There are a number of looped walks here with a lake, small river and even hills (not many in Whitby), convenient parking, shaded on most of the walks (except the rail track walk). One of them has a set of steep steps (I had to carry my dog up them!) so may be worth avoiding for less able bodied ramblers. Nice and worth the $2.00 for parking
A hidden nature escape right outside of a busy area. You really feel like you are up north in cottage country. Deer, turkeys, birds, fish, there is many beautiful animals to see. Also, there is over 700 acres of beautiful scenery! Rivers, ponds, tall trees, paths. It's extremely important for people, these days, to be spending more time and connecting with nature. Heber down is spectacular and a place to go and reconnect. See the stars at night, enjoy the diverse landscape, and dip your toes in the river. A must see spot in Durham!
Untouched by the city - Heber downs has been a destination for my family for years - Summer/Winter - Doesn't really matter - Just a great place to take the family - In fact - Now that my kids have their own - They take the little one as well - That's says a lot!
Abundant bird life. Few humans. Nice and quiet. No pets around. Plenty of parking. Sense of safe surroundings
Nice area, which now has an off leash dog park. Many residents use it and it's nice to go on nature walks mins from your home.
I love to go here to "get away". Although its not really that far out of the city its still nice to go there to see the beautiful animals. Certain times of the year we have seen wild turkeys, chipmunks, and the occasional deer. Its neat to see what a provincial park looks like when its no longer used. Its cool to go visit some of the buildings that are still there.
Heber Downs is very close to our home (approx. 10 minutes). It has great trails, nice picnic locations and you feel like you are miles away from the overcrowded subdivisions that Whitby has. A little piece of heaven!! We also do geocaching and there are some hiding sites at Heber Downs. We love this area.
Heber Down is easy to find. Just park the car and head out into the walkways, or across the creek. Picnic spots are good for a family outing and group get-togethers can be arranged as well. If you climb high enough you also get a terrific view of the surrounding area. This is spot is fun for a spring hike or to see the trees changing colour in the fall. Also a wonderfully peaceful place to just surround yourself with nature.
Metered parking that is cheap. Many trails by the river. Fishing pond. Picnic shelter. Kids loved chasing the frogs.
My girlfriend and I went here and the trails were great. Adequate parking. Maps are posted. Nice place to visit.