245 Bethesda Side Rd, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 1A2. Please park in the parking lot and avoid parking on the road.

Please arrive at 8:00 AM for 8:15 AM start.********

https://maps.app.goo.gl/28WXju7QpKcPzVcP9

Amir Alemohammad 647-964-5170

Whitchurch-Stouffville - YRF Porritt Tract - Pangman Springs (Kennedy Rd.), slow-moderate, Cornelius Sommer (Mon, November 16, 2026)

Mon, 16 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Members and non-members welcome.

Non-members - please contact Cornelius by 6 p.m. on November 15.

ORTA Map 4; slow-moderate pace; 6+ km; 2hrs. A hike on forest trails, winding trails.

Please arrive at 9:15 a.m. for a prompt 9:30 a.m. start.

Meeting: YRF Porritt parking lot on the west side of Kennedy Rd. 550m. north from Aurora Rd.

Cornelius Sommer cell 905-717-7641

Whitchurch-Stouffville - YRF Porritt Tract - Pangman Springs (Kennedy Rd.), slow, Noel Bain (Mon, November 16, 2026)

Mon, 16 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Members and non-members welcome.

ORTA Map 4; slow pace (3 km/hr); 2hrs. Forested trails some Hills.

Please arrive at 9:15 a.m. for a prompt 9:30 a.m. start.

Meeting: YRF Porritt parking lot on the west side of Kennedy Rd. 550m. north from Aurora Rd.

Noel Bain - cell number 647-261-6095

Vaughan - Boyd and Kortright Conservation Areas, Mod-Fast, Martin Roy (Wed, November 18, 2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Members only hike. Pre-registration mandatory

ORTA Map N/A; 15+ km, 4-5 hrs.

Join me on a mix of open meadow and forested trails with some hills. We will hike in both the Boyd Conservation area and the Kortright conservation area.

Bring water and lunch. Please arrive 15 minutes early as the hike starts promptly at 9:30.

No dogs please.

Meeting Place/Parking: Meet at the parking lot behind the Pierre Burton Resource Library, 4921 Rutherford Road, just east of Islington Avenue on the south side of Rutherford Road.

What3Words: sudden.truck.thinking

Martin Roy 416-885-1226

Whit-Stouffville, YRF North Tract, moderate - Cornelius Sommer (Wed, November 18, 2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Members and non members welcome.

Map 4 (just north of Map 4); YRF North Tract, moderate pace; 2+ hrs; 8+ km. A loop through forest trails.

Meet at 9:15 for a 9:30 a.m. start.

Parking: Meet at the North Tract parking lot on the west side of McCowan Rd, 300 m south of Davis Drive between Vivian Rd and Davis Drive (17242 McCowan Road).

Cornelius Sommer cell 905-717-7641

Uxbridge - Skyloft/Durham Forest, moderate to fast, Anna Sunn (Fri, November 20, 2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Members and non-members welcome. Non-members and new members are required to contact the hike leader by 6 pm the day before to discuss if this hike is appropriate for you.

ORTA Map 6; 10+ km, Approx. 2.5hrs; moderate to fast pace; fairly hilly. Come out to explore the forested Skyloft conservation area and the Durham Forest trails, part of the East Duffins Headwaters.

Be prepared with proper footwear and adequate water.

Parking/Location: We will park in the lot at the end of Buzek Lane, Uxbridge. There is no fee to park at this location.

Arrive at 9:15 for 9:30 start

Anna Sunn, (416) 738-8916 (text or call)

Richmond Hill - Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve - moderate - Stephanie Corvese (Sat, November 21, 2026)

Sat, 21 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Members only. Pre-registration mandatory.

MAP 3A: Richmond Hill - Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve; moderate pace (4 km per hour); 7-8 km; 2 hours.

Join me for a moderate hike on the Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve with its kettle lakes, forests, wetlands and meadows. This is a pretty route in Autumn. The terrain is flat along the gravel trail and the forest sections have a few small hills with rocks, roots and uneven areas.

Check the weather forecast and be appropriately equipped. Dressing in layers is recommended. Hiking poles may come in handy for the hills in the forest section. Water and good hiking shoes are essential.

No dogs please. Registration limited to 15 hikers.

PARKING: Park at MacLeod’s Landing Public School main parking lot. 195 Silver Maple Rd, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 4Z1. Meet in front of the flag pole.

GPS 43.92398961911923, -79.45635168046554

WHAT THREE WORDS: https://w3w.co/division.scared.initial

Arrive at 9:15 for a 9:30 am start.

HIKE LEADER: Stephanie Corvese: (416) 917-8031

Alnwick/Haldimand (north of Cobourg) - Hazel Bird Side Trail and Northumberland Forest West Block, Moderate, Scott Cecchin (Sat, November 28, 2026)

Sat, 28 Nov 2026 16:10:00 GMT

Members and Non-members welcome.

ORTA Map 10; Alnwick/Haldimand (north of Cobourg) - Hazel Bird Side Trail and Northumberland Forest West Block; 11 km; 3.5 hours.

Join us for a hike in beautiful Northumberland County. This hike will combine the scenic tallgrass prairie of the Rice Lake Plains with a section of the Northumberland Forest. Our route will follow ORTA’s main trail, the Hazel Bird Side Trail, and some forest trails (with a short connector walk along a backroad). Expect some hills and some sandy trails. Occasional stops for nature appreciation will be encouraged! And we will stop for lunch at a lookout over the black oak savannah. This is a great chance to explore some quiet paths at the eastern end of the moraine. An optional dropout point at the hike’s midpoint is possible for those who want a shorter hike.

Bring water and lunch for the trail. Dress appropriately for the weather and conditions (ticks are possible).

Leashed dogs are welcome.

Maximum 10 hikers.

What Three Words: ///denial.painters.exposition

PARKING: Roadside Parking at the intersection of Johnstone Rd and Beavermeadow Rd

Note: 11:00 am meetup for 11:10 am hike start

Scott Cecchin, 705-957-8952

Uxbridge - North Walker Woods, 23rd Anniversary Hike, Slow-Moderate, Brian & Wilma Millage (Sun, November 29, 2026)

Sun, 29 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

This is a unique annual hike as we celebrate our forest wedding, way back on Dec. 3, 2003, when over 70 ORTA friends and family met for our marriage in the woods. Each year we invite ORTA members and guests to join us for a walk on some of our favourite forest trails as we trek to the pond where the ceremony was held. We provide a drink and a treat, reflect on the many years we have hiked with our ORTA friends, then return to the Goodwood Community Centre where we all are joined by other hikers from the past, and from the moderate and mod/fast hikes held nearby on Uxbridge trails. Our thanks to Anna Sunn for organizing the Holiday celebrations in Goodwood.

NB - Due to parking limitations at the North Walker trailhead, please read this carefully:

You are requested to meet at the Goodwood Community Centre at 9am.

No cooking can be done on site, but slow cookers are acceptable. You are asked to bring your own cutlery, plates and mugs and ORTA will supply coffee, tea and juice. Then hikers are asked to car pool to the hike trailhead as it has limited roadside parking. The hike will start at 930am.

A shorter walk will also be posted. Those of you who can't participate in the hike are invited to join the festivities at the hall at 1130am.

GOODWOOD COMMUNITY CENTRE- 268 HWY 47, GOODWOOD

BRIAN and Wilma Millage- 905-853-2407 c- 416-722-6512

Uxbridge - Brock Tract (Brock Rd.) Moderate - Barb Anderson (Sun, November 29, 2026)

Sun, 29 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Members only hike. Pre-registration is mandatory.

After the hike we will drive to the Goodwood Community Centre in time for ORTA’S Annual Holiday Party.

ORTA Map 5; ~8km; 2 hrs; Moderate pace; Arrive at 9:15 am for a 9:30 am start.

Be prepared with proper footwear and adequate water. Wilder is quite hilly.

Meet at the Brock Tract parking lot on the east side of Durham 1/Brock Rd., approximately 5 km south of Goodwood Rd / Regional Rd 21, or 1 km north of Uxbridge Pickering Town Line. The parking lot is just after the entrance to 1401 Brock Rd. There is a large green East Duffins Headwaters sign just north of the entrance. There is no charge for parking at this location.

Barb Anderson (289-200-5778 - text or call)

Uxbridge - Wilder & Walker, Moderate, Barb Anderson (Sat, December 12, 2026)

Sat, 12 Dec 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Members, guests and non-members welcome.

Non-members and new members unfamiliar with the trails are asked to contact (text or call) the hike leader before noon the day before to determine if this hike is suitable for you.

ORTA Map 5; 9-10 km; 2.5hrs; Pace 4k/hr; Join us for a hike in the beautiful Wilder Forest and Walker Woods tracts. Wilder is quite hilly and Walker is more moderate.

Please come prepared with ample water and snacks. Check the weather the morning of and prepare accordingly. With the colder temperatures it is recommended to dress in layers. Wear sturdy hiking boots. Poles may also be helpful, and Icers should always be on-hand this time of year.

Arrive at 9:15 am for a 9:30 am start.

Meet in the Pathways on Pleasure Valley trailhead parking lot on the east side of Brock Rd., 3.2 km north of the Uxbridge/Pickering Townline. You will go past the riding establishment to find the parking lot at the back on the right. 2499 Brock Rd.

Please note that this is NOT a pay parking lot.

Barb Anderson 289-200-5778 (text or call)