Forks of the Credit Provincial Park is a beautiful park west of Toronto. It offers excellent opportunities for hiking, picnicking, and fishing, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
But the secret is in this hiking destination located close to home! Forks of the Credit can see large crowds of visitors, especially on summer weekends.
As the park’s popularity has grown, so has our need for visitors to make more of an effort to be respectful. Visitors should plan ahead to avoid large crowds, possible fines, or being turned away at the park gate.
Planning a Forks of the Credit trip?
Here are our top tips for a fun, frustration-free visit:
1. What’s new in 2023?
Have you ever arrived at Forks of the Credit and not found space for your vehicle even though you have already reserved in advance? We’re working hard to avoid that frustration and help visitors secure their space before they arrive.
This year, there are new gates at the entrance to Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. These doors will be fully automated.
To gain access, all you need to do is scan the barcode on your daily vehicle permit in advance at the gate, and you’re ready to explore!
If you arrive at the park and have technical difficulties with the gate, simply press the call button to contact park staff. We will do everything we can to help you get to the park as quickly as possible!
2. How do I reserve my daily vehicle permit in advance?
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park has a limited amount of space for visitors.
To help ensure day-use access, our visitors are now required to obtain a daily vehicle permit in advance.
Advance daily vehicle permits are available for reservation at 7:00 am, five days prior to arrival date. We offer daily vehicle permits in four-hour time slots, in addition to full-day permits.
When purchasing your permit, please note that you will only be guaranteed access during the selected time. Access to the park is not permitted outside of the designated time slot.
Reservations can be made:
- online
- by phone: 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275)
For more information, including how seasonal permit holders can take advantage of this opportunity, visit our website.
3. When is the best time to visit?
Forks of the Credit can experience large crowds on weekends, especially in the summer and fall. For this reason, the best times to visit are winter and early spring. Beat the crowds by visiting from November to April.
If you’re planning a trip in late spring, summer, or fall, consider visiting on a weekday.
Whenever you plan to visit, you must obtain a daily vehicle permit in advance, as described above. No entry will be permitted without a permit. Once all available permits are sold, the park will be full for the day.
Please note that parking has limited capacity and parking is not permitted on municipal roads. Visitors must park in a designated spot and obey all signs, or risk receiving a ticket, parking ticket, or even having their vehicle towed.
Wondering if the park has reached capacity? When registering online, the available time slots will be indicated in green. If there are no green slots, then the park is full.
Take a look at credit forks Twitter for more information:
4. How much does the visit cost?
Day use fees are charged per vehicle:
- full day: $18.00
- four hours: $8.50
You can also use your seasonal permit to book in advance at no additional cost.
5. What do I do when all the available permits are sold?
If there are no vacancies for the rest of the day through our reservation system, try exploring somewhere new in the area (see point 6 below).
There are many local restaurants and unique attractions. The Caledon area has enough options to fill anyone’s weekend.
6. Can you recommend a place to hike other than Forks of the Credit?
Certainly!
Earl Rowe Provincial Park offers six hiking trails, including the Lookout Trail that leads to an observation deck overlooking the park and surrounding area.
Earl Rowe Provincial Park
Bronte Creek Provincial Park in Oakville has five great hiking trails. The 50m deep Bronte Creek ravine is a photogenic feature.
Brontë Creek Provincial Park
If you’re willing to venture further afield from the GTA, MacGregor Point Provincial Park features a collection of biking and hiking trails, with several routes along Lake Huron’s stunning shoreline. You can’t miss the sunsets here!
7. Where can I have lunch?
There are options in Caledon to suit all palates.
8. Where can I find the best view of the waterfall?
The Dominion Trail leads to the best viewing spot.
However, please note that the Meadow Trail connection is currently closed due to infrastructure damage. Hikers must return the same way they entered. There are signs posted to direct you.
9. Can I bring my dog?
Yeah! Just make sure you follow all dog-related rules, including keeping Fido on a leash (no more than 2m).
Don’t forget to pick up after your puppy and dispose of waste properly.
10. What should I or should I not pack?
What you should definitely pack: sunscreen, hat, water, snacks, and a good pair of walking shoes. Ticks are also common throughout Ontario, so bring a pair of needle-nose tweezers.
What you should not pack: alcohol and firewood. Fires are not allowed in the park at any time and violators will be fined.
Also, try to limit the amount of food packaging and other disposable items you carry with you. Disposal of garbage and waste in non-designated areas is unacceptable and fines are imposed.