Free guided walks - September schedule
Rouge National Urban Park
Guided walks may be cancelled without notice in inclement weather.
Access to Twyn Rivers Day Use Area from Sheppard Avenue East in Toronto is closed. Visitors can still enter the area from the other side of Twyn Rivers Drive, off Altona Road in Pickering.
Sunday, September 1
Xplorers: Signs of Autumn
Join Marilyn on a scavenger hunt! Can you spot a nest that’s done its job? See insects “bedding down”? Can you differentiate between birds that overwinter in the Park or migrate south? Your family will enjoy discovering the world around you!
- Leaders: Marilyn, Linda H.
- Time: 10 am
- Location: Beare Wetlands Loop
- Transit Accessible: Yes
- Meeting point: 25 Zoo Road, Scarborough – oTENTik (A-frame cabin)
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate, possible hills and/or stairs
- Pace: Easy
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Age Range: Families
- Service dogs only
Rouge in bloom
Rouge flowers are a remarkable sight! Join Marie and appreciate all the flowers in bloom this time of year.
- Leaders: Marie, Ompreet
- Time: 1 pm
- Location: Vista Trail
- Transit Accessible: Yes
- Meeting point: 25 Zoo Road, Scarborough – oTENTik (A-frame cabin)
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate, possible hills and/or stairs
- Pace: Easy
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Adults
- Dog Friendly
Saturday, September 7
Fall migration
Fall migration is well underway! Join walk leader Glen to spot our southbound feathered friends. Bring your binoculars, download the free Merlin app, and check eBird/Rouge Park for recent sightings to enhance your bird-watching experience.
- Leaders: Glen H., Peter V.
- Time: 10 am
- Location: Tanglwood Trail
- Transit Accessible: No
- Meeting point: 7277 14th Avenue, Markham – oTENTik (A-frame cabin)
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate, possible hills and/or stairs
- Pace: Easy
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Families
- Service dogs only
Conifers of the Rouge
Get to know the conifers that call Rouge National Urban Park home. Delve into the fascinating world of these evergreens with us to explore their unique adaptations and vital roles within the ecosystem.
- Leaders: Stephen, Linda H.
- Time: 1 pm
- Location: Northeast Trail
- Transit Accessible: No
- Meeting point: 1867 Concession Road 2, Whitchurch-Stouffville – parking lot
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate, possible hills and/or stairs
- Pace: Moderate
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Adults
- Dog Friendly
Sunday, September 8
Invasive plants in the Rouge: Identification and impact
Join Gary to discover and identify invasive plants in the Rouge using apps like iNaturalist, Seek, and PictureThis. Learn about their impact on the ecosystem and methods to mitigate their spread.
- Leaders: Gary, Geri
- Time: 10 am
- Location: Orchard Trail
- Transit Accessible: No
- Meeting point: 55 Twyn Rivers Drive, Scarborough – parking lot
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate, possible hills and/or stairs
- Pace: Moderate
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Adults
- Dog Friendly
Secrets of the forest
Come discover the hidden wonders of the Rouge as we take a close-up look at some of the unique trees, plants, and living creatures who call the Rouge home.
- Leaders: Linda G., Feng
- Time: 1 pm
- Location: Harvest Trail
- Transit Accessible: No
- Meeting point: 7445 Elgin Mills Road East, Markham – parking lot
- Additional Parking: 7535 Elgin Mills Road East, Markham; 10725 Reesor Road, Markham
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Easy, flat/paved or gently uneven
- Pace: Easy
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Families
- Dog Friendly
Saturday, September 14
Green Acres
Join Doug to marvel at the country scenes. Discuss the history of farming in the Rouge, its importance, and the future of local food.
- Leaders: Doug, Markus
- Time: 10 am
- Location: Central Trail
- Transit Accessible: No
- Meeting point: 7445 Elgin Mills Road East, Markham – parking lot
- Additional Parking: 7535 Elgin Mills Road East, Markham; 10725 Reesor Road, Markham
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Easy, flat/paved or gently uneven
- Pace: Easy
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Families
- Dog Friendly
Travelling seed
Join walk leader Judy on the trail to observe interesting ways plants transport their seeds from place to place!
