The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Rouge National Park

The entirety of the Rouge National Park Trail spans just over 70 kilometres, and the Major MacKenzie Section is 6.8 kilometres, stretching from 16th Avenue to Major MacKenzie Drive East, both locations having a parking area and trailhead. The other sections include Northeast Trail, Central Trail, Monarch Trail and the Harvest Trail. This section is flat with wide open views of forests, farm land, and small waterways. The trail is made of gravel and has little shade, so come prepared with sun protection.

The Major Mackenzie Parking Lot and Road Crossing is a well-maintained parking area and access to the Rouge National Urban Park Trail. The parking lot is paved and has a safe pedestrian crossing with its own designated stop light for crossings. Just a few metres north from the Major Mackenzie Parking Lot and Road Crossing is a small scenic pond. The Rouge National Park Trail skirts the pond with a well-maintained wooden boardwalk.

This wooden pedestrian and cycle bridge spans an offshoot of Little Rouge Creek. It is a great bridge to spot some wildlife while crossing.

In the years 2018-2023, the area south of Frenchman's Bay on the shore of Lake Ontario was converted into an environmentally sensitive area, after it had been damaged by uncontrolled use in the preceding years. The owner, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the operator, the City of Pickering, wanted to create a balance between recreational use and the environment. https://www.pickering.ca/parks-recreation-culture/waterfront/rotary-frenchmans-bay-west-park/ https://www.mbtw.com/design-portfolio/rotary-frenchmans-bay-west-park-pickering-ontario (Visit on June 15, 2026)

The Beachpoint Promenade Trail runs along the shore of Lake Ontario from West Shore Boulevard to Frenchman’s Bay West Lighthouse. The walk passes wetlands, with partial views of Frenchman’s Bay, and a sandy beach with swimming opportunities on the lakefront. Parking along the promenade is subject to a fee from May 1st to October 1st / daily from 9 AM to 10 PM). (Visit on June 15, 2026)

Petticoat Creek Conservation Park is a 70-hectare park above the bluffs of Lake Ontario in Pickering. The park was opened in the 1970s and is owned and operated by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). The Petticoat Creek area has a long Indigenous history, with former settlements of Huron and Irokes peoples and likely a different name in the past. The name "Petticoat" comes from Petite Côte, a term used by French settlers in the 17th century to describe the irregularities of the creek's bank at its mouth. https://trca.ca/parks/petticoat-creek-conservation-area (Visited on June 15, 2026)

This trailhead is located in the small community of Altona and provides access to the northern and southern sections of the Rouge National Urban Park Trail. From here, you can head east a few steps along Uxbridge-Pickering Townline Road to connect with the trail north toward Glasgow or head south to Black Walnut Day Use Area.

Rouge National Urban Park Trail is an easy, beautiful multi-use route through one of Canada’s most diverse protected landscapes, connecting forests, wetlands, meadows, and working farmland. It’s a well-maintained path with a few boardwalks that cross creeks and pass restored natural areas, with excellent opportunities to spot birds, turtles, and other wildlife. It’s a great way to experience the unique mix of nature and active farmland that makes Rouge National Urban Park unlike any other national park.