Grab your hiking gear or your bicycle and come explore the Greenbelt’s beautiful, protected countryside along one of 30 self-guided hiking and cycling routes in Ontario. Curated by the Culinary Tourism Alliance, in partnership with the Greenbelt Foundation, the Greenbelt Discovery Routes pair unique and diverse food and drink experiences with Ontario’s most picturesque trails.
Ontario’s Greenbelt is a swath of protected farmland, forest, and wetland that surround a significant portion of the Golden Horseshoe region. Two million acres of protected land work together to provide us with fresh air, clean water, fantastic local food and drink, and world-class outdoor recreation and tourism experiences. The region has a $9.6 billion economic impact every year and supports 177,700 jobs.
With each of the 30 Greenbelt Discovery Routes you’ll connect with nature, meet with locals and explore the many local food and drink spots dotted around the region – from farms and roadside market stands selling peak-season produce, to cosy cafes, bakeries and restaurants serving farm-to-table food, to wineries, breweries and cideries producing excellent wines and locally crafted brews.
Here are a few Discovery Routes we’ll be exploring this fall:
SAVOUR THE FORK
Encounter steep hills, diverse wildlife, a ruined mill and the beautiful Cataract falls on this delightful trail. Visit an organic hop farm and micro brewery, tour a local cidery and taste Caledon’s best jerk chicken en route.
TRAIL: FORKS OF THE CREDIT
COLPOYS BAY FLAVOUR TRAIL
Enjoy spectacular views of the Colpoy’s Bay as you walk along the edge of The Escarpment. End the day’s hike with a visit to nearby Sauble Beach for tacos served from the windows of a 1949 double-decker bus, flame broiled burgers and hand-dipped caramel apples.
TRAIL: PURPLE VALLEY AT COLPOYS BAY
RICE LAKE FOOD RAMBLE
Experience local food, VQA wines and farm tours as you cycle along rolling hills and wide open spaces of rural Northumberland.
TRAIL: RICE LAKE RAMBLE
HOLLAND LOOP TASTE RIDE
Cycle alongside Ontario’s ‘vegetable patch’: The Holland Marsh. This impressive 68km ride will take you through rich agricultural land and picture-postcard villages with stops at artisanal bakeries, wineries and farm-to-table restaurants serving up delicious local fare.
TRAIL: TOUR OF THE HOLLAND LOOP
To explore more cycling, hiking & culinary Discovery Routes, visit greenbelt.ca
