Rouge National Urban Park

Rouge National Urban Park is Canada’s first designated national urban park, established in May 2015 and spanning approximately 79 km² across Greater Toronto (Toronto, Markham, Pickering, Uxbridge). It centers on the Rouge River watershed and integrates Carolinian forest, wetlands, working farms and trails set within an urban context.

The park protects rare ecosystems, including one of the last Carolinian forests in Ontario, and is home to over 1,700 species of plants and wildlife—among them 23 species at risk—providing a vital ecological corridor between Lake Ontario and the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Visitors enjoy 12 km of rustic hiking trails (expanding soon), canoeing or kayaking in marshlands, guided educational programs, cultural heritage interpretation including Indigenous sites over 10,000 years old, and Canada’s only urban campground.

Parks Canada operates and manages the park under the Rouge National Urban Park Act, working in partnership with Indigenous groups, TRCA and local communities on conservation, restoration projects, and experiential learning.

Open year‑round with free admission, the park offers seasonal camping, orientation facilities, visitor centres, accessible trails, and parking. Peak weekends can be busy; planning ahead is advised.