The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of Ontario’s most significant geological landforms. This irregular ridge stretches 160 kilometres from just west of the Trent River to the Niagara Escarpment. Shared and enjoyed by millions of people, it is the source of water for many river systems, home to a wealth of natural habitats and an enormous groundwater recharge system and drinking water source for central southern Ontario. Boasting 273 kilometres of trail and countless outdoor recreation activities, the Moraine offers something for everyone. It is a vibrant place for people to live, work and play in harmony with nature.

The Moraine divides the watersheds that drain south into Lake Ontario from those that drain north into Georgian Bay, Lake Simcoe or Rice Lake and east to the Trent River. The Moraine’s sand and gravel deposits act like a giant rain barrel, storing rain and snowmelt. This underground water is then filtered through layers of sand and gravel (aquifers) and slowly released as cool fresh water to the rivers and streams flowing from the Moraine.  Virtually every stream west of the Trent River within Northumberland County has a source connection to the Moraine.