Outdoors & Nature
Hockley Valley Nature Reserve
378 hectares of mature forest dropping to the Nottawasaga River where it cuts a gorge across the escarpment. Hiking only — no bikes, no skis.
Just show up
~15–18 min from Orangeville·378 ha·Free
Three loop trails plus three side trails through mature forest, dropping down to the Nottawasaga River where it cuts a gorge across the escarpment. 378 hectares, free, and quieter than Mono Cliffs on a summer Saturday.
The important thing to know before you load the car: this is a nature reserve, not a park. Hiking is the only permitted activity — no mountain bikes, no cross-country skis, no exceptions. The designation exists to protect the forest floor and the river valley, and it’s the reason the place still feels the way it does.
Not to be confused with Hockley Valley Resort, which is a separate commercial property a few minutes away.
Details checked July 27, 2026. Fees, hours and closures change — phone ahead for anything that would ruin the trip if it were wrong.
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