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
8
Survivalist Series: Introduction to Cold Exposure
Toronto, ON, CAPlease note the only way to register for this adventure is on our website.
Learning how to embrace the cold and manage its risks is key to enjoying the Canadian outdoors all year ‘round.
In this adventure, we will combine hiking in a rugged winter landscape with skill-building challenges, teaching you how to thrive in cold conditions. You will learn:
- How to dress and act to stay warm and healthy during outdoor activities in cold conditions
- The basics of preventing, recognizing, and responding to hypothermia and frostbite
- How to recognize hazardous ice and snow, and what to do in case of accidental immersion in frozen water
- Optionally (and weather/conditions permitting), you could take on the challenge of a real cold plunge in a frozen lake, with expert guidance and safety planning.
This course is led by Sarah, our amazing guide and medical doctor who has experience as a first responder in remote environments and expertise in simulation-based teaching of emergency skills.
Interested in joining this year’s Epics? Completing this and other relevant courses will support your approval process for advanced adventures.
Included: Essential cold-weather items to add to your personal first aid kit, including a hypothermia blanket and ‘Cold Card’.
Who It’s For: Anyone who wants to spend time outdoors with confidence in all four seasons! No previous first aid experience is required. For those with prior wilderness first aid training, or other healthcare experience, this workshop is an opportunity to gain valuable extra repetitions honing your skills in a realistic outdoor environment.
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.
Due to limited parking at the course location, WU transport is strongly recommended. We cannot guarantee safe parking for your vehicle.
Highlights
Survivalist Skills Training: Develop essential skills to survive and thrive in the wild.
Expert Instructors: Our amazing expert guides will teach you everything you need to know in a safe and fun way.
Cold Exposure Kit Included: Each participant will get a ‘cold card’ and an emergency blanket to add to their medical kits.Event cost: $90+HST - 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
CommUnion: Tilt Arcade Bar Social
Toronto, ON, CAPlease note the only way to register for this adventure is on our website.
Back again with another social for the homies as we spring into the new season. This time, we’re taking over Tilt Arcade Bar in Toronto.
What you can expect:- A great time with new and old friends alike
- Gamecube consoles so you can finally prove to yourself (and your family) that your sibling was clearly cheating growing up and that you’re not actually that bad at Mario Kart afterall!!
- Isaac trying to play dance dance revolution (a must see)
- Drink tickets for the big winners
- Loads of food and drink options
This spot is super rad because they have tons of amazing games that you can play as much as you want. They also have good drinks (alc & non alc) and some bar food to keep you locked and loaded (figuratively speaking, of course).
The price of your ticket gets you access into the venue. Wilderness Union will also be providing a limited amount of food and drink for attendees.
CommUnion is the new name for Wilderness Union's social series. This is a members-only event but you are welcome to bring guests!
Whether you’re new to the community or have been with us since day 1, come join in on a great night out! This one should be a ton of fun!
Highlights
Unlimited Arcade Games. Good People. Spring Vibes.Event cost: $10+HST. 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: The Wilder Loop
Toronto, ON, CAPlease note the only way to register for this adventure is on our website.
Welcome to the original Wilder Series adventure- a very challenging hike through a wild, secret location.
The Wilder Loop is 20 km of remote, rugged terrain through one of Ontario’s most untouched landscapes. Right from the start, the trail throws you into the wild: the first 5 km have everything we love about backcountry hiking; twisting forest paths, sweeping granite ridges, narrow boardwalks, and multiple beaver dams to scramble across. No two kilometers are the same, and every twist in the trail feels like a secret waiting to be found.
Once we hit the loop section, things get much quieter. This part of the park sees very few visitors as human footprints give way to moose tracks, and the rustling in the brush might just be one of the many beavers that call this area home.
Though the total elevation gain is relatively modest (about 260 m over the whole route), the trail’s difficulty comes from its remoteness, terrain, and ever-changing conditions. That said, for those willing to take it on, the reward is huge: sweeping views, total solitude, an unfiltered experience of Ontario’s boreal beauty... and a well-earned sense of pride by the time we make it back to the trailhead.
Secret Location
This is one of Wilderness Union's 'secret' hikes. As a group, we visit some truly special spots that are undiscovered by the wider world. We like to keep them pristine and only share them among our members- we ask that you do the same! We reveal the location to registered members in the days before the trip.Highlights
Untouched Wilderness- Step into a landscape that feels frozen in time; wild, windswept, and wonderfully remote. Just you, the forest, and the sound of your boots on the trail.
Wildlife Spotting - Bears, moose, beavers and loons are just some of the creatures that call this area home. You'll have a chance to spot some from a safe distance for a magical encounter.
Beaver Dam Crossings - The area we're visiting is shaped by beavers. Tiptoe across nature’s original bridges- muddy, meticulously built, and surprisingly sturdy.Event cost: $60+HST - 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
Hockley Valley Hike & Winery Visit
Toronto, ON, CAPlease note the only way to register for this adventure is on our website.
Just over an hour outside of Toronto, enjoy a leisurely hike along the Niagara Escarpment, ending with great food & drink overlooking a vineyard.
Hockley Valley offers some of the best hiking in the GTA. It’s especially beautiful in the spring time with the trees budding, the ice thawing and no bugs to be found.
This hike covers a gentle 6km and brings you over trickling streams and bridges, winds through diverse, piney forests filled with fungi and brings you out to hilly meadows where you may spot the first few wildflowers of the season pushing through.
After the hike, we’ll gather together for some time at the Adamo Estate Winery right beside the park to eat, drink and socialize with good company.
Please note anything purchased at the winery is not included in the cost of your registration.
Highlights
Diverse Landscapes- Embrace the wide array of different landscapes you will encounter throughout this adventure
Winery Experience- Savour amazing wines from a great Ontario producer
Group Social Moment- The perfect opportunity to connect and chat with fellow WU membersEvent cost: $40+HST - 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
3 attendees
Past events
361
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