Free Parkbus shuttle runs weekends to Rouge National Urban Park
Round-trip service from downtown and North York includes guided tours and access to 40+ km of trails through July–September.
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Parkbus is running free round-trip shuttles to Rouge National Urban Park every weekend and holiday Monday through September, with pick-ups from downtown Toronto and North York.
The service, partnered with TD, MEC, and Parks Canada, departs at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. from 30 Carlton Street (outside the Holiday Inn) and at 9:25 a.m. from MEC North York on Sheppard Avenue beside Bessarion Station. Return times are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Carlton Street, and 3 p.m. from MEC.
Each shuttle includes on-board programming led by Parks Canada staff, who offer guided tours and introduce visitors to the park's ecosystems. Passengers have access to 40+ kilometres of hiking trails, cultural heritage site visits, education programs, nature interpretation, wildlife spotting, and all park fees are waived. Included in the free ride is the opportunity to explore the park independently at stops including the Zoo Road Day Use Area or Bob Hunter Memorial Park.
Rouge National Urban Park stretches across Toronto, Markham, and Pickering — Canada's only national urban park. The park is home to forests, wetlands, rivers, working farms, and some of the region's most diverse wildlife habitats, making it one of the easiest places in the GTA to spot deer, turtles, birds, and native species without traveling hours outside the city.
Tickets are booked through Parkbus's website with a $15 deposit and $10 no-show charge per seat; otherwise the seat is free. A limited number of walk-in tickets are available first-come, first-served. Bookings open two weeks before your chosen date.