9 Best Parks in Richmond Hill Ontario For Easy Walks and Hikes

Richmond Hill is north of Toronto and one of the rapidly growing suburbs of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). While known for its diverse neighbourhood, strip malls, cinemas, and golf courses, there's also a plethora of tranquil parks, glacial lakes, and festivals to discover.

You'll find plenty of green spaces but if you're looking for the best parks in Richmond Hill, this list will breakdown which ones are must-visit to get away from the noisy crowds of the inner city.

9 Best Parks in Richmond Hill

Urban planning plays a big role in why you'll find so much green space in Richmond Hill. Another reason for its beauty is the Oak ridges Moraine which adds its own unique element to the region.

It's also worth noting that Richmond Hill is a subdivision of York Region which is why you'll find trails listed on their page as well.

In total there are 165 parks, parkettes, and gardens but if you only want the best parks in Richmond Hill, these are it.

1. Lake Wilcox Park

Lake Wilcox Park is a great family park to visit with many amenities. The Lake Wilcox Boardwalk is also a new feature in the park, it spans over part of the lake in a crescent shape, measuring 130 metres in length.

Here's a look at what winter looks like at Lake Wilcox Park.

Located off Bayview Avenue, Lake Wilcox is situated along the Oak Ridges Moraine and features the largest of its ancient pools. In the summer, this is a popular park for swimmers and small boats. The sand at Sunset Beach is another great place to get away.

2. Mill Pond Park

The gazebo at the Mill Pond Park is a lovely spot, it overlooks the fountain in the centre of the pond in the spring and summer. This park is great for bikes, walks, runs, and strolls especially with the Millennium Garden south of the main parking lot.

Recently a boardwalk was added and something you'll really appreciate about this park is that there are so many benches and spots to sit and hang out.

Mill Pond Park is also a well-known venue for concerts, Winter Carnival, and the Mill Pond Splash Event.

This park got its name from being the site of an old sawmill operation that was powered by the pond. As a result, this region was an attractive place to settle in the late 1800s.

3. Richmond Green Sports Centre and Park

In the heart of Richmond Hill is a mega-complex that offers a remarkable range of activities both indoors and outdoors.

The box below lists everything out but I love coming to this park for its outdoor ice skating trail (turns into a rollerblading trail in the summer), huge picnic areas in the summer, historic buildings, art exhibition space, and the amphitheatre.

If you're into sports, there's just about every single type available to you including lawn bowling, soccer, baseball, basketball, skateboarding, bocce, ice rinks and more that can be housed in its multi-sport dome.

It also holds large events and trade shows such as arts and crafts shows, fireworks, antique shows.

Lastly, if you're a photographer, the dynamism of the space including its beautifully landscaped waterfalls makes for a great spot for a shoot. Just keep in mind that if you're doing it professionally that you'll need a permit.

4. Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve

Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve (ORCCR) spans over 175 hectares with many entry points into the Oak Ridges Trail and is dominated by mature forests, wetlands, meadows, kettle lakes, and an expansive network of recreation trails.

There are multiple points of entry to the reserve and also intertwines with Bond Lake which is further down this list. You can enter from the west near Bathurst Avenue or as far east as Bayview Avenue.

What I like about this reserve is that it is relatively unknown. While many know about Bond Lake, most don't know the full extent of the entire corridor with its many connector and secondary trails.

When planning a trip out here, just remember that it does lack trail loops which means you'll have to double back or plan on doing the hike one-way.

This reserve is also significant because it is an ecological linkage to the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Something worth noting is that unlike many of the other parks that are managed by the City of Richmond Hill, this is managed and maintained by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).

5. Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory

David Dunlap Observatory is a little hidden gem in a residential area that's booming with development. You probably have passed through this area before but didn't know a full range of telescopes sits atop the hill here.

The observatory opened in 1935 where a number of important research studies have been done here. Today, it's part of the University of Toronto's Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

While the buildings aren't open to the public, there are a range of astronomy programs and tours available to book.

Even without a specific tour, you can come by for a picnic as there are tables scattered throughout the grounds and marvel at the historic site and its telescopes.

Trail-wise, there aren't any large loops you can do and you have to be careful with some of the paths that lead to private property. However, in a few years, this area will be developed into a more complete park.

If you are a fan of the show Umbrella Academy, this is one of the filming locations which was the headquarter of the Commission where the Handler and Number Five worked.

