Durham Regional Municipality: Trails, Nature and Culture

Durham Regional Municipality is located between Lake Ontario, Lake Scugog and Lake Simcoe. The region has more than 350 kilometres of recreational trails, as well as conservation areas, a cycling route through an orchard-growing area and cultural attractions in several communities. To plan your trip, you can first consider whether outdoor activities, wildlife observation or culture is your main interest. The attractions offer different experiences and provide practical options for your stay.

Recreational Trails and Conservation Areas

Many scenic trails in Durham Region are accessible by Durham Region Transit (DRT). In Uxbridge, Durham Regional Forest is located on the Oak Ridges Moraine and covers 596 hectares. It has more than 16 kilometres of recreational trails across four marked loops. Activities include cross-country skiing, mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. The combination of marked loops and varied activities helps you plan your visit around your interests.

Darlington Provincial Park has three named hiking trails: Burk Trail, McLaughlin Bay Trail and Robinson Creek Trail. In winter, the park is open for hiking and snowshoeing. Water tests are conducted at Durham Region’s public beaches from the beginning of June to the end of August to inform visitors about swimming safety. For planning purposes, the park’s winter activities and summer water monitoring at public beaches offer different seasonal points of reference.

Lynde Shores Conservation Area in Whitby has loop trails with a total length of five kilometres. It provides habitat for nesting birds and is an important stopover for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. The combination of loop trails and the area’s importance for bird habitats and migration also offers a specific regional option for travellers interested in wildlife observation.

Cycling Route and Culture

The Apple Capital Loop is a 28-kilometre cycling route through Clarington’s orchard-growing area. It offers cyclists a distinct option alongside the region’s hiking trails. In Uxbridge, Leaskdale Manse has been carefully restored and preserved. It gives visitors a good impression of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s life during her time there. For trip planning, this site offers a cultural and historical focus that differs from the outdoor attractions.

Another cultural point of interest is the Canadian Automotive Museum in Oshawa. Its collection ranges from a 1897 Fossmobile tribute to a 2008 electric ZENN. These two endpoints give the collection a tangible span across time and mark its focus on automotive history. The Durham Region International Film Festival (DRIFF) takes place annually in October in Durham Region.

Discover more destinations: Uxbridge, Waterloo Regional Municipality, Wellington County, Regional Municipality Of York, Niagara Regional Municipality, Manitoulin District, Regional Municipality of Peel, Muskoka District Municipality.

For the broader travel overview: Ontario.