Best Parks and Trails in North London, Ontario: A 2026 Guide

As a REALTOR® with Century 21, First Canadian who spends most of my week in North London — showing homes in Masonville, Sunningdale, and Stoney Creek — I get asked some version of this question almost every week: "What's there to do outside, close to home?" The short answer is that the parks and trails in North London, Ontario, are some of the best in the whole city, and fall is one of the best times of year to use them.

Camping season at Fanshawe Conservation Area just wrapped up for 2026, which means the trails are quieter, the bugs are gone, and the fall colour along the Thames is close to peak. If you're weighing a move to North London, or you've lived here for years and want a new weekend loop, here's my local guide to the parks and trails that make this part of the city special.

Key Takeaways

• Fanshawe Conservation Area offers roughly 30 kilometres of trails around Fanshawe Lake, according to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) — and the 2026 camping season ran until October 18, so day-use trail access is now quieter and fee-light for the fall.
• Medway Valley Heritage Forest, near Western University, protects floodplain forest and wetland habitat as one of the City of London's Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs).
• The Thames Valley Parkway's paved, multi-use trail network spans 45 kilometres on its own and connects to more than 150 kilometres of pathways citywide, per the City of London.
• Proximity to this trail network is one of the most consistent reasons buyers give me for choosing Masonville, Sunningdale, or Stoney Creek over other parts of London.

Fanshawe Conservation Area: North London's Backyard Escape

If you live anywhere near Fanshawe Park Road, Fanshawe Conservation Area is probably already part of your routine — and if you're house-hunting in North London, it's worth building into your search. Operated by the UTRCA, the park sits around Fanshawe Lake, a reservoir created by the Fanshawe Dam on the Thames River.

The UTRCA's own numbers, published ahead of the 2026 season, put the trail network at about 30 kilometres, with the lake itself used for boating, fishing, and sailing. There's also a splash pad, a lifeguarded swimming pool, and canoe and kayak rentals in the warmer months. The 2026 camping season ran from May 1 through October 18 — so as of this fall, the campground has closed for the year, but the trails and day-use areas are still open and, in my experience, considerably less crowded than they are in July.

For North London buyers, this matters beyond recreation. A property a short drive — or in some pockets, a short walk — from Fanshawe Conservation Area comes up often in my buyer conversations, since an easy walking loop or a quick bike ride to the lake is the kind of amenity that's hard to replicate elsewhere in the city.

Medway Valley Heritage Forest: A Quieter Side of North London

Fewer of my clients know about Medway Valley Heritage Forest, which is a bit of a shame, because it's one of the more peaceful natural spaces in this part of the city. Located near Western University and the Medway Heights area of North London, it's designated by the City of London as an Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) — one of the protections the city uses to preserve floodplain forest, wetlands, and wooded valley slopes along Medway Creek.

The forest provides habitat for a range of wildlife, including white-tailed deer and numerous bird species, and the City of London has been working through a Conservation Master Plan for the site to guide a more sustainable, better-connected trail network over time. It's not a manicured park — it's a genuine natural area — so I'd recommend solid footwear and a bit of patience with uneven terrain. What you get in return is a walk that feels much farther from the city than it actually is.

Thames Valley Parkway: North London's Connector Trail

The Thames Valley Parkway (TVP) is the trail system that ties North London's green spaces to the rest of the city. According to the City of London, the core paved trail runs 45 kilometres and links to more than 150 kilometres of additional pathways across London, making it the city's primary multi-use recreational trail. The surface is asphalt, roughly 2.4 to 4 metres wide, and shared by walkers, runners, and cyclists in both directions.

From North London, the TVP is the easiest way to connect toward Gibbons Park, the Western University campus trails, and eventually downtown — without ever getting on a major road. If you're the kind of buyer who wants to bike to work for part of the year, or who just wants a safe place to push a stroller, the TVP is a genuine lifestyle amenity, not just a nice-to-have.

Why North London's Trail Access Shows Up in My Buyer Conversations

In my work across Masonville, Sunningdale, and Stoney Creek, proximity to trails and green space comes up constantly — right alongside school catchment and commute time. It's not that one trail system changes a home's value on its own. It's that North London's combination of established neighbourhoods, newer subdivisions, and this much connected green space is relatively rare within the city, and buyers notice.

I always tell clients to walk or drive the route from a prospective home to the nearest trail access point before writing an offer. A ten-minute walk to a Thames Valley Parkway entrance reads very differently day to day than a ten-minute drive, even if both show up the same way in a listing description.

Fall Is Prime Time to Explore North London's Trails

October and November are, in my opinion, the most underrated months to get outside in North London. The summer crowds at Fanshawe are gone, the mosquitoes are done for the year, and the tree cover along the Thames and Medway Creek turns some genuinely spectacular colour. With Fanshawe's campground now closed for the season, the day-use trails and parking areas are far less busy — a good window for a weekend hike before winter sets in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fanshawe Conservation Area free to visit in the fall?

The campground itself closed for the 2026 season on October 18, but day-use trail access typically continues into the fall. Contact the UTRCA directly for current fall day-use details and any applicable fees, since arrangements can change year to year.

Are the trails at Medway Valley Heritage Forest well-marked?

The area has established trails, but it's a natural environmentally significant area rather than a fully paved park, so expect some uneven terrain. Check the City of London's current trail map before you go, especially as trail alignment work continues in parts of the forest.

Can I bike the Thames Valley Parkway from North London all the way downtown?

Yes — the TVP's paved, multi-use trail connects North London to Gibbons Park, Western University, and downtown London along a shared asphalt path, per the City of London.

Which North London neighbourhoods are closest to these trails?

Masonville, Sunningdale, Stoney Creek, and Uplands all sit within a short drive of Fanshawe Conservation Area, and several pockets of these neighbourhoods connect directly into the Thames Valley Parkway network.

Does living near a trail or conservation area affect home value in London, Ontario?

Trail and green-space access is consistently one of the features buyers ask me about, but value depends on many factors specific to each property. If you'd like a read on a specific North London address, I'm happy to walk through it with you.

Thinking About a Move to North London?

North London's parks and trails are one of the reasons I love working with buyers and sellers in Masonville, Sunningdale, and Stoney Creek — this is a part of the city where the outdoors genuinely is part of day-to-day life, not just a weekend plan. If you're curious what's currently available near Fanshawe, the TVP, or Medway Valley, I'd love to help you explore it. Call me at (647) 883-7135, or schedule a free consultation through 519propertyfinder.com and let's talk about what North London living could look like for you.