About us
Wilderness Union makes it easy to get into the wild and find your outdoor crew. We plan regular, unique trips with great people each weekend, and arrange the transport along with all the gear you'll need. All you need do is show up.
We plan wilderness adventures to show you more of Ontario than you thought possible, and feel reset after the weekend. All of our trips are professionally guided and we do a huge variety of activities with regular hikes, camping, paddling, skiing, snowboarding and other special adventures.
We're obsessed with creating the most unique, professionally run, wilderness experiences that you'll find. Many of our trips are unique to Wilderness Union and you'll often visit places with nobody else around. It's just us and nature.
Join us to explore more of the incredible wilderness around our city, find your people and live your weekends to their fullest.
Our community
Our community of members is the heart of Wilderness Union and we carefully manage new applications to the group so you can feel confident that you'll be safe and surrounded by people you'll enjoy exploring with.
Members get access to all of our adventures, discounted pricing and other benefits including:
- Regular socials
- Discounts at outdoor retailers like MEC, Teva, Algonquin Outfitters and more
- Free, member led clubs like Run, Climb, Bike and Book Club
We'd love to have you join! Learn more here.
Most of our members are between the ages of 18-40 and live in the GTA.
Public Adventures
We offer a selection of Public adventures that are also open to non-members. Filter by adventure type on our website to find what's right for you.
Wondering why the RSVP count for events is low?
Members sign up for trips at www.wildernessunion.com - we just use Meetup to alert everybody to new adventures. We limit attendance to 18 people for our adventures and many more at our socials!
Want to figure out if Wilderness Union is right for you?
We host a regular new member intro session as an opportunity to learn more about the community, meet other members and get prepared for upcoming adventures. New members have a one month free trial and $25 in trip credit so you can try us out, risk free!
Upcoming events
9
Hike & Swim the Grotto at Bruce Peninsula National Park
Toronto, ON, CAPlease note the only way to register for this adventure is on our website.
We're doing a day trip to one of the most spectacular locations in Ontario: the Bruce Peninsula National Park. This area is full of unique, dramatic landscapes with stark cliffs and views over the enormous Georgian Bay. We'll be tackling a moderately difficult 8.5km hike through some of the most incredible summer scenery in Ontario.
We're starting the day off by visiting the Grotto, perhaps the most famous natural spot in the province. We'll hike through the forest then along the beach, ending up at the incredible rock formations and crystal clear waters of the Grotto. Here we'll stop for lunch, taking in the incredible views and turquoise water before hiking on to the backcountry Stormhaven Campsite. On the way we'll cross pebble beaches, forest trails and unreal views of Lake Huron before coming back the way we came.
Please note that self drivers will need to purchase a permit for parking.
Highlights
Visit the Grotto: Explore Ontario’s most famous natural landmark, where striking limestone cliffs meet crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Hike Pebble Beaches: Walk across rugged shoreline beaches and forested trails that lead to the remote Stormhaven backcountry campsite.
Views of Georgian Bay: Take in sweeping panoramas of cliffs and open water, with autumn colours adding even more drama to the landscape.Event cost: $70+HST (for explorer members) - $70 optional transport available.
Register here.About Wilderness Union
Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people.Members range from 20-40 years old. The group is a mix of GTA locals and newcomers to Toronto from within Canada and abroad.
Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming!
Learn more at our website www.wildernessunion.com
2 attendees
Epic #4 - Western Uplands Backpacking Trail
Toronto, ON, CAPlease note the only way to register for this adventure is on our website.
Welcome to The Epics!
Through this series, we will embark together on five of the most legendary and challenging adventures anywhere in Ontario.
Background
The Western Uplands Backpacking Trail is widely considered the premier hiking challenge in Algonquin Provincial Park. While the area is now a recovering hardwood forest, these paths once served the industrial logging operations that preceded the park's establishment. Today, the trail is famous for its solitude and wildlife; you’re likely to meet grouse that aggressively defend their territory and see constant signs of the moose population that calls the area home.What You Need to Know
We’re hiking the northern most loop of the trail, entering at the beautiful Rain Lake access point. We’ll have 45km of hiking ahead of us, a significant challenge when you’re carrying all of your gear on your back.This access point feels like finding a secret back door to the park's most remote reaches, starting with a gentle stretch along an old logging railway bed. It starts as a flat, historic stroll that lets us find our rhythm before the real work begins as we climb into the rugged heart of Algonquin. We'll trade the flat path for a steady rhythm of roots and ridges, pushing into the lush hardwood forests that define the park's western highlands. The rewards come in the form of solitude, like the deep, clear waters of Islet Lake - the perfect mid hike swimming spot.
Day 2, we push on for a massive 18km day, making our way to Brown Lake. It's a world of total silence and dark skies where the only sounds are the wind in the hemlocks and our own footsteps on the trail. This is a tough, honest trek through a landscape carved by ancient glaciers, offering a sense of pure wilderness that few others ever get to see.
We can guarantee that this trail will test you. Because there is no bailout option mid-route, we move as a tight crew, supporting each other through every climb. For those willing to put in the work and find out what they are made of, the Western Uplands offers some of the most raw and rewarding backpacking in the province.
