Being active and getting yourself on the move doesn’t have to be a big effort when living in the Town of Aurora. Whether you’re new to the ‘hood or a long-time resident, there’s so much to experience in Aurora that’s ‘nearby and natural’.  With the Town being SeeWhatSheCanDo’s home base, we thought it would be great to share some of our favourite spots to enjoy being an “outsider" this fall season.

 

 

Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area 

 

An amazing gem in the Town’s inventory of parks and trails, this 58 acre (23.5 hectare) park provides an extraordinary opportunity to experience local history, culture, nature, sport and active recreation all in one location.  Enjoy its extensive set of nature trails as a walker, runner, hiker, biker or wildlife observer.  Originally owned by the early lumber industrialist Charles Sheppard and historically known as the Brooklands Estate, his son Reginald Sheppard chose to donate the estate to the Ontario Heritage Trust in 1971 so that it could be preserved in perpetuity as a conservation area.

 

 

Tim Jones (Nokiidaa) Regional Trail

 

Grab yourself a copy of the Town’s Streets, Parks and Trails Map to see firsthand the more than 62 kilometres of pathways and trails and over 62 parks found within the Town’s limits.  The Tim Jones (Nokiidaa) Trail provides you with the amazing opportunity to experience the vast natural diversity that surrounds the Town. This regional trail also provides a direct connection to the Town of Newmarket’s own trail system.  

 

 

Willow Farm, Lakeview and Wimpey Trail System

 

Located in the forested hills of St. Andrew’s in Aurora’s northwest quadrant, this trail system allows you to experience some of the Town’s rolling topography as well as some of the high elevation points of the Oak Ridges Moraine.  This trail system is primarily packed gravel and gives you a great way to experience the Town’s flora and fauna.

 

 

Case Woodlot

 

Found in the southwest quadrant of Aurora, it’s another exceptional 67 acre (27 hectare) natural oasis that enables Town residents to simply and actively enjoy quality time in the forest on well-used, woodchipped trails.

 

 

All four of our favourite outdoor activity locations make up significant portions of the larger Oak Ridges Moraine Trail System that’s maintained by the Oak Ridges Trail Association. 

 

 

Finally, we want to introduce one of the newest additions to the Town of Aurora’s expansive trail system.  A part we have yet to explore ourselves but can’t wait to do so. It is the David Tomlinson Nature Reserve (Aurora Wildlife Park). The first section of this Nature Reserve is now open and as the Town’s website states, it "includes a trail system extending from the Stronach Aurora Recreation Centre (SARC) on Wellington Street East up to Johnathan Bales Parkette on Hartwell Way and includes several boardwalks and viewing platforms overlooking the ponds and wetlands”.  

 

We invite all Aurorans and visitors to the Town to take some time this fall season to actively explore and enjoy the natural world that’s found just outside all of our collective front doors. See you on the trails.

 

 

SeeWhatSheCanDo

Head to the SWSCD Athlete Advisor, your online athletic business directory. Find, rate and review programs, local community offerings and businesses that will help you do your thing.  

Start a group around a physical activity in your neighbourhood. Explore events. Check out our SWSCD Hub.

Look for advice, stories, news and more on our Outdoor Adventure activity page.  

Have a sport, recreation or physical activity accomplishment you'd like to celebrate and shout out through SWSCD?  Become a SWSCD member and share your story directly on SeeWhatSheCanDo. Or, simply add the hashtag #seewhatshecando to your public social media posts (Instagram & Twitter) and SWSCD can help inspire others to get active outside.