There are a few hidden gems in Durham Region and Heber Downs Conservation Area is one of them. While our house was for sale, I had to find someplace to take the dog and the kids to entertain them for a few hours.  We occasionally go to Heber Downs during the Summer so this was a great place to go  to waste some time.  Heber Downs is located in North Whitby off of Country Lane Road which is just off Taunton , west of Brock Street.

Before we went we stopped off at Dollarama and picked up a couple of nets and a small plastic fish tank. The dog had his head out the window drooling the whole way there-My car SO needs a Detail now- Yuck!

So we arrived at Heber Downs and everyone ran off in all directions. I managed to herd everyone back up and we started off with a long hike along the trails. There is a nice meandering side walk that curves along beside the creek. On the other side are green  grassy clearings and wooded areas for picnicking  and fun activities. The park allows for groups to picnic for the day with a special permit. Last summer when we came for the day we brought a picnic lunch and played soccer. The only problem was that there were tons of tiny frogs hopping around in the area we chose. So of course the kids ran around like chickens trying to catch the jumping frogs.

As you cross over the first wooden bridge over the creek ,the sidewalk turns into more of a dirt path through the forest. It's cooler here in the woods combined with the earthy peat smell that only comes from a walk amongst the tall trees. Beautiful lush green ferns sway gently in the breeze. The sound of the bubbling creek on the other side is music to the ears. It's so relaxing to get away from TV's, MP3's and video games and just listen to the sounds of nature and silence.

Surprisingly enough there were quite  a few other families there with the same idea. Some were strolling with babies, some walking dogs, others just leisurely strolling with the odd walking stick. Some people had cameras-like me, snapping the occasional picture. There are two sets of wooden staircases that take you up to the higher elevations- One lookout point is called "Devil's Den" and you can peer out over the woods from above after you have climbed a CN Tower's worth of steep stairs. If you follow the path you will eventually see another brown wooden sign that points you back to nature trail. Here again you will travel down some stairs, boardwalks and peat paths. The creek meanders along beside you on the right.

There is another wooden bridge over the creek that leads you to a small lake. This area was once the Iroquois Lake Glacier.  Heading back the way we came we go back to the other side of the parking lot where the creek is with a great area for kids to try and catch fish and frogs. There are also cray fish in there too. The kids spend the time wading through the water or collecting fossilized rocks in the beach area. The fish and frogs are returned to their habitat before we leave- in good health.

I bring a fold up chair , a book, my camera and some water.  And it costs about $2 for parking. Can't Beat That!