Durham East Cross Forest Conservation Area

Activities: Free Admission, Hiking, Off-road Cycling Trails, Snowshoeing, Cross Country Skiing, Explore the Outdoors

Durham East Cross Forest Conservation Area is 540 hectares (1,334 acres) and growing. It is within a designated Natural Core Area under the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, because of its high concentration of key natural heritage features, hydrologically sensitive features, and landform.In the conservation area, there are a mosaic of wetlands, meadows, forests, plantations, and remnants of prairies and sand dunes.This conservation area includes part of the headwaters for East Cross Creek and Pigeon River. Some of the water from here flows northward through East Cross Creek into the Scugog River, then through Lindsay into Sturgeon Lake. Water also flows into Pigeon River, which makes its way through Omemee into Pigeon Lake. There are currently over 7 km of sustainable trails, including the 1.7 km Blair Martyn Memorial Trail and the 2.3 km South Forest Loop.As you make your way through the conservation area, you will see environmental restoration in action. With the help of many local volunteers and groups, Kawartha Conservation has been decommissioning trails, planting native species and restoring habitat damaged by previous illegal dumping, fires, and off-road motorized activity.Durham East Cross Forest Conservation Area can be accessed either at 4560 Devitts Road, or at 4531 Boundary Road.