Purple Woods Conservation Area, the site of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority’s annual Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival, is a 17-hectare sugar maple forest and open meadow located in the midst of the provincially significant Oak Ridges Moraine. Here one can use the viewing platform that is only steps from the parking area to get a tremendous view south all the way to Lake Ontario from the crest of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

A short 0.5 km trail allows for a quick stroll down into the hollow. This is where you will find the sugar shack, which is the heart of this operating sugar bush. Visit in mid-March and discover how maple syrup production has changed from early native methods to the modern methods used today (Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival). Syrup and maple products are also available for sale at this time. If you visit in the spring and summer, you may have the opportunity to see or hear some of the more common forest birds in the canopy of this mature deciduous forest.

  HIKING: The short trails at Purple Woods Conservation Area are great for a quick stroll through the mature sugar maple forest. Those looking for a more extended hike can access the Oak Ridges Trail from this Conservation Area. Click for more information on the Oak Ridges Trail.

  PET POLICY: Pets are permitted within Purple Woods Conservation Area. Please clean up after your pet, and keep them on a leash (maximum 2 m long) at all times. Please note that dogs are not permitted at Purple Woods Conservation Area during the Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival (mid-March). Pet owners violating these regulations will be fined.

  WILDLIFE VIEWING: A short hike into the middle of the mature sugar maple forest will often reward visitors with the sweet sounds of several different forest bird species.

  NATURE STUDIES: This area is a great place to go for those wanting to improve their forest plant and bird identification skills without having to venture too far from the car.

This conservation area is open year round.

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