The best walks and hikes around Newmarket

Yes, many trails in the Newmarket area are dog-friendly, but it's always best to keep them on a leash. Jokers Hill is a popular choice for hiking with dogs, offering shaded trails with some inclines. The various paths within the York Regional Forest are also great for exploring with your canine companion.

For an easy and accessible walk, the Adams Point loop — Adams Point Wildlife Management Area is a great option. It's a relatively short and flat trail offering pleasant waterside scenery, perfect for a relaxed outing.

Absolutely. Many of the trails, like those in Sheppard's Bush Conservation Area and the Tom Taylor Trail, are accessible year-round for winter hiking or snowshoeing. The forested paths offer a beautiful, quiet experience in the snow. Just be sure to wear appropriate footwear for potentially icy or snowy conditions.

The Dave Kerwin Trail is an excellent choice for a family outing. It's a scenic route through forested areas and conveniently features a playground along the way, making it a hit with children.

If you're looking for a challenge, the Thornton Bales Conservation Area, nicknamed "The 99 Steps," is your best bet. It's known for its steep slopes and rugged terrain on the Oak Ridges Moraine. For a moderately hilly route, consider the Jewell Hill – Long Hill loop from Stratham, which features over 100 meters of elevation gain through a forested environment.

The Nokiidaa Trail system, which means "walking together," is an extensive network connecting Aurora, Newmarket, and East Gwillimbury. The Newmarket section, known as the Tom Taylor Trail, follows the Holland River and circles Fairy Lake. It features a mix of paved paths, crushed limestone, and boardwalks, making it very accessible for walking and cycling.

Yes, the region offers great options for trail runners. The relatively flat and well-maintained paths of the Tom Taylor Trail and Rogers Reservoir Conservation Area are ideal for a steady run. For those who prefer more varied terrain and hills, the trails at Jokers Hill provide a more challenging workout.

Rogers Reservoir is an 84-hectare area known for its rich biodiversity. You'll find flat trails winding through wetlands and forests along the East Holland River. It's a fantastic spot for birdwatching, with Great Blue Herons and woodpeckers often spotted. You can also see historical remnants of an old canal system, including a concrete lock.

While the immediate Newmarket area is more known for its rivers, wetlands, and forests, distinct waterfalls are not a prominent feature of the local trails. The scenery is primarily defined by the gentle flow of the Holland River and the serene landscapes of the conservation areas.

The trails are highly regarded by the komoot community, with an average rating of 4.8 stars. Hikers often praise the well-maintained paths through quiet woodlands and the scenic routes along the area's creeks and rivers.

There are over 20 designated hiking routes to explore around Newmarket on komoot. These range from easy, flat loops perfect for a quick walk to more moderate trails that take you through extensive conservation lands and forests.

The terrain is quite diverse. You'll find many flat, accessible paths along the Holland River, like the Tom Taylor Trail. Other routes, such as the College Woods to Spruce Hole Bog via the Oyster River Trail, take you through gentle hills and classic woodland. For more rugged and steep terrain, the trails within Thornton Bales Conservation Area on the Oak Ridges Moraine offer a significant challenge.