- Leaders: Judy, Susan
- Time: 1 pm
- Location: Monarch Trail
- Transit Accessible: No
- Meeting point: 7277 14th Avenue, Markham – oTENTik (A-frame cabin)
- Distance: 5 km – 8 km
- Difficulty: Moderate, possible hills and/or stairs
- Pace: Moderate
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Age Range: Adults
- Dog Friendly
Sunday, September 15
Fungi and mushrooms
Join Richard for a forest walk and enjoy the splendid varieties and abundance of fungi and mushrooms.
- Leaders: Richard, Glenn B.
- Time: 10 am
- Location: Mast Trail
- Transit Accessible: No
- Meeting point: 55 Twyn Rivers Drive, Scarborough – parking lot
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate to difficult, depending on experience, with some steep hills and stairs
- Pace: Easy
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Adults
- Dog Friendly
Hummingbirds
Did you know all 366 species of hummingbirds are native to the Western Hemisphere? Discover which species thrive in the Rouge and where they migrate to in the Fall. Please note that there is no washroom on site.
- Leaders: Glen H., Erik
- Time: 1 pm
- Location: Woodland Trail
- Transit Accessible: No
- Meeting point: 19 Reesor Road, Scarborough – parking lot
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Easy, flat/paved or gently uneven
- Pace: Easy
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Age Range: Families
- Service dogs only
Saturday, September 21
Ice, water and human hands
Discover the forces that formed the landscape we see today. 15,000 years of history in 2 hours with Stephen.
- Leaders: Stephen, Markus
- Time: 10 am
- Location: Cedar Trail and Beare Wetlands Loop
- Transit Accessible: Yes
- Meeting point: 25 Zoo Road, Scarborough – oTENTik (A-frame cabin)
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate, possible hills and/or stairs
- Pace: Moderate
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Families
- Dog Friendly
Need for green
Explore protected park lands with walk leader Doug and learn how Parks Canada restores, protects and preserves natural areas, and discuss what you can do to help.
- Leaders: Doug, Katharina
- Time: 1 pm
- Location: Vista Trail
- Transit Accessible: Yes
- Meeting point: 25 Zoo Road, Scarborough – oTENTik (A-frame cabin)
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate, possible hills and/or stairs
- Pace: Easy
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Adults
- Dog Friendly
Sunday, September 22
Discovering Lake Ontario
Join Carolyn to explore how animal and humans have adapted to Lake Ontario's changing shoreline.
- Leaders: Carolyn, Marilyn
- Time: 9 am
- Location: Rouge Marsh Trail
- Transit Accessible: Yes
- Meeting point: 195 Rouge Hills Dr., Scarborough – lower parking lot
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Easy, flat/paved or gently uneven
- Pace: Moderate
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Families
- Service dogs only
Field to forest succession
Join Shawn in exploring some of the many examples of ecological transitions in the Park and ponder on how the park’s forests may change in the future.
- Leaders: Shawn, JoAnne
- Time: 1 pm
- Location: Tanglewood Trail
- Transit Accessible: No
- Meeting point: 7277 14th Avenue, Markham – oTENTik (A-frame cabin)
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate, possible hills and/or stairs
- Pace: Moderate
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Adults
- Dog Friendly
Sunday, September 29
Introduction to hiking
Always wanted to try hiking? Join walk leader Sarah to learn about the basics and all the great benefits that come with hiking.
- Leaders: Sarah, Moaz
- Time: 10 am
- Location: Orchard Trail
- Transit Accessible: Yes
- Meeting point: 25 Zoo Road, Scarborough – oTENTik (A-frame cabin)
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate, possible hills and/or stairs
- Pace: Easy
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Adults
- Service dogs only
Turtles: Nature’s ninjas!
Families will enjoy exploring the Rouge to learn about the habits and habitats of one of the Park's elusive residents: the turtles.
- Leaders: Marilyn, Glenn B.
- Time: 1 pm
- Location: Beare Wetlands Loop
- Transit Accessible: Yes
- Meeting point: 25 Zoo Road, Scarborough – oTENTik (A-frame cabin)
- Distance: 1 km – 5 km
- Difficulty: Moderate, possible hills and/or stairs
- Pace: Easy
- Duration: 2 hours
- Age Range: Families
- Service dogs only
- Date modified :