Ontario

Quetico Provincial Park, just north of Minnesota in southern Ontario, is the Canadian portion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA). Truly a wilderness area, the 1.2 million acre park has no roads, few trails, and allows in just a tenth of the visitors that canoe the BWCA to the sou...

We chose to day hike to the White River Suspension Bridge from our backcountry site at Playter Harbour, but for a challenging hike you could start from the Hattie Cove Visitor Center and go out and back in one day. Total round trip distance is 18 km or about 11 miles.The trail to the waterfall an...

You need to plan ahead to make the most of this trip. Permits for backcountry camping in Canadian National Parks open up in mid-January and competition for popular places (such as this) can be fierce. Get the date nailed down before applying and get online right away. After you've secured permitt...

Start by parking in the lot just off of Highway 42, and check out the trail map. There is a maintained trail perfect for biking or walking, or a forest trail for intermediate walkers. A good way to do this trail is start by heading to the waterfall, then back up and follow the forest trail north ...

The Massasauga Provincial Park covers the islands and coastline south of Parry Sound, forming part of the globally significant Georgian Bay UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It preserves the unique landscape of eastern Georgian Bay; clear blue water, towering pine trees and ever-present Canadian Shield b...

The main parking lot is off of McLaren Road on the north-east side of the park, with an honour-pay system. Multiple hiking loops are well marked, with clear "Falls this way!" arrows on every sign. There are some steep down/up walks on wooden staircases that lead to both the river fishing spots a...

French River Provincial Park is known for backcountry camping through its winding waterways and near-complete seclusion. There is lots of wildlife, great fishing, and stunning night skies to boot.  Set your GPS to the Hartley Bay Marina where you can park your car and pick up (or unload) your can...

Bon Echo is well-known for its deep, clear lake and the native pictographs that adorn the sheer cliff on the north shore. It is a well-sized park with 400 car-accessible campsites in Mazinaw Campground that are walking distance from the lake.Your first step is to reserve your site on Ontario Park...

This little trail is located right of of dumphries rd (parking lot is hidden in some trees, be sure not to miss it). This trail is easy to follow and easy to walk. In the trail you can enjoy the local chickadees and herons while over looking small lakes. The simple walk allows for a bit of relaxa...

Singhampton Caves Trail is a 1.4 mile scenic loop trail located near Clearview, Ontario that features beautiful wild flowers, moss-covered caves (open to the sky) and moist carpet of liverworts and different species of fern. The trail is accessible year-round, but the best time to explore it woul...

Located a short distance from the entrance of Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, Kakabeka Falls plunges 131 feet over sheer cliffs and is part of the Kaministiquia River. The gorge in which the falls cascade over host some of the oldest fossils in existence. The area was used centuries ago by Voyag...

The Torrance Barrens is a great half day hike and a very unique spot in the Muskokas. Different landscape than the typical 'Muskoka woods and lakes', the barrens are mostly scraped back to the bedrock with less trees and more fen mats and low vegetation.The trail head has a great parking pad off ...

This is a 2.5km loop hike that begins at the beach at the Northern side of Gut Lake. Gut Lake is located within Grundy Lake Provincial Park so you will need to purchase a park permit in order to access this lake (link below).The trailhead for Gut Lake is located just south of a Visitor Center an...

This is probably one of my all-time favorite short hikes to do in Ontario during the fall. The hikes takes you to a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Niagara Escarpment that is blazed with fall colors. This family-friendly lookout trail should provide a very little challenge for older family me...

This 3km pebble beach in Agawa Bay boast of a spectacular view and a good afternoon. Simply park your car and enjoy! Close in the area is a trail (if you wish to hike) to explore the area as well.  

For a few years, my friends and I made this a yearly tradition; grabbing the ferry across the St. Lawrence River and biking across Wolfe Island to Big Sandy Bay, where we'd swim, have lunch and watch the sun go down. I'm not sure if we'll get the chance again so I'm passing it on to you.Big Sandy...