Embrace nature at Windy Ridge Conservation Area. You can hike, ski, snowshoe or bike the 1.8 km multi-use trails and take in panoramic views from the lookout perched atop the area's tallest ridge.
Windy Ridge, located in the Kawartha region, serves as an important natural habitat and a resource for community engagement and environmental education. Windy Ridge offers a variety of ecosystems from meadows to forested areas, providing opportunities for educational programs, bird watching, and quiet nature walks. Windy Ridge Conservation Area is committed to offering a space where the community can connect with nature and learn about local environmental initiatives.
Windy Ridge Conservation Area Trail Map
Hours of operation
We are open daily all year.
- May to October from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- November to April from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Parking
Parking is $4 including HST per vehicle per day, or $84.75 including HST for an annual parking pass, which includes all Kawartha Conservation conservation areas. Seniors 65 + can get an annual Parking Pass, good for any of our conservation areas for $67.80. Visitors can pay for parking using the Passport Parking Mobile App or Passport Parking website. Once you had logged in, input Zone 3184 for Windy Ridge Conservation Area.
The Talking Forest
Explore the trails throughout our Conservation Areas like never before, taking in the tales of trees that call the parks home. The Talking Forest is an interactive trail that allows users to hear some of the different stories the trees in our parks have to share, from the trees themselves. There are currently Talking Forest trails located at Ken Reid Conservation Area, Windy Ridge Conservation Area, and most recently Pigeon River Headwaters Conservation Area. Along the trails you will be greeted by the voices of various trees who will provide you with fun facts, historical information and may even direct you to other points of interest in the parks. Enhancements and development of The Talking Forest are supported by the RBC Tech for Nature program. Download the app today to see what the trees have to say.
The Talking Forest app is free to download and is currently available on Android and IOS platforms. Subscribe to this page for updates on The Talking Forest and new trails.
Trail Information
- 11 Stations located around the loop trail
- Approximate total length of trail: 1.5 km
Join the fun, download the app
- Visit the Google Play Store or App Store.
- Search for and download "The Talking Forest" app.
- Make sure your location services are turned on. This allows you to follow along the trail.
- Select the talking trail you would like to follow.
- Leave your phone in your pocket as you explore the trails or use it as a guide to help pinpoint stops along the trail.
- Turn your volume up and listen carefully.
Download The Talking Forest for Android.
Download The Talking Forest for Apple.
Tell us what you think
Have you tried The Talking Forest? We want to hear your thoughts. Take a minute to provide us with feedback from your experience on the trail.
Facilities
Windy Ridge offers:
- Washroom
- Picnic shelter
- Garbage cans
- Lookout
- Hiking trails
Activities
Things to do at Windy Ridge:
- Hike and bike the 1.8 km trail system
- Birding
- Dog-walking (on leash only)
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing (trails ungroomed)
- The Talking Forest
- Word scramble course
Getting here
Windy Ridge Conservation Area is located in the City of Kawartha Lakes at 998 Mount Horeb Rd., just west of 7A in Omemee and east of Highway 35.
About
In 1999, Hugo Germeraad donated 87 acres of land that now makes up part of Windy Ridge. In 2004, Ontario Heritage Trust and Ducks Unlimited aided in securing an additional 122 acres from the Tuckerman Family, which Kawartha Conservation manages on behalf of the Ontario Heritage Trust.