Ontario Expands Free Public Access to Hiking Trails

June 9, 2025

New investments will create more opportunities to enjoy hiking trails across province, including the Bruce Trail

June 09, 2025

Environment, Conservation and Parks

Table of Contents

  1. Content
  2. Quick Facts
  3. Quotes
  4. Additional Resources
  5. Related Topics

BURLINGTON — The Ontario government is expanding access to trails across the province by investing $20 million over four years into the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program. For 2024/25, 15 projects will open up over 1,650 acres of land, including trails, for the public to enjoy at no cost. These projects, including three along the Bruce Trail, will make it easier for people to explore nature close to home while supporting local tourism and businesses.

“This program is about opening more trails and giving people the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors close to home,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “By supporting projects like those along the Bruce Trail, we are supporting tourism in our own backyard and ensuring that more people can experience the joy of hiking and the benefits of spending time in nature — free of charge.”

These latest projects – selected through a competitive process by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) – leverage the government’s four-year $20-million investment with private sector dollars to protect nature close to home through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program.

One of the requirements for the program is that projects need to provide some form of public access to give visitors the opportunity to engage in more outdoor activities. For example, the Bruce Trail Conservancy will be able to secure and protect over 150 acres (61 hectares) of land contained within the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere thanks to the program. Much of this land adds new portions to the Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath. Currently, over 70 per cent of the Bruce Trail is on permanently protected land.

Partnering with conservation leaders is one of the ways the Ontario government is providing people with more opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors close to home, while supporting local tourism in communities that have some of the best hiking trails in the world.

Quick Facts

  • For every dollar of provincial funding provided through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, grant recipients are required to match it with a minimum of $2 from other conservation partners, including individual donors, foundations and other levels of government.
  • Since launching in 2020, the program has supported the protection of over 430,000 acres (approximately 175,000 hectares) of land across the province – more than 2.75 times the size of Toronto.
  • Ontario has invested $58 million in the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program since 2020.
  • The Ontario Land Trust Alliance is the only provincial organization dedicated to providing community, knowledge sharing, and support for local and regional land trusts, and other groups committed to land conservation, across the province. Its 51 land trust members and associates collectively care for over 2,000 natural areas and greenspaces across Ontario, engaging the support of thousands of volunteers and supporters annually.

Quotes

“The Bruce Trail is the oldest and longest marked hiking trail in Canada, and I am pleased the Hollow Oak Nature Reserve along the Bruce Trail will benefit from the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program. This investment will provide visitors the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities in natural spaces for generations to come.”

– Natalie Pierre
MPP, Burlington

“We are deeply grateful for the Government of Ontario’s ongoing commitment to land conservation through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership. This significant investment will empower land trusts across Ontario to protect even more ecologically vital natural areas and preserve the province’s rich biodiversity while also providing communities with access to beautiful outdoor spaces. We are thrilled to continue this important partnership to safeguard Ontario’s natural heritage for future generations.”

– Alison Howson
Executive Director, Ontario Land Trust Alliance

“The Bruce Trail Conservancy is grateful to the province for this major investment in protecting nature and connecting Ontarians with the greenspaces they love in their communities. The Bruce Trail is a Canadian treasure and is a place where nature and people can thrive in harmony. Strong partnerships like these are critical to protecting biodiversity and access to nature for future generations.”

– Michael McDonald
Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Trail Conservancy

Additional Resources

Find out more about the Ontario Land Trust Alliance

To locate a land trust near you, visit the Ontario Land Trust Alliance’s member directory

Related Topics

Environment and Energy

Learn more about how Ontario protects and restores wildlife and the environment. Includes information on conservation and the electricity system. Learn more