Connecting city life to the backcountry
A Toronto resident who struggled to reach Ontario’s parks after moving from the United Kingdom has turned that experience into a business helping others get outside. Launched in late September 2022, Wilderness Union is a Toronto-based operation that now runs more than 100 guided outings each year, ranging from beginner day hikes to multi-day backcountry excursions. The aim is straightforward: make it easier for people living in the city to discover the province’s trails and lakes, and to do it in the company of others.
The idea grew out of the founder’s own challenges settling into Toronto and wanting to enjoy nearby nature without a car or a ready-made group. As he recounted, a first backcountry canoe trip to Algonquin Provincial Park reset his expectations for what weekends could look like and how quickly skills and confidence can grow with the right support.
“I moved to Toronto about 13 years ago, and I really wanted to get outside. But I didn’t know how, I didn’t have the means of getting there, and I didn’t have anyone to go with.”
From Bay Street to trailhead
Before launching the venture, the founder had secured what he considered a dream role leading a corporate innovation team on Bay Street. Within months, he concluded the work no longer matched his priorities. He left the job and committed to building a service that links Toronto residents with guided outdoor experiences designed to be approachable for newcomers and engaging for returning participants. He describes those early weekends away with friends as a turning point, building momentum for a structured program that others could join.
In practice, the operation now offers scheduled activities that emphasize accessible entry points—shorter hikes for those testing the waters and longer backcountry trips for those ready to go farther. The focus is as much on community-building as it is on kilometres or portages; the company’s model brings together people who might otherwise struggle to organize group travel or assemble the gear and know-how for multi-day outings.
Why it matters in Toronto
For many in Toronto, outdoor recreation is limited by logistics more than interest. Residents without vehicles or established hiking and paddling networks face high barriers to reaching trailheads or learning trip-planning basics. By centralizing scheduling and guidance, groups like Wilderness Union lower those barriers. Participants can test skills on shorter, beginner-friendly routes and, as confidence grows, move into longer itineraries. The social element also helps new Torontonians and long-time residents alike find peers who share similar goals for spending time outside.
That shift has broader implications for the city. Accessible recreation options can support public health, particularly when programming is regular and predictable across seasons. Structured trips can also reduce uncertainty for those who might be uneasy about navigation, safety or equipment on their first forays. According to the founder, the goal is not only to bring people to iconic destinations such as Algonquin but to normalize weekend nature escapes as part of urban life—something he discovered personally after that initial canoe trip.
“When I came back to the city [after this trip], I realized I was living for the weekends and felt like there should be more to life than sitting behind a computer screen.”
What the program offers
- Beginner access: Short, guided day hikes for those new to trails.
- Progression: Options to step up to multi-day backcountry expeditions.
- Community: Group-based outings to meet others with similar interests.
The founder says the seed for the venture was planted during that first Algonquin trip; regular weekends away with friends followed, eventually evolving into a formal offering. He describes giving himself a fixed window to turn the concept into reality—and meeting that deadline with growing demand for structured, social outdoor experiences from Toronto.
At a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Base | Toronto |
| Founded | Late September 2022 |
| Annual guided trips | 100+ |
| Trip types | Day hikes; multi-day backcountry |
The company’s approach addresses a common refrain among city residents who want a straightforward path to the outdoors: clear itineraries, guidance from organizers familiar with routes and conditions, and a built-in group to share the experience. While not every outing will lead to a wholesale career change, the premise is that reliable access can help more Torontonians put nature on their calendars. As the founder put it, the adventure that started as a personal weekend habit has become a regular program designed to help others take that first step beyond the city limits.
