Starkey Hill Conservation Area

A nice trail in the neighborhood for an easy to moderate hike, birdwatching or dog walking. About 1 to 2 hours.

Starkey Hill Trail is a moderate to hard loop, with a very hard side trail leading to the Lookout at the highest point in the township. The property has been worked for over a century but still is a good representation some of the glacial topography of this area consisting of depositions of till called Drumlins, and the marshes and ponds between them called Dungeons. Be prepared for a lot biodiversity in the form of mosquitoes.

My favourite hike in the Guelph area. It is a charming mix of wetlands and dry paths. Enough hills to make it interesting. Loved the chickadees landing on your hand for seeds. Great place!!!

This is a beautiful forest trail. It’s great for hiking in any season. It’s pretty hilly and rugged in some spots, so come prepared! Not somewhere I’d recommend to bring a stroller!My wife and I carry our twins in backpack carriers and we come here pretty regularly.Guelph has a wealth of great trails, and this is one of my favorites. If you’re coming on the weekend when the weather is good, there’s a good chance the parking lot will be full. There is parking on the road but watch the signs! I often see cars parked along the road west of the trail where there’s no parking. I’ve see many vehicles getting ticketed. The road east of the trail has parking.

Great trail for kids, a few steeper ascent/descents but overall a nice walk. Benches throughout for rest, nice transistors to different vegetation, and not too many muddy patches (despite lots of ponds). A well defined trail

Great location for a nature hike just outside of Guelph. Trails are easily accessible and well-travelled, with a sizeable parking lot just off Arkell Road (which tends to get busy on weekends). It’s a great place to take dogs but they must stay leashed, and mountain biking is not allowed. There is no fee to use the trails at Starkey Hill.There are also a large number of trails on the north side of Arkell Road which are great for mountain biking and longer, more secluded hikes. These trails are maintained by GORBA and the Guelph Hiking Club and users are asked to purchase a membership to one of these organizations (at minimal cost) to help support ongoing trail maintenance. It is also important to stay off closed trails (even if they look recently travelled) to preserve the privilege of using the remaining trails, as this area is not part of the official conservation area.

This was a great trail, definitely going here again. It was challenging while also being fairly short. Be prepared for lots of hills! Felt good to get a workout. We went after a storm looking for mushrooms and found lots of interesting things. Definitely not accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, mobility aids etc. There was a small area to park in. I believe there are mountain biking trails on the opposite side of the road.

Starkey Hill Conservation Area is a hidden gem. Wonderful trails that can be completed in around 45 mins if you walk briskly. Beware of bugs, especially in the early afternoon - don't forget the bug spray! Best to visit during other parts of the day for a more comfortable hike.

Just walking trails, lots of hills and uneven terrain make it interesting and a bit challenging so its a good workout hike! Peaceful and clean no washrooms available anywhere on site.

To the man I met on the way out of the wood, I sincerely pray that you were not an apparition. That being said, the hike was great. Lots of terrain to choose from. Great places to explore. Picturesque marsh land that is....less picturesque after the sun starts to go down. It was absolutely worth it for the fall colors. It’s just a very Halloween hike in every way possible.