Pickering is home to 4 conservation properties; Petticoat Creek Conservation Area, Greenwood Conservation Area, Claremont Field Centre, as well as the Altona Forest. These lands are managed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), who works with its partners to protect these areas and work towards a cleaner, greener and healthier city.

Petticoat Creek Conservation Area

The park is located at 1100 Whites Road, in Pickering. Take Hwy. 401 to the Whites Road exit. Continue south along Whites Road south for 1km.

The new aquatic entertainment facility includes a 3,200 square metre wading pool, a 750 person capacity swimming area and a splash pad with interactive water features.

For more information visit the TRCA website.

Petticoat's 70 hectares of park area offer:

  • cycling, walking and running along the waterfront trail
  • picnicking for families and corporate events
  • exploration of a wide array of flora and fauna
  • frequent sightings of indigenous wildlife including fox, white-tail deer and red-tail hawk
  • spectacular views of the bluffs

Greenwood Conservation Area

The Greenwood Conservation Area is located on the banks of the Duffins Creek East, from Taunton Road to Highway 7. The entire park is under ownership of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority but is located in both the City of Pickering and the Town of Ajax, separated by Fifth Concession Road. The Trans Canada Trail passes through the park.

The north half of the park which is within the City of Pickering, being left in its natural state, provides opportunity for activities such as hiking, cross country skiing, fishing, and bird watching.

The south half of the park is located in and managed by the Town of Ajax. Activities in this area include hiking, cross country skiing, fishing, picnicking and some camping. Contact the Town of Ajax at 905.619.2529 ext. 7200 for park and facility bookings within this area.

Visit the TRCA website for information about the Greenwood Conservation Lands (GCL) Master Plan.

Claremont Field Centre

The Claremont Field Centre is located on the banks of the Duffins Creek East and Mitchell Creek and is on the Trans Canada Trail. The property is located on Westney Road north of Seventh Concession Road. The land is owned and managed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and is the home of the Claremont Field Centre School. Outdoor education programs are offered for school, Scouts, Guides and other general interest groups. Although the Field Centre is not open to the general public, the site is open for hiking.

Altona Forest

The Altona Forest, which is located on Altona Road, between Strouds Lane and Finch Avenue, consists of an area of 53 hectares (102 acres) that was designated as environmentally significant due to its ecological and historical importance in 1982. The forest is owned and managed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, with the assistance of the Altona Forest Community Stewardship Committee.

The forest provides essential habitat for a large number of plants and animals native to southern Ontario. These include many migratory and songbirds, foxes, coyotes, hawks and rare amphibians. The forest contributes to the bioregion's greenspace network and is connected to the environmentally protected Rouge-Duffins Wildlife Corridor on the north. Permitted activities in the forest include hiking, bird watching, wildlife photography and educational interpretative walks put on by committee members.

A forest map and interpretive hiking trail guides are available on line on the Altona Forest website.