Living in Toronto can make nature feel a million miles away.
This is especially true in the winter, when the closeness of the buildings, the busy streets, and the slush limit the best that winter has to offer – tranquility, wide-open spaces blanketed in snow, and room to play.
In truth, however, the natural world is never too far away. Several provincial parks are open all winter and offer easy day visits for city-dwellers.
We’ve partnered with our road-trip loving friends at Subaru Canada to share some of the top parks near Toronto you need to check out:
Darlington Provincial Park
Distance from downtown Toronto: 45 minutes east, near Oshawa.
Darlington is a lovely GTA destination just off Highway 401, minutes from Oshawa.
Hikers and snowshoers will love the Burk Trail, which moves through fields, meadows, and a mature forest past a pioneer cemetery to a scenic lookout over Lake Ontario.
Winter visitors should also check out McLaughlin Bay Trail and Robinson Creek Trail.
Bring your snowshoes or cross-country skis and enjoy a wonderland experience close to home.
Guarantee your entry to Darlington by making a reservation in advance!
Bronte Creek Provincial Park
Distance from downtown Toronto: 40 minutes southwest, just past Oakville.
Aside from snowshoeing and 5 km of cross-country ski trails in the park, Bronte Creek also features a disc golf course and a toboggan hill.
The park also hosts exciting activities to help cure your winter blues. Watch their Facebook page for updates.
Guarantee your entry to Bronte Creek by making a reservation in advance!
Silent Lake Provincial Park
Distance from downtown Toronto: 2.5 hours northeast, on the way to Bancroft.
Silent Lake is a bit further away than the other parks on this list, but trust us – it’s worth the visit! We’re talking some of the prettiest winter landscapes in southeastern Ontario.
More than 40 km of cross-country trails wind their way through hardwoods, cedar swamps, groves of White Birch and beech stands. The terrain is rugged, but ideal for both cross-country and skate skiing.
Want to make it more than a day trip? Silent Lake offers heated yurts and camp cabins for those wanting to stay overnight.
Presqu’ile Provincial Park
Distance from Toronto: 2 hours east, on the way to Belleville.
While camping may be closed during the snowy season, Presqu’ile Provincial Park is open for day use 365 days a year.
Many animals are more visible in the park once people are gone for the summer. Red Foxes, Wild Turkeys, and White-tailed Deer are all routinely seen.
Bald Eagles, Snow Buntings, and Snowy Owls are also frequent visitors. How many of them can you spot?
Guarantee your entry to Presqu’ile on even the busiest days by making a reservation in advance!
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
Distance from Toronto: Just under 2 hours north
You’ve seen Wasaga Beach in the summer, but winter shows off a completely different side of the park. It has some of the most exciting Nordic ski terrain in central Ontario on over 30 km of groomed and track-set trails.
Expert skiers can challenge themselves on the High Dunes Trail while beginner skiers can choose the more leisurely Blueberry Trail.
No skies or snowshoes? No problem. The Wasaga Nordic and Trail Centre offers modern equipment rentals in addition to warm-up and outback ski shelters to heat up a lunch on a crisp winter day.
Sibbald Point Provincial Park
Distance from Toronto: just over 1 hour north, 