Not far from the noise and skyscrapers of Toronto's downtown spreads the unique wilderness of country’s first national urban park.

Rouge Park is a rich combination of natural, cultural and agricultural landscapes with a human history dating back over 10,000 years. Ranging 4,050 hectares, it contains the best remaining wetlands, region's largest marshes, unspoiled beaches, and amazing hiking opportunities. It is also one of the best examples of forest habitat, being a home to incredible biodiversity with 1,700 species of plants and animals, including 23 species at risk.

One of the key objectives of the Park is also the on-going protection of cultural heritage and preservation of agriculture, containing some of the very few working agricultural lands and farms left in the GTA.

The Park has been working towards the establishment of national urban park from 2011, and since then it's become the first urban National Park in Canada and the biggest urban National Park in the whole world. Once established, it is:

one of the largest and best protected urban parks of its kind in the world, spanning in the heart of Canada's largest and most diverse metropolitan area.

Rouge Park protects and restores an important ecosystem in Canada's largest urban centre, and provides the chance to directly experience wild nature without leaving the city - accessible by public transport, open 365 days a year, with a free admission, visitors can enjoy over 12 kilometres of rustic hiking trails, riverside camping, ancient shorelines, and spectacular views all over. For more information about the history, or park events, visit the Rouge Park website.

LRBLKS