Durham Forest

Concession Rd. 7, south of Uxbridge
Posted on February 16, 2018 / 10067
Durham Forest
Note : Popular
X-Ski km : 16+
Skate km : 12+
Snowshoe km : 15+
Skill Level : Easy, Intermediate, Advanced
Terrain : large hills, wide paths, gentle hills, flat sections
Facilities : parking, toilets/outhouse, trailhead map, good trail signage
Trail Fee : Free

Length –   16+ km

Cross Country track set   – none
Skate Skiing  groomed  – none
Snowshoe  trail –  15 km

Skill – all levels

Terrain – flat sections, rolling hills, some large

Hours – daylight hours

Fee –  free

Trail Map – maps, junction signage, no paper map

Facilities – parking, outhouse

Highlights – scenic, wilderness, large area, lots of trail

Phone – 905-895-1281

Website –  Lake Simcoe C.A.

Current Conditions

Similar Trails –  Horseshoe,  Ganaraska, Bracebridge

Local Clubs –  Scarborough Cross Country,  Trakkers

Access –  From hwy 21 Goodwood Rd. south on Concession 7, two entrances on the east side. Note Con. 7 is a rough road coming from the south. Park along the road looping through.

Also, parking further down this road where Walkers woods meets up. Or, on the eastside of the forest off Lake Ridge Rd. at the end of Houston Rd.



Durham Forest is one of the largest wooded areas to Nordic ski and snowshoe on the eastside of Toronto.

Just south of Uxbridge, it is a mature mix forest canopy with lots of variety and more trail than you can do in a day. A hilly place, but also with enough flats to not make you work all day.

This is what I call a rustic trail outing. There may be others who have cut cross-country ski track before you, or it may be your turn to lay some down.

Picking a pristine strip of snow on the side of a trail away from foot traffic may remain useable days later by others.

There are 4 signed loops making up 16km, but more if you venture to take side trails, though not all are easy on skis.

Skate skiers will have to judge and bear the conditions, as it is a popular area for hikers and their dogs.

Certainly if you can manage the footprints, forest roads are wide enough to do your thing. Though nothing is groomed, as with all rustic trail, some days I am sure it is a nice serene ski.

Snowshoers will have a treat in here. Plenty of interesting winding trail cut by the mountain bike crowd in the summer that you can bushwack.

And now I see there are easier 5km and 10km loops of maintained groomed trail for snowshoes and Fatbikes . Very nice! Thanks to DMBA

Access is free to this public forest with few amenities. I saw an outhouse, posted maps and signs; that’s it. No warming cabins or food/water anywhere close by.

I am also going to mention Glen Major and Walkers Woods in this review too. Similar in size and terrain, they are adjacent woodlots to the southwest of Durham for another day.

All of this makes for a great outing and repeat visits.

Opening Hours
  • Monday :Daylight hours
  • Tuesday :Daylight hours
  • Wednesday :Daylight hours
  • Thursday :Daylight hours
  • Friday :Daylight hours
  • Saturday :Daylight hours
  • Sunday :Daylight hours

Durham Winter groomed snowshoe routes

Reviews
3.1
Total Score 4 REVIEWS
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