Recreation & Leisure

Municipal Parks and Community Centres

Community centres, ice pads, pools and sports fields pepper Dufferin County, where lower-tiered municipalities offer parks and recreation services.

AMARANTH:

  • A large community centre with a certified kitchen and banquet space
  • Soccer fields and baseball diamonds

EAST GARAFRAXA in the hamlet of Marsville:

  • A small community centre

GRAND VALLEY:

MELANCTHON in the hamlet of Horning’s Mills:

MONO:

  • Two community centres, Monora Park Pavilion and Mono Community Centre, each located in its own park setting with gazebo
  • Nine parks

MULMUR TOWNSHIP:

  • Boasts scenic hiking trails, ball parks, playgrounds, biking trails, cross country skiing, arenas and outdoor centres
  • A community centre with an ice pad in the hamlet of Honeywood

 

ORANGEVILLE:

  • Extensive parks system includes ball diamonds, soccer fields, accessible play apparatus for all ages, an outdoor skateboard park, splashpad, outdoor ice rinks (weather permitting) and other amenities such as picnic shelters, washrooms and tables
  • 8km of multi-use trails
  • Two recreation centres in town, with six-lane lap pools, water slides, ice pads, a library, and banquet halls and meeting rooms for rent

SHELBURNE:

  • The Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex  has a 900-seat arena, an outdoor heated Olympic-sized pool and a 4000-square-foot banquet hall
  • Three main parks, with baseball diamonds and pavilions, picnic tables and children’s play areas

 

Recreation and Nature

 

 

Niagara Escarpment – UNESCO World Biosphere reserve – Bruce trail

The world-famous Bruce Trail runs along the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the Niagara Escarpment. The 800km trail—Canada’s longest footpath—runs through the length of Dufferin County and offers breathtaking views, excellent hiking opportunities and is the home of several unique species of such as the Eastern White Cedar and over 46 species of ferns.

The trail was founded by a group of naturalists who believed that a public footpath would be perfect for experiencing the wonders of the escarpment. The trail and its surrounding environment are part of a greenway of undisturbed habitat and is an important wildlife migratory corridor.

At 750 hectares, Mono Cliffs Provincial Park also contains a significant section of the Niagara Escarpment. The park features many accessible trails and several more advanced trails with free parking and bathrooms.

 

Outdoor Recreation in Dufferin

Dufferin County is part of the Headwaters region, having four major rivers begin their journey in the area: the Humber, Credit, Grand and Nottawasaga. These rivers offer value beyond their beauty, plentiful fishing and secluded picnic spots. The water in these rivers slakes the thirst of over 1 million Ontarians to the south in the Greater Toronto Area.

Leisure Activities

Dufferin County offers an assortment of leisure activities, from golf to horseback riding to scenic fall drives.  The map to the right shows the major trail systems and leisure activities available.

  • Excellent mountain biking trails
  • Hiking on the Bruce Trail & other trail systems
  • Horseback riding
  • Golf
  • Fishing
  • Skiing, downhill & cross country, even some back country opportunities

The County of Dufferin has developed the Dufferin County Active Transportation and Trails Master Plan which includes provisions for improving cycling throughout the County.
For more detailed trail maps and information visit the Headwaters Communities in Action website to view their comprehensive trail list complete with maps and amenities for each trail.

For more information on leisure activities visit the Headwaters Tourism website at www.headwaters.caHeadwaters (1)