woman with child on her back walking down a densely treed trail

Please note that some outdoor recreation amenities are closed per the current Provincial Stay at Home Order. Review the list on our COVID-19 What's Open page. 

Notice regarding parks and trails

Trails are open for the purposes of permitting persons to walk through or use portions of the park or recreational area. Playgrounds, outdoor parks, and recreational areas, off-leash dog parks and benches in parks will remain open and can be used by children if both the children and their parents can maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from others.

The Municipality of Port Hope has a variety of walking, hiking, and cycling trails. These trails are geared to all types of sports enthusiasts. Trails run north from downtown to the rural portion of the municipality and connect as far as the Bruce Trail in Collingwood. 

Hiking trails

Grab your hiking boots to experience Port Hope's outdoors. We have well-marked forest trails that bring you close to wildlife, and others that start in the heritage downtown and follow the streaming Ganaraska River or take you to panoramic lookouts along the waterfront. Learn about our many hiking and recreational trails.

The Waterfront Trail

The Waterfront Trail runs along Lakeshore Road to the west of the Municipality and to Gage’s Creek to the east. The Waterfront Trail features benches, bird feeders, and gazebos and pays tribute to the community leaders who played key roles in the trail's development: the Keith Richan Walkway and the A.K. Sculthorpe Memorial Woodland Marsh. The A.K. Sculthorpe includes a partial boardwalk and lookout where to you can stop to view wildlife and wetlands.

Download the Waterfront Trial Map

 Trail information

  • Length: Waterfront Trail (19.8 km), Peter Huffman Section (2.5 km)
  • Rating: 2 (Crushed stone and/or hard packed trail. Inspected spring and fall)
  • Access Points: Caldwell Street, Lake Street, Gages Creek
  • Surface: natural, limestone screening
  • Elevations: low to medium to high
  • Width: 2-4 feet
  • Impediments: roots, trees, stones/rocks
  • Features: Lake vistas, sand beaches, lookout
  • Accessible: some portions

The Ganaraska Trail - Pine Ridge
The Ganaraska Trail Pine Ridge section starts at the cairn in Rotary Park along the Ganaraska River, opposite the Town Hall. With 65 kilometres of mixed terrain, areas of the trail can be difficult. Be sure to see the fish ladder that was built to assist fish to bypass the dam near Highway 401.

The Ganaraska Hiking Trail

The Ganaraska Hiking Trail was started in 1968. It connects with the Bruce Trail near Collingwood, making the trail almost 450 kilometres. The Ganaraska Trail Pine Ridge section forms the start of this trail in the downtown core of the Municipality. The Trail offers an enjoyable walk along the banks of the Ganaraska River to the Port Hope Conservation Area near the Highway 401 underpass. All sections are challenging and geared towards walkers only. This section offers many opportunities to see wildlife and old growth trees. During the wet spring, the area should be avoided as river flows can become dangerously high and it is not recommended for children.

During early spring, you can see the fish ladder filled with spawning trout making their way up the river. In the fall, large Chinook salmon, sized of up to thirty to forty pounds jump the ladder near Corbett’s Dam.

Beyond the local section, the trail passes through the Ganaraska Forest, through the Kawarthas to the Canadian Shield.

Download the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Map

 Trail information

  • Length: Ganaraska Hiking Trail (9.3 km), Patricia Lawson/Jack Goering Section (1.5 km)
  • Rating: 4 (Unmaintained trails. Inspected biannually to every three years.)
  • Access Points: Barrett Street and Jocelyn Street.
  • Surface: natural, grass, top soil, gravel
  • Elevations: low to medium to high
  • Width: 2 -3 feet
  • Impediments: roots, trees, branches
  • Features: river access
  • Accessible: no

The Urban Ravine Lands Trail

The Urban Ravine Lands Trail is a connecting trail starting from the Ganaraska River and runs west to Port Hope High School.

Cycling trails

Cycle downtown Port Hope with a tour of the Heritage District to see over 230 historically restored buildings. Tour north outside of town to the countryside to many quiet roads for cycling. Most roads in this area are paved.

Cycling to the west of the downtown section along Lakeshore Road offers scenic views of Lake Ontario. Cycle into the village of Wesleyville past the old school and church. Many trails will involve hilly sections due to the natural terrain.

Ganaraska Forest trails

The Ganaraska Forest is located within a one-hour drive from Toronto. It is in the north portion of the Municipality of Port Hope. Year-round recreational opportunities are available at the Ganaraska Forest. The 4,000-hectare property includes over 100 trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. In the winter, activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on groomed trails are available.

The central section of the forest is maintained as a passive use area. The east and west forests allow motorized use such as off-road motorcycle riding, ATVing, and snowmobiling.

To reach the Ganaraska Forest Centre from Highway 401, follow Highway 28 north to Ganaraska Road, turn west and travel 2 kilometres past Garden Hill to Cold Springs Camp Road. On your way to the Forest Centre stop at the top of Dean’s Hill and take in the view of the countryside from Richardson’s Lookout. Follow Cold Springs Camp Road for 4 kilometres to the Forest Centre buildings and offices.

For more information, call the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority at 905-885-8173.