The best MTB trails around Markham

The Rouge Valley Trail in Markham is a 12-km multi-use route that winds along the river with boardwalks, bridges, and gravel paths. You’ll pass lakes, ponds, dams, and a mix of old homes and changing scenery, making it a quiet but surprisingly varied nature escape without leaving the city.

The Rouge River flows through eastern Toronto and the surrounding region, winding past forests, wetlands, farms, and suburban neighbourhoods before reaching Lake Ontario. Much of the river is protected within Rouge National Urban Park, where visitors can explore an extensive trail system, spot wildlife, and enjoy peaceful sections of the valley.

From this spot, you can take in the beautiful view of the river winding through forested banks. There are several areas with benches and open spaces that are perfect for relaxing or enjoying a scenic picnic. It’s a popular spot for birdwatching, photography, and short nature walks, especially in the fall when the colours are at their most vibrant.

This is a short, easy one-kilometre mostly gravel multi-use trail that runs through a mix of wooded areas and open green space, making it ideal for walking, cycling, or snowshoeing in winter. The path connects to Milne Dam Conservation Park and is a quiet, family-friendly route with plenty of picnic areas nearby and access to longer trails to explore more of this beautiful area.

Phillips Lake is a small, quiet pond tucked into the green space behind the surrounding neighbourhoods and golf course. A short path leads to the shoreline, where you’ll find calm water, reeds, and steady views across the pond. It’s an easy stop for a quick break or photo before linking up with nearby residential pathways. A simple, peaceful waypoint in this part of the trail network.

This segment of Jefferson Side Road runs roughly east-west through the Jefferson neighbourhood and borders the Bathurst Glen Golf Course. The route features a paved or gravel multi-use path (or sidewalk) alongside quiet roads, with views across open fairways and occasional forest patches. Expect light vehicular traffic, gentle gradients, and easy navigation—making it a handy link piece for walking or cycling in this suburban green-belt area.

Milne Dam spans the Rouge River near the southern edge of Markham, originally built in the 1800s to power a gristmill operated by the Milne family. The current concrete-and-steel arc dam, one of the first of its kind in Canada, was constructed by Archie Milne and now serves as a flood control structure managed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. A fishway added in 2005 allows salmon and trout to bypass the dam and reach upstream spawning grounds, restoring access to over 45 kilometres of river habitat.

Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve spans over 175 hectares across Ontario’s Oak Ridges Moraine and protects living landscapes of kettle lakes, wetlands, forests and meadows. A network of trails winds through mature pine and hardwood groves.