What we’re about
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.
Most of our trips are pretty unique and we look for places where we won't see anybody else. 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.
Before accepting you to the meetup, we ask you to please apply for membership on www.wildernessunion.com to join future adventures. We simply use MeetUp to advertise our Adventures and do not monitor the chat on this platform.
We'd love to have you join!
Most of our members are between the ages of 18-40 and live in the GTA.
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 (4+)
See all- đź“– Wilderness Book Club - Split Tooth đź“šToronto, Toronto, ON
Please note that you have to become a member of Wilderness Union at www.wildernessunion.com to join our adventures.
There is no cost to attend for members- Wilderness Book Club is included in your WU membership.
Alanna will lead the next meeting! In 'Split Tooth' we are transported to a small Arctic town in the 70s. A girl knows joy, friendship and parents' love. She knows boredom, listlessness and bullying. She knows the tedium of the everyday world. The raw, amoral power of the ice and sky. The seductive energy of the animal world. She knows the impacts of alcohol, and violence at the hands of those she should be able to trust. She sees the spirits that surround her, and the immense power that eclipse’s all of us. Please note the book contains descriptions of sexual assault.
The author Tanya Tagaq is a renowned Inuk throat singer and novelist. Her work focuses on indigenous issues so, this time we're meeting at Tea N Bannock, a restaurant serving indigenous and native cuisine. You're welcome to join even if you haven't read the book.
Itinerary
19:00 - Precise meeting location shared in our member Discord.Please note that you will first need to become a member at www.wildernessunion.com and register here to complete registration for this activity.
Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community of people you'll like and creating a sense of belonging. 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!
- Sulphur Springs Trail Race RelayKeele Subway, Toronto, ON
Members of Wun Club are already training for this year's Sulphur Springs Trail race. We're entering a team of 8 into one of the most famous trail races in Ontario with each of us taking on one of the eight 20km loops of the trail.
This unbelievable 20K looped course is a hidden gem inside the Dundas Valley Conservation Area of Ancaster, Ontario.
With wildlife teeming through this old Carolinian Forest, and waterfalls cascading over rocks along the course, your legs may not even notice traversing the over 500M / 1500 ft of elevation per 20K loop. Expect to be challenged on this (mostly) double track trail system as you are supported with three fully stocked Aid Stations along the way.
This race is the Longest Running Ultra Race in Ontario, dating back to 1993.
If you haven't trail ran before, it's not too late to get into it but you'll need to start training now. We've fallen in love with the sport and are confident you will too.Itinerary
Saturday May 24th
05:30-05:40 Pre-race announcements for ultra and relay runners
6:15 am 100 Mile solo & 100 Mile relay runners START
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**Sunday May 25th:**‍
08:15 50M, 100K, 100 Mile, & relay runners - LAST LAP Cut-offPlease note that you will first need to become a member at www.wildernessunion.com and register here for this activity. We offer a one month risk-free trial and $25 trip credit to new members to figure out if the group is right for you.
Want to learn more? Come to our next info session! - Humber River Canoe and Group PicnicKeele Subway, Toronto, ON
The lower Humber river is a real hidden gem that blows people away when they first experience it. It’s a natural oasis in the heart of the city that allows you to feel like you’re far away from civilization. You can expect to see beautiful birds like kingfishers, cormorants, egrets and herons. Keep an eye on the banks and if you’re lucky you’ll see muskrats, beavers and deer.
When we get there we'll be equipped with canoes, get a quick lesson then head onto the water. It's a great beginners’ paddle but still has a lot to offer for more experienced paddlers - there’s always something new to discover along the way.
This will be a very relaxed paddle over a couple of hours and ends with a group picnic in the park. Please bring lunch, drinks and games! The canoe, paddle, PFD and all safety equipment is included for this adventure.
This adventure is fully accessible by TTC and BikeShare.Itinerary
10:30 - Meet up at Toronto Adventures Humber River Paddling Centre. It's a 5 minute walk from Old Mill Subway Station on the TTC,
12:30 - Picnic in the park
14:30 - Anticipated adventure endPlease note that you will first need to become a member at www.wildernessunion.com and register here for this activity. We offer a one month risk-free trial and $25 trip credit to new members to figure out if the group is right for you.
Want to learn more? Come to our next info session!
- Bruce Peninsula Camping OvernightKeele Subway, Toronto, ON
Join us for our first camping trip of the season! The Bruce Peninsula is justly famous for its gorgeous limestone landscapes and crystal clear turquoise water but almost impossible to get a reservation. We'll take you there on this beginner friendly trip that squeezes in the highlights in a short 2 day trip. As a car-camping trip, it's a great way of getting comfortable with camping for the rest of the season.
We start our trip visiting beautiful Tobermory, right at the tip of the peninsula where we'll explore the town and get fish and chips for lunch . Next, we head to Cyprus Lake Campground in Bruce Peninsula National Park where we'll set up camp and settle in. You'll have the chance to learn camp skills like starting a fire, cool off in the nearby lake or simply chill out in a hammock on your own.
At night we'll all have dinner together and roast smores over a campfire before sleeping under some of the clearest skies in Ontario, with our Dark Sky Preserve location allowing excellent stargazing opportunities.
The following morning, we get up early for the short hike to the Grotto, an absolutely stunning natural cave and swimming spot. We'll have a group breakfast, pack up our gear then head to nearby Lion's Head to hike another natural wonder. This 7km hike takes us to one of the most beautiful lookouts in the province and is the perfect finish to our time on the Peninsula.
We'll head back to Toronto having made the absolute most of the weekend.
Space is limited to 16 people so you'll want to reserve this adventure quickly.What's included
‍This trip is professionally guided and includes all of the following:
• Experienced guides with advanced medical qualifications
‍• All camp meals, cooking equipment and mess kits
‍• Tents
‍• An experience you'll never forget
‍Before the trip we'll be sharing a detailed packing list telling you absolutely everything you need to think about and pack so you can turn up feeling totally prepared, ready to have an amazing time with the WU crew.‍Meals
‍We'll have vegan/veg and meat options for meals with everything from dinner on the first night until breakfast of the last morning fully catered. Lunch on the first day is not included.
‍Sample menuBreakfast - Fancy oatmeal, topped with nuts, dried fruits and cinnamon flakes
‍Lunch - Tortilla wraps with hummus, pepper, cheese and dried meat for carnivores
‍Dinner - Thai curry with chicken or tofuHighlights
Learn Camping Skills
Learn camp skills like how to start a fire, keep food safe from bears, tie knots and more from our knowledgeable and friendly guides
Visit Lion's Head
We'll hike up this trail that culminates in one of Ontario's most spectacular lookouts
Incredible Stargazing
Spend nights checking out endless skies - the Bruce Peninsula is a dark sky preserve with amazing celestial viewing opportunitiesItinerary
Saturday 31st May
07:00 - Meet close to Keele Station
07:30 - 11:30 - Drive to Tobermory
‍12:00 - 13:00 - Lunch at Fish and Chips restaurant
‍14:00 - Check in at Cyprus Lake
‍15:00-17:00 - Set up camp
‍18:00 - Dinner
‍Evening - Fireside hangs and stargazing
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Sunday 1st June
08:00 - 10:00 - Dawn Grotto visit
‍11:00 - Check out
12:00- 13:00 - Lunch at Lion's Head and Hike
19:00 - Anticipated return to TorontoPlease note that you will first need to become a member at www.wildernessunion.com and register here for this activity. We offer a one month risk-free trial and $25 trip credit to new members to figure out if the group is right for you.
Want to learn more? Come to our next info session!
