Glen Major Forest — Attraction in Uxbridge

Oh, where do I even begin with this gem of a forest? Glen Major Forest is the kind of place that makes you question whether you're really living in the real world or if you've stumbled into a magical land of talking animals and enchanted trails. Prepare yourself for an adventure unlike any other!

First things first, the bike tracks here are ridiculously fantastic! If you've ever dreamt of soaring through the forest like a caffeinated squirrel on a bike, this is your chance. The trails are so well-maintained that they practically sing a little "thank you" tune as you pedal along. It's like a dance floor made of dirt and leaves, where your bicycle is the star performer. Just make sure to bring your helmet to protect that brilliant brain of yours. We wouldn't want any genius ideas leaking out!

Now, let's talk about the animals. Glen Major Forest seems to be a secret hideout for woodland creatures plotting their next great adventure. I swear I saw a deer wearing sunglasses and a raccoon practicing yoga near the entrance. You never know what furry surprises await you here. It's like a real-life version of "Animal Crossing," but without Tom Nook trying to sell you questionable real estate. Just be careful not to challenge any squirrels to a race – those little daredevils are lightning-fast!

One thing that sets Glen Major Forest apart from other parks is their incredible maps. These aren't your ordinary, run-of-the-mill, "you are here" maps. Oh no, my friend! They're like treasure maps, guiding you to the hidden gems of the forest – the best spots for picnics, the secret squirrel gathering areas, and the locations where birds put on Broadway-worthy musical performances. Just follow the signs, and you'll be greeted by surprises at every turn. Who needs Google Maps when you've got a map that feels like it was drawn by Mother Nature herself?

And let's not forget the breathtaking scenery! The forest wraps you up in a cozy embrace of towering trees and dappled sunlight. It's like being in a fairytale, minus the wicked stepmother and the pesky pumpkin carriages. Take a moment to stop, breathe in the fresh forest air, and pretend you're the star of your own Disney movie. Trust me, it's worth it.

So, if you're looking for a place that combines the thrill of biking, the wonders of nature, and the joy of feeling like a kid again, Glen Major Forest is your ultimate destination. Just be warned: you might never want to leave. It's like a vortex of happiness that sucks you in and refuses to let go. Happy pedaling, my fellow...

The forest is ‘good’. However, depending on your use it may be not-good, good, or great. If you’re a city-hiker it’ll likely appear as great. If you’re a true mtn biker it’ll appear as ‘ya-okay-for-now’. If you are somewhat new to mtn biking, riding, or are from the city, it’ll seem very good. Effectively, there are no features or jumps but there’s enough there for date-rides. If you’re a XC skier in the winter the trails are not groomed so it’s about as good as XC skiing behind the local high school. The ‘City’ of Uxbridge has talked the Conservation Area into allowing double-taxation which means users have to pay for parking AND pay their taxes to have these areas exist. Somehow, the financial mismanagement of Uxbridge has become everyone’s financial burden. There’s so much shame here for Uxbridge and its residents there really should be a placard listing the incompetents by name. Given the cash grab being imposed by Uxbridge, one would expect the trails to be incredible and improving all the time. If you read the signs, the fees are apparently for trail maintenance, however the fees are instead slotted into Uxbridge’s general revenue and used to replace their single downtown street and drainage ditch. There is no money used for planning, enhancement, or optimization allotted for Durham Forest / Walkers Woods / Glen Major. Oh, here’s the kicker, the single track trails are mostly looked after by volunteers who live in the area. The new location (The Trail Hub) is trying to make an area attraction so the skilled people are now aligning with The Trail Hub (rightly so). Selfishly I want lots of good trails with access for a reasonable amount of money. It would seem the parking fees collected by Uxbridge should be 50% shared with The Trail Hub. This would allow The Trail Hub to remain viable and enhance their development of the area.

As a side note, the Conservation Areas only exist because of Hurricane Hazel in 1954. … after Hurricane Hazel, the provincial government amended the Conservation Authorities Act to enable Conservation Authorities to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and to regulate that land for the safety of the community.

There’s no mention of harvesting money from parking to correct financial mismanagement of the...

The Good: The trail system is one of the best around - certainly the longest. A good challenge for any mountain biker or hiker. Beautiful views abound - there are some great viewpoints in the south end. Remember to download the trail maps on Trail Forks or All Trails so you don't get lost.

The Bad: Some trails have been marked "Singletrack Bike Trail" - that means no horses or hikers. Some idiot regularly rides his horse down the singletrack trails in the Spring when they're wet and leaves massive hoof prints and steaming piles of dung on the trail. Very destructive and irresponsible. Stick to the doubletrack if you're hiking or on a horse.

The Bad Part 2: Dog owners need to remember this is NOT a leash-free facility. Keep your dog on a 6 foot leash and clean up it's waste. There have been far too many "Lost Dog" signs in the past five years. Your dog deserves better.

The Ugly: Town of Uxbridge has implemented paid parking at all parking areas. They use a Gift Card app that steals/sells your personal information. The app also doesn't work in all areas as you need signal for it to connect. So yes - you must have a Smartphone to enter a nature area. There are too many problems to list with this parking scam - just skip the headaches and go to Trail Hub or HyHope...