Visit the Greenbelt

Cyclist? Hiker? Foodie? There's plenty to do and see in Ontario's Greenbelt. Follow the links below and start planning your Greenbelt Adventure!

Looking for local? Greenbeltfresh.ca is your guide to the Greenbelt's farms and farmers' markets. Use the interactive map to find a market near you or view the News section for in-season recipes and local food events. 

More than 475 kilometres of cycling adventures await you in the beautiful, protected countryside of Ontario’s Greenbelt. Enjoy lush forests, winding rivers, welcoming communities, and family farms, as you ride across this stunning landscape.

Take a hike! Check out our Greenbelt Walks guides and explore the Greenbelt 10,000 km trail network. 

Toronto's ravines are only a click away.

Find a Greenbelt event near you! 

Need more inspiration? Explore one of the Greenbelt's many regions, including the Hill of the Headwaters, Hamilton, Halton, and Brant, Bruce County and Niagara's wine country.

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There’s something motivating about a team of people working together towards a common future. At our annual retreat, staff came together for team-building, agenda-setting, and collaborative learning.  

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If you’re looking for fresh local food, look no further. Recently launched Greenbeltfresh.ca is your one-stop shop to discovering all the delicious food available in the Greenbelt.

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Most people know I love craft beer. I grew up in Germany where beer was regulated by a purity law—“Reinheitsgebot”—the regulation of beer made using only four ingredients: water, yeast, barley, and hops. I enjoy only the purest beer, and that’s why I’m pleased about the Brewery Discovery Routes—self-guided craft beer, cider, and culinary experiences in and around the Greenbelt. 

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Come join us for the fifth annual Greenbelt Harvest Picnic on Saturday August 29, 2015 at ‎the Christie Lake Conservation Area in Hamilton, Ontario.‎

This year's Greenbelt Harvest Picnic features performances by Arkells, Bahamas, Iron and Wine, Gordon Lightfoot, Gregory Alan Isakov, Kathleen Edwards, Basia Bulat, Martha Wainwright, Terra Lightfoot, Lee Harvey Osmond, Dinner Belles, and many others.

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Tales from Durham is a blog series focused on the people and places that make Durham’s Greenbelt great. The series will cover everything from local businesses, to seasonal events, to life on Durham farms. Look out for our upcoming posts to stay up-to-date and informed on exciting going-ons in Durham's Greenbelt. 

The inaugural Durham Festival is going to be the largest festival that Durham Region has ever seen, and the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation could not help but get involved!

We're excited to be one of the many partners of this exciting four-day event. From discos and games to a full-day cycling event and world record-breaking picnic, the Durham Festival promises to be as eclectic as Durham Region itself.

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Performers at the Greenbelt Harvest Picnic, 2014. From left to right: Laura Cole, Ron Sexsmith, Sarah Harmer.

Not to brag, but I had a pretty packed Saturday.

I saw almost a dozen great performers live. I visited over 20 booths at one of the largest farmers' markets I've been to. I learnt how to identify stink bugs (hint: they smell like coriander). And I even went for a rainy-day swim.

Rock stars, farmers' markets, horticulture lessons and swimming—it might seem like an odd mix. But at the Greenbelt Harvest Picnic, all these things share a common greenbelt ground.

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Sarah Harmer performs at the 2014 Greenbelt Harvest Picnic.

At the end of August, we celebrated our fourth annual Greenbelt Harvest Picnic. Put on by Daniel Lanois and September Seventh Entertainment, the day was a celebration of music, food, and art.

While the music was front and centre, the many farmers, food vendors, artisans, and NGOs added a unique flavour that I can only see at the Greenbelt Harvest Picnic. From the most flavourful garlic to the juiciest grape tomatoes, you would not find the usual “burger and fries” fare at this event. 

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This August, I had the pleasure of joining more than two thousand cyclists from Quebec on a tour of the Niagara Region. Visiting for the Grand Tour Desjardins 2014, one of the largest organized multi-day cycling tours in Canada, cyclists enjoyed mobile bike shops, shuttle service, full catering, and even massages! The Grand Tour really is the apex of cycling holidays. Plus, this year all of these tourists took their bicycle holiday in the Greenbelt.

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The Greenbelt booth at the Picnic provides insight and information about the Greenbelt and how to get involved.
Photo Credit: Melanie Schade, 2013.

Now in its fourth year, the Greenbelt Harvest Picnic has been called one of the 10 best outdoor music shows by the Globe and Mail.

But it's more than a music show. It's a celebration of food and farming. It's an opportunity to be active in a gorgeous conservation area. And it’s a chance to spend a day with family and friends.

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