6. Bond Lake

Bond Lake is a 55-acre kettle lake which was formed by retreating glaciers and part of the Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve mentioned above.

This is a popular lake where locals hang out, it’s surrounded by an abundance of shaded areas, perfect for a picnic. 

Preserved and protected by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), it is not recommended to swim and hike around the lake as it is a delicate kettle lake habitat. The water also isn't tested for human use.

Permitted activities include hiking, biking, bird watching, on-leash dog walking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

“This is a tiny little oasis in the middle of the suburbs, with natural trails that make you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere.” says Kate Goodale, a TRCA project manager.

The primary parking lot to Bond Lake is quite small and is shared with a private property (their spots are marked) which means it will fill up early in the summer time.

7. Phyllis Rawlinson Park

This park has a long history dating back to 1830 and is the largest park in the Oak Ridges Moraine.

What makes the Phyllis Rawlinson Park special is that it is the only park in Richmond Hill with bbq facilities and fire pits. In fact, this is the only park in Richmond Hill that has charcoal barbeque grills (a total of 5). This makes this a great place for outdoor gatherings and family picnics.

There are two main trails that you can try here. One is the one that takes you around to the Commons and the Pond. This is probably the most scenic part of the park with a mix of grass, gravel, an iron bridge, and boardwalk trails. There is another forest trail through Celebration Forest that has one end that starts from the parking lot by the Robert Holland Interpretive Centre and eventually connects with the dog park.

With so much history here, you'll also find significant historic structures on-site including an original farmhouse and a barn which is one of the region's oldest designated buildings.

The Robert Holland Interpretive Centre is a historic “Shaw House” donated to Richmond Hill and is now the home base for a new generation of environmentally conscious residents wanting to explore through environmental activities and outdoor education programs.

And lastly, another main attraction of the park is that it has an amazing off-leash dog park. One side is for small dogs and you have a larger area for all other dogs. This is a great place to allow your dog(s) to socialize with other dogs and to stretch their legs and really go wild.

8. Trans Richmond Trail

The Trans Richmond Trail follows part of the underground TransCanada natural gas pipelines and passes through two river valleys hence some of the path is slightly elevated. The trail has a mix of wooden, gravel, paved, and steel path. 

The Trans Richmond Trail is approximately 1,870 meters, it is excellent for walking, running, cycling, mountain biking and nature trips. This trail is good for all skill levels.

Parallel and just south of Gamble Road, this might not look like much on the map but it is a nice, continuous, and long-stretching trail with walks through the forest, some change in elevation, bridges, and is surprisingly full of life.

The trail can be done as a whole one-way trip or broken up between Trans Richmond Trail West and East. German Mills Channel is also part of this trail.

For a detailed map of the trail, a close up of the map is below which you can open up.

9. Beaver Greenway Trail

This is a more of a bonus trail that you can do if you happen to be in the area.

You can find the Beaver Greenway Trail in the industrial area near East Beaver Creek Rd. and Highway 16. There is a pond here with a nice paved loop and an iron bridge in the middle which is perfect for cycling and running. There's also wildlife to be seen on the pond as it's a very quiet area despite its location.

While certainly not remarkable as the trail is flanked by large industrial warehouses, it's an easy walk to do and has a nice forested route that joins Mural St. to the pond.

Officially, this is a portion of the Lake to Lake Trail and is perfect for a recreation cycling or running day that connects with Spadina Parkette and Artisan Park to the north.

Map of Top Richmond Hill Parks

TIP: Open this map in a new tab (maximize icon) and click on the 3 vertical dots in the menu to “Copy map” to your own account. This way you can use the Google Maps app to open it up on your phone. You will need cellular data to access the map.

Additional Richmond Hill Hiking Trail Resources

I'll be the first to admit that Richmond Hill doesn't have the most friendly website and it's not very clear who is the owner of information when it comes to parks, conservations, and trail systems.

The below is a list of resources that I've found helpful for more details and maps.

• Parks, Trails and Natural Areas – A breakdown of all parks but seasonally organized by relevant categories such as ones that are appropriate for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and winter walking.
• Guide to parks and trails in Richmond Hill – PDF of a brochure made by the city that highlights the parks and trails.
• All public parks in Richmond Hill – A no nonsense list of all the parks you can find in Richmond Hill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many people don't know that part of the Oak Ridges Moraine is part Richmond Hill and it's this geological feature that gives way to many of the green highlights of tie city.

With many parks and trails, it's now time for you to discover your own list of best Richmond Hill parks!