Outdoors Information

From experienced outdoorsman to rookie camper, Ontario has a vacation for every interest and skill level. Home to a quarter of the world’s freshwater, Ontario’s numerous lakes and rivers are the key to popular lazy-weekend boat rides, as well as serious fishing trips. But, these water bodies also provide the backdrop for many more outdoor adventures that exist within Ontario’s borders.

Manitoulin Island and Georgian Bay areas

Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world, and located in central Ontario, is a fantastic place to start exploring the province. By car, canoe, kayak, or boat, you can head in any direction around the island, and use this naturalist’s paradise as a jumping-off point for anywhere you want to go in Ontario. For instance, to the immediate southeast of Manitoulin Island is Georgian Bay, and you can experience its outer reaches by setting sail on the Chi Cheemaun ferry that carries passengers between South Baymouth and the Bruce Peninsula, offering an amazing introductory view of central Ontario’s waters and forests.

Georgian Bay, sometimes called the sixth Great Lake, stretches west to Owen Sound, south to Collingwood, and north to Killarney. Surrounding the bay’s shores are such outdoor gems as the Georgian Bay Islands National Park, which is nestled within the region’s 30,000 islands. Nature lovers will relish the opportunity to explore the largest of these islands, Beausoleil, and take field notes about the reptiles and amphibians that live there, the most varied cross-section of this type to be found in Canada. Also located on Georgian Bay, at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, is the Fathom Five National Marine Park of Canada. The first of its kind in the country, diving enthusiasts can enjoy the Fathom Five by strapping on their gear and exploring the watery graves of over 20 shipwrecks. Various historic light-stations also dot the landscape.

Algonquin Provincial Park

Family adventurers don’t have to travel far for more outdoor fun. A casual six-hour drive along part of the coast of Georgian Bay will bring you to Algonquin Provincial Park, located on the infamous Canadian Shield (the world’s oldest exposed bedrock, formed 2.5 billion years ago). Ontario’s oldest provincial park, established in 1893, Algonquin boasts professionally outfitted canoe trips that range from day trips to fully accommodated lodge-based adventures, white-water rides on the Petawawa River, trout fishing in the park’s many remote streams, and the opportunity to explore the logging and railway ghost-town of Brent, located on Cedar Lake. History this like abounds in the Algonquin area, and while many canoe trips will bring you past log shoots and ranger cabins from the mid-1800s, biking and hiking trails in the Bonnechere region will guide you along old logging roads, some of which lead to abandoned homesteads and mills. Algonquin’s unique position on the Canadian Shield is also part of what draws people to the area, year after year, season after season. In fact, when the snow hits, Algonquin sets up "yurts," eight-sided tent-like structures on wooden foundations that up to six people can stay in while they spend their days dog-sledding, snowshoeing, or skiing.

The St. Lawrence Seaway

To the southeast of Algonquin Park are the 1000 Islands and the St. Lawrence Seaway, located along the Canadian border between Kingston and Brockville. The islands are a marvel of nature, formed from an ancient mountain range that was flooded by the St. Lawrence River. Within this ecosystem live species rare to Canada, such as the black rat snake, the country’s biggest reptile, and in seeking it out, you can also visit St. Lawrence Island National Park, Canada’s smallest of its kind. This park is an excellent launching pad for any water adventure, from sailing, kayaking, to canoeing, and you can experience them all along the exciting 1000 Islands Water Trail. Those without sea legs can instead enjoy the natural beauty of the area by bike, taking their time along the 1000 Islands Parkway and Bike Path.

