Easy hikes and walks around Oshawa

The Discovery Trail is the longer of the two trails through the Purple Woods and it travels through woodlands and open meadows. If you're here in the lead up to the annual Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival that takes place each March, you may see trees being tapped for sap collection.

Purple Woods Conservation Area offers year-round hiking with sweeping southern views and connections to the Oak Ridges Trail. Visitors can enjoy short, accessible routes like the Sugar Shack and Discovery Walk trails, while spotting migratory songbirds in spring and fall, Monarch butterflies in summer, and vibrant foliage in autumn. Each March, the 41-acre site transforms into the hub of the Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival, celebrating the area’s 150-year-old sugar maple forest. The festival highlights the evolution of syrup-making from Indigenous traditions to modern techniques, with maple products available for visitors to take home.

A rocky, quiet lakeside beach along Lake Ontario, it’s less developed than nearby beaches, which keeps it peaceful and ideal for a picnic or simply watching the waves. You can access it from the parking area of Courtice Shore Trail by taking a short side trail that leads to the water. You’ll find pebbles and driftwood, and you can walk along the shore and see the bluff formations, giving it a wild, coastal vibe.

The Courtice Shores Trail offers a brief, easy walk along the edge of Lake Ontario, providing stunning, expansive views of the water from above. I recommend visiting in the late afternoon to catch the incredible colours as the sun dips below the horizon. The path runs well back from the shoreline, but be aware that the bluffs drop steeply towards the lake; you will not have direct access to the water except for the beginning. As the trail is unshaded for its entire length, remember to apply sunscreen and wear a hat, especially during midday hikes.

Following the Lake Ontario shoreline, the Whitby section of the Waterfront Trail offers long, easy walking and cycling routes with steady lake views, breezy open stretches, and access to several parks and marina areas. The path is mostly paved and flat, running past Lynde Shores, Whitby Harbour, Iroquois Beach, and the waterfront promenade, with plenty of spots to stop for views of the lake. Boardwalk sections, shaded pockets, and signed wayfinding make it simple to follow, and it connects seamlessly to the rest of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. A scenic, reliable lakeside route ideal for relaxed rides, long walks, or sunrise outings by the water.

Whitby Harbour is a historic and important port on Lake Ontario. It is known for its sheltered basin, which facilitated regional trade, particularly grain exports, in its early history. Today, it is a central hub of the town of Whitby, serving both commercial and recreational purposes. The marina offers over 300 berths and is home to the Whitby Yacht Club. (Visit June 4, 2025) Source: https://bobsnautical.com/index_Whiby.htm

Between 1843 and 1846, a breakwater was built, creating a harbor basin in Whitby from the natural bay where Pringle Creek flows into Lake Ontario. In 1857, a wooden lighthouse was built on the west pier, which is connected to the breakwater. The wooden tower was removed in 1958, and a lighthouse was erected on the new east pier instead. Since 2021, the white cylindrical tower on the east pier displays a red flashing light, while a mast on the west breakwater displays a green flashing light. (Visit June 4, 2025) https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=2275

Between Ronald C. Deeth Park and Kiwanis Heydenshore Park is an unnamed First Nation Ceremony Site with direct access from the Waterfront Trail. Below the cliff on the shore of Lake Ontario are several high-set cairns. (Visit June 4, 2025)