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Pickering

You are here: Home / Community Profiles / Communities / Pickering

The Pickering Waterfront Trail is primarily off-road or aligned along residential streets. A short stretch at the west end of the Trail is unpaved through an open space. Also, a stretch of Trail runs on Bayly Rd, a very busy regional roadway with concrete sidewalk on south side. Caution should be exercised.

The award-winning Millennium Square at the foot of Liverpool Road  has suffered major damage to high water levels. Homeplace, at Alex Robertson Park, features the unique carvings of artist Dorsey James.

The Trail through Pickering is divided into three named sections. First Nations Trail (3.5 km) is the western leg from Rouge River to the west shore of Frenchman’s Bay. Monarch Trail (4.7 km) surrounds Frenchman’s Bay and ends at Millennium Square. Peak Trail runs from Millennium Square to the eastern border with Ajax. Each name has a historical or environmental significance. First Nations recognizes native settlements from the past and the significance the Rouge and the Lake played in their location. Monarch recognizes the monarch butterfly and its yearly migration to the Bay from the south. Peak is one of Pickering’s earliest settlers.

The Pedestrian bridge crossing over the Rouge River and Petticoat Creek offer stunning views of the Lake.
Surfaced boardwalk across sand beach from the south end of Liverpool Road at Millennium Square through Beachfront Park to Alex Robertson Park.

Asphalt (on-road), asphalt multi-use pathway (Petticoat Creek Conservation Area, Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park, Glen Ravine Park, Vistula Ravine, Progress Frenchman’s Bay East Park Bruce Hanscombe Park, Alex Robertson Park and through the waterfront open spaces along the Lake east of Montgomery Park Road to Frisco Road and Town of Ajax).

Download Printable Map

Pickering

Trail Attributes

Distance: 13km

Roughly 9 km of off-road trail
4km along residential roads
Cycle from the Pickering GO station to the Trail using Sandy Beach Road (1.2 km)

Parking
Paid permit parking at all City waterfront parking lots and on waterfront area streets from May 1st to October 1st annually. Pickering residents can register for a no-charge permit.

Park washrooms
Open from early May to Thanksgiving (weather permitting) and located at:

  • Dunmoore Park (just north of Petticoat Creek–not on the Trail proper) – 9 am to 10 pm
  • Beachfront Park (Millennium Square) – 9 am to 9 pm
  • Kinsmen (by the baseball diamonds),  – 9 am to 10 pm

Trail Tips

  • With so much off-road Trail, much of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail in Pickering is very family friendly.
  • A ride from Alex Robertson Park to Duffin’s Creek is a short 8km round trip using off-road trails.
Check here for local Trail closures.
Local Maps and ConnectionsStaging AreasAmenities and TransitHelpful Links

Links to Local Maps

Altona Forest Trail Guide and Map (PDF) — More PDF maps and guides available from the Altona Forest Stewardship Committee.

Local Map of Pickering Waterfront Trails and Parks (PDF)

Guide to 14 Durham Region Bike Routes and Trails (PDFs) — Over 700 km of cycling in Durham. Routes in PDF and GPS formats.

Durham Region Trails Guide (PDF) — Durham Region has more than 350 km and 60 routes of recreational trails, 80km of which comprise the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.

Durham Region Interactive Trails Map (Interactive)

Pickering Trails (Information)

Connections

Greenbelt Route and the Lake Ontario Watershed Network — The 475km Greenbelt Route connects communities, farms and businesses from the Twenty Valley wine region in Niagara to the scenic vistas of Northumberland near rice lake. In Pickering, the Greenbelt Route route is roughly 20km inland of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail but can be accessed by a signed connector route in Whitby.

Community Links

Pickering

Durham Region

Staging Areas

  • From Toronto:
  • Rouge Beach Park (Scarborough) – End of Lawrence Ave. East, Toronto. Very limited parking. Consider using GO Transit. The Rouge Valley GO station is 2 km from the beach.

    From Pickering:

  • Entrance to Open Space at Bella Vista Drive, 503 Rodd Avenue, Pickering – limited parking
  • Petticoat Creek Conservation Area, 1100 Whites Rd S, Pickering – Foot of Whites Rd.
  • Millennium Square- Public Parking lot, 505 Liverpool Rd, Pickering, ON at the foot of Liverpool Rd.
  • Alex Robertson Park, 700 Sandy Beach Rd, Pickering. Near south end of Sandy Beach Rd.
  • Foot of Frisco Road – Limited parking

Amenities

  • Accommodations, Campground
  • Accommodations, Roofed
  • Beaches
  • Groceries
  • Hospital
  • LCBO (Includes Breweries and Wineries)
  • Marinas
  • Museums
  • Outfitters
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping Areas
  • Tourist Information
  • Washrooms
  • WIFI
  • Winter Maintenance

Transit

• GO Transit — Pickering’s GO station services both the train and bus lines.

• Durham Region Transit — Includes a trip planner using local transit.

• Pickering Transit

Helpful Links

General Tourism

Region of Durham — Places to visit, eat and stay. Includes regional PDF trails guides and interactive map.

Regional Tourism Organization

Conservation Authorities
Toronto Region Conservation Authority — Conservation authority in the GTA. Tons of great trails and conservation areas to discover and explore.

Ontario By Bike — Cycle Friendly Businesses and Trip Ideas.

 

Protecting. Connecting. Celebrating. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust is a registered charity. Charitable Registration Number: 86767 9821 RR0001
Ontario Trail of Distinction

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Waterfront Regeneration Trust

4195 Dundas St. West - Suite 327
Toronto, Ontario M8X 1Y4
(416) 943-8080
info@wrtrust.com

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