Southern Ontario’s beaches

Also in this region of southern Ontario is Sandbanks Provincial Park, home to the largest freshwater sand dunes in the world. Because of this exclusivity, lovers of flora have been exploring the dunes of Sandbanks for years due to the growth of plants that only exist within this area. Wasaga Beach, about four hours to the west, is yet another haven for naturalists. The biggest freshwater beach in the world, Wasaga’s white sand dunes are home to many rare species of wildflowers. And, further south, toward London, amateur and professional ornithologists alike can be seen congregating at Long Point. This beach and national wildlife area is one of the most significant stops in North America for birds during their migration seasons, and because of this, Long Point is an official UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

The Carolinian forest

Besides the area’s beaches, eco-tourists to southern Ontario will be happy to discover that North America’s Carolinian forest reaches its northernmost peak here, and within this forest are many animals and plants not found anywhere else in Canada. Some of this region’s flora and fauna are so uncommon that the area is actually distinguished by the fact that it’s home to more endangered and rare species than any other life zone in the country. Of particular note within the large Carolinian forest are Point Pelee National Park, whose wilds enjoy a world-renowned reputation for monach butterfly migration, and Pinery Provincial Park, where visitors can take in the remarkable experience of observing the "Return of the Swans." This amazing event marks the migration of 10,000 tundra swans as they stop at Grand Bend and Pinery Park on their way north.

The Niagara Escarpment

From Pinery Park, you only have to drive about two and a half hours southeast before you’ll be in the thick of another one of Ontario’s stunning natural occurrences. The Niagara Escarpment stretches from Tobermory in the west, to Niagara Falls in the east, and you can travel this length by car, or decide to take on Ontario’s oldest and longest hiking trail, the Bruce Trail. Along the way, you’ll see 400-million-year-old rocks, called dolomite, whose formation is so treasured that the escarpment is actually a designated UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. And, of course, the fact that the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls is waiting at the end of the escarpment is reason enough to visit this fascinating area of Ontario, but various other attractions, like the impressive white water of the Niagara River, are also at your disposal.

Lake Superior

If proximity to urbanization, however, strays far from your idea of getting back to nature, all you have to do is head north. Drive up to the Lake Superior coast, along Trans Canada Highway 17 between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay, and you’ll find yourself amazed at the shift in scenery versus that of southern Ontario. Provincial parks such as Neys (which acted as inspiration for many Group of Seven paintings) and Sleeping Giant (which is rife with hiking trails that offer fantastic views of the lake and boreal forest) are just the beginning of any northern Ontario adventure.

Northern Ontario

North of Thunder Bay is Lake Nipigon, where those who really love the outdoors can have the time of their lives. Known as one of the top ice-climbing regions in North America during the winter, Lake Nipigon, the largest body of water in Ontario that’s entirely within its boundaries, is also famous for its oddly beautiful greenish-black sandy beaches and high cliffs that surround its shoreline. Wildlife is also abundant in this area, as humans become the intruders here, not the animals. Caribou, moose, black bears, lynx, martens, and beavers can be observed in this remote location, and bird lovers can also rejoice over the opportunity to spot white pelicans, bald eagles, osprey, and great blue herons.

Arctic Ontario

If, for you, the more isolated the better, it’s recommended that you travel even further north to take advantage of one of Ontario’s fly-in outposts where you can experience the mystique of the Arctic in a largely untouched environment. Home to the Arctic watershed and sweeping swaths of boreal forest—so large that an estimated five billion songbirds live within its branches, hence the area’s "Singing Forest" nickname—the complete sense of quiet in these parts is a rare experience that few ever have. Wilderness parks such as Wabakimi, which is larger in size than Prince Edward Island, is a fantastic place to camp, and rivers that are protected as provincial parks, such as the Missinaibi (which is a historic fur-trading route that leads to James Bay) provide some of the best opportunities for canoeing the wilds of Ontario. And, if you’re mentally and physically ready, you can venture up to Polar Bear Provincial Park, Ontario’s largest and most northern park that is only accessible by air. Wildlife rules in this region, and the polar bears you can see here are living (and large) proof of that fact. Seals, walruses, and whales can also be spotted along the coastal areas. If this is a bit intimidating, however, there’s always Ontario’s Polar Bear Express, which starts its journey in Cochrane and travels north to the mouth of James Bay at Moosonee. This train ride is a great way to have the Arctic experience without the obvious preparation and discipline that goes into planning a wilderness outing in this beautiful but sometimes dangerous region.

So no matter your taste, from urban bird-watching to caribou tracking, there is something for every type of outdoor enthusiast when it comes to Ontario’s impressive natural wonders.