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.

Local Food, Food and Drink, Summer, Recreation, Winter, Fall, Spring,

Guest Blog Post By: Norman Liu

Nothing gets between me and Sunday breakfast with a pot of organic, fair-trade coffee, the paper, and absolutely no one around. It’s my sacred time, and pity the poor soul who disturbs it!

But last winter, I got up before 6am, skipped the paper and coffee, pulled on layers until I could hardly move, and drove with my sister and a friend down a deserted 401. Our destination was Rouge Park, Canada’s first Urban National Park and a jewel of Ontario’s Greenbelt. We were heading to a Winter Bird Count—trading our urban comforts for a day to engage in some citizen science and get back in touch with winter. 

Environment, Nature, Winter,

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

The festive season is approaching and the Greenbelt is getting lit up with holiday cheer! It’s the time of year to cozy up with a warm beverage and enjoy the local celebrations in your town! In York Region you don’t have to travel too far to find the holiday magic. There are great events and fun winter recreational activities to get you in the holiday mood right in the Greenbelt!

See the list below for some great ideas and make it a Greenbelt Holiday!

Family Fun, Recreation, Winter, TalesfromYork,

For the Holiday Season we're sharing our tips to eating great food, drinking local wine, and getting out and enjoying the Greenbelt.

Seasons Greentings!

All of us at the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation want to wish you a very happy holiday and an exciting New Year. As a thank you for all of your support over the last year we're sharing two of our favourite holiday recipes. Give 'em a try -- they're easy, delicious, and can be made using in-season Ontario ingredients.

Looking forward to connecting with you again in 2015!

-The Friends of the Greenbelt Team

Recipes, Winter, Holidays, Newsletter,

It’s almost December, and for those of us who celebrate the holiday, it's time to start thinking Christmas Trees.

While there’s no shame in lugging a well-loved plastic one up from the basement or grabbing one from a nearby store, if you’ve never chosen your own tree from an Ontario Tree farm, you’re missing out.  

Not only do our tree farms offer great selection--from Scotch and White pine, to Balsam, to Douglas Fir--they're also just fun to visit. 

So if you’re up for an adventure this year, why not grab your own Greenbelt-grown tree.

To make it easy we’ve put together a list of Greenbelt Christmas Tree farms open for business this holiday session. Every Farm on our list not only offers a variety pre-cut and cut-your-own trees, they also offer warm drinks and family fun events.

Support local producers, get outside, and get yourself Greenbelt-grown tree.  

Food and Drink, Family Fun, Recreation, Winter, Holidays,

FEBRUARY 2014 NEWSLETTER

Guess what the Greenbelt got for its birthday? 

This month's newsletter features:

• Mississauga Votes to Expand Ontario’s Greenbelt 
• Happy 9th Birthday, Greenbelt!
• Greenbelt Olympics
• Beer Belly: The Greenbelt's Bursting Beer Industry
• Funding Food Forward: The Greenbelt Fund's Newest Grants
• And more!

Foundation, Winter, Newsletter,

A little take on the Olympics, Greenbelt style.

As the Olympics come to a close and the drama of competition moves onto the emotional returns home, I am thinking of my favourite winter sports. Hockey is up there, as are the ‘new’ acrobatic ski and snowboard events. The skill set required for the biathlon amazes me, while ski jumping always reminds me of "Eddie the Eagle".

Nature, Recreation, History and Culture, Winter,

For some of us who celebrate Christmas, the procuring of a Yuletide tree is written into our memories. The scent of fir, spruce, or pine is carried throughout the house and with it comes a seasonal excitement for food, family, and festivity. One of my favourite authors, Tom Robbins, taught me that it's our sense of smell that triggers the most rich and evocative memories. The olfactory bulb, the receptor of odours, is connected to a part of the brain called the limbic system, an area closely associated with memory and emotion. It's no surprise that Christmas is a beloved holiday for many with its generous feast, its potpourri and pomanders, and its cheerful trees; it's built into our noses and our memories.

Winter, Holidays,

The best gift giver this holiday season isn't going to be your mother, your grandma (sorry, g-ma), or even your sweet, thoughtful partner... no, it's going to be the Greenbelt! Because Ontario's Greenbelt gives pretty generously every day of the year, providing fresh water, clean air, delicious local food, and some of the best tobogganing hills in the Province free of charge. 

Winter, Holidays,

I am a sports fan and have been for most of my life. The athleticism, team work, spectacle, and peak performance are a great thrill. Growing up in Germany, soccer was king. Now it’s hockey.

Recreation, Winter,