- About ORTA
Chapters
Quick Links
Click to Enlarge
CALEDON
The Western trailhead of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail is located at a junction with the Bruce Trail in Glen Haffy CA just east of Airport Rd. From a scenic outlook The Trail passes through a series of TRCA properties, mostly forested, connected by short stretches of country roads. The largest property in this section is the Palgrave Forest and Wildlife Area. The eastern portion features a series of country roads and farm trails ending at Hwy 27.
KING
From Hwy 27 south of Schomberg the trail proceeds eastward to Pottageville and the forested trails of the Happy Valley Forest managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. After crossing under Hwy 400 hikers will enjoy the routes through the scenic Marylake Monastery property and Seneca College. The trail continues east to Bathurst St in Aurora.
AURORA
From Bathurst St. and Wellington, town signs mark the route through parks and historic streets. One major park is the Sheppard’s Bush CA managed by LSRCA where there are several paved sections and loop trails. Spring wildflowers make a beautiful showing starting in April. The trail then proceeds east to Leslie St.
RICHMOND HILL
This chapter assists with the maintenance of a separate side trail, part of the Richmond Hill Conservation Corridor. It progresses from Bathurst St. east along a paved trail, past Yonge St. to Bayview Ave. Major features are Bond Lake and the meadows and forest trails of Jefferson Forest managed by TRCA. Trilliums abound here in the spring.
WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE
From Leslie St. the trail passes over Hwy 404 through the village of Vandorf. It then takes advantage of a series of forested tracts managed by York Region Forestry. Trails here are generally wide, sandy, and have numerous access points and parking lots. Two accessible trail sections are found in this area, one in the Hall Tract, and one in the Hollidge Tract. The trail proceeds south past Musselman’s Lake where it continues to the Durham Town Line south of Bloomington Rd.
Uxbridge
From the Durham Town Line the trail follows a scenic road allowance and then a series of large, mature forested tracts managed by TRCA and LSRCA. From the Goodwood Tract the Rouge National Urban Park trails proceed south towards Lake Ontario. Also, two legs of the Trans Canada Trail follow the ORTA trail in the Uxbridge area. Trails are generally wide and firm and are multi use, non-motorized. Uxbridge is branded as the ‘Trail Capital of Canada’ and the town has a variety of shopping and restaurant options available as well as a Durham Transit on-demand bus service to trails.
SCUGOG
From Lakeridge Rd. the trail follows a road allowance then proceeds along scenic country roads and though Conservation properties south of Port Perry. The largest of these is Purple Woods CA,
managed by CLOCA., from which there is a scenic view south towards Lake Ontario. A popular traditional spring maple syrup demonstration is held here each spring. The Trail then follows tree covered road allowances east to the Clarington boundary.
Clarington
This chapter starts with the hilly trails of the Long Sault CA managed by CLOCA, north of Bowmanville, then follows road allowances and roads, passing under Hwy 115 and into the large Ganaraska Forest. Day passes are mandatory for the Ganaraska trails north of Port Hope.
HOPE-HAMILTON
From the Durham/Northumberland town line the trail follows forested road allowances to the village of Bewdley on Rice Lake. One lengthy road section leads to the Hazel Bird Nature Reserve (NCC) with a 3km side trail, then on to the trails of the Northumberland County Forest.
NORTHUMBERLAND
This final chapter follows the forested trails of the Northumberland County Forest with some significant hills and continues eastwards along country roads to two trailheads, Castleton and Warkworth. The latter has good shopping and family restaurants.