What's Included:
- 2 expert guides with advanced wilderness skills and medical training
- All camp meals, cooking equipment and mess kits
- All safety equipment (including first aid kits and water purification)
- Tents and all the camping equipment you'll need (sleeping bags and pads are available for rent)
- All permits and campsite bookings for the whole trip
- A preparatory information session
- Detailed trip plan with packing lists, maps and the indigenous history of the route we're following
- Extensive planning to ensure your safety throughout the adventure
- A custom, iron-on patch to immortalize your unforgettable adventure
Epics are mentally and physically demanding adventures, and participation isn’t automatically guaranteed. These expeditions require skill, determination and teamwork to get through.
To help ensure a safe and rewarding experience for all, anyone who has not previously completed an Epic will need to fill out a short questionnaire so we can assess readiness together.
Your level of fitness and outdoors experience will play a role in this process. Having certain adventures under your belt will ensure you have the right skills and preparation for these kinds of experiences. These include:
- Any Wilder Series adventure, including the upcoming Wilder Loop
- Any Survivalist Series adventure, including Introduction to Navigation or Cold Exposure
- Canoe Foundations Clinic
- Hilton Falls Mega
- Any other adventure with 4 or 5 star difficulty
If you register for an Epic and are not approved, you will receive a refund in full.
Highlights
An Epic Challenge - Our shortest epic packs a serious punch. Conquering this 45km loop with packs on our backs will be an incredibly rewarding challenge.
Moose Spotting - There are a huge number of moose in this part of the park and there’s a good chance we’ll come across them during our journey.
Uninterrupted Wilderness - Deep in the woods, with no roads or cell service, this adventure gives you the ultimate opportunity for nature immersionEvent cost: $635+HST. $50 optional transport also available. Please register here.
About Wilderness Union
Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people.Members range from 20-40 years old. The group is a mix of GTA locals and newcomers to Toronto from within Canada and abroad.
Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming!
Learn more at our website www.wildernessunion.com
2 attendees
Wilder Series: Secret Wilderness Hike & Swim
Toronto, ON, CAPlease note the only way to register for this adventure is on our website.
The Wilder Series is back! Are you up to the challenge?!
We're heading deep into Ontario's Canadian Shield for a day on one of the province's most rugged backcountry routes. Tucked inside a little-known nature location, this trail trades manicured paths for raw granite, beaver dams, and dense forest that test both legs and navigation skills in equal measure. While only 15km, this trek and it's technical terrain are no joke. However, the payoff is incredible: raging rapids, amazing views and an incredible wilderness swim that you won't soon forget!
Secret Location
This is one of Wilderness Union's secret hikes. We visit spots that are undiscovered by the wider world, keep them pristine, and share them only among members. The location is revealed to registered members in the days before the trip.Please note that attendees will need a high fitness level to successfully complete this adventure. This will be a serious challenge!
Highlights
True Wilderness: Experience the Canadian shield in all of its glory! Unmanicured, untamed and unbelievably beautiful.
Beaver Dams: Cross quiet backcountry ponds and streams along the way.
Powerful Rapids: The Black River churns through a gorge with 20–30m cliffs.Event cost: $60+HST (for explorer members) - $50 optional transport available.
Register here.About Wilderness Union
Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people.Members range from 20-40 years old. The group is a mix of GTA locals and newcomers to Toronto from within Canada and abroad.
Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming!
Learn more at our website www.wildernessunion.com
2 attendees
Survivalist Series: Introduction to Camp Skills
Toronto, ON, CAPlease note the only way to register for this adventure is on our website.
Think you're ready to get into the wild? Start here. In this intro session, you will practice the core skills every outdoor adventurer needs. You'll learn how to read and select a campsite, pitch a tarp in any conditions, tie the knots that actually matter, hang your food to stay bear-safe, and use your tools with confidence. Learn hands-on fundamentals built for real wilderness. Whether you're brand new to camping or filling gaps in your skillset, the Survivalist Series gives you the foundation to go further more safely.
Who It's For: Anyone who wants to further develop their camping fundamentals. No prior camping experience required. For those with some background, this is a great change to fill in gaps and build greater confidence.
About this series: The Survivalist Series is an expert-led set of courses designed to develop applicable and life-saving skills in the outdoors. Keep your eyes peeled for more courses on many other topics as they become available
Highlights
Expert Instruction: Our amazing expert guide will teach you everything you need to know in a safe and approachable way.
Hone your Skills: Get hands on experience Pitching a tent, tying knots, using tools, and protecting your food for your next backcountry adventure.
Confidence Built from Scratch: Use practical skills and knowledge to demonstrate your new abilities. Ask questions, get experience, and practice with friends.Event cost: $60+HST (for explorer members) - $50 optional transport available.
Register here.About Wilderness Union
Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people.Members range from 20-40 years old. The group is a mix of GTA locals and newcomers to Toronto from within Canada and abroad.
Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming!
Learn more at our website www.wildernessunion.com
4 attendees
Past events
397
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