Vaughan: Trails, Art and Recreation

Vaughan brings together trails, landscapes, art and recreational attractions. To plan your trip, it helps to distinguish between outdoor activities, an art-focused experience and recreational offerings. The Bartley Smith Greenway runs along the West Don River; the McMichael Canadian Art Collection focuses on Canadian and Indigenous art and also has wooded grounds in the Humber River Valley. Reptilia Vaughan and Canada’s Wonderland offer further highlights.

Trails and River Landscapes

Vaughan offers residents a network of more than 60 kilometres of trails for walking, cycling and using mobility devices. The Bartley Smith Greenway is a 15-kilometre trail system along the West Don River. As a multi-use recreational trail, it connects users with nature, cultural heritage, communities and distinctive destinations in Vaughan.

The two distances refer to different scales: one describes the trail network, the other the named Greenway. This distinction can help you plan by separating the stated uses of the trail network from the specific river route.

Canadian Art and Grounds

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is Canada’s only publicly funded art gallery devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary Canadian and Indigenous art. Its permanent collection includes more than 7,500 works of art. Its focus and collection size offer two points of reference for an art visit: a clearly defined subject area and works spanning the past and present.

Visitors can explore 100 acres of wooded land in the Humber River Valley at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Access to the trails may change during the gallery’s redevelopment; check current access before your visit. The garden is located on the traditional Carrying Place Trail beside the Humber River. It supports the return of native flora, the promotion of biodiversity and environmental education.

Reptile Exhibits and Amusement Park

Reptilia Vaughan has immersive indoor reptile exhibits covering 25,000 square feet. Its indoor format offers a different focus from the trails and the gallery’s wooded grounds: reptile exhibits take centre stage.

Canada’s Wonderland is located in Vaughan at 1 Canada’s Wonderland Dr. and has more than 200 attractions and 17 roller coasters. As these figures may change, check them before your trip. The total number of attractions and the number of roller coasters offer two different ways to gauge what the amusement park has to offer.

Compare Destinations by Interest

The main considerations vary depending on what you want to focus on during your trip: the trail network offers the stated uses, while the Greenway follows a specific river route. The McMichael combines its narrowly defined art focus with wooded grounds, while Reptilia offers indoor exhibits and Canada’s Wonderland has a broad range of attractions.

Discover more destinations: Nobleton, Markham, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Newmarket, Schomberg, Georgina, Richmond Hill, King City

For the broader travel overview: Regional Municipality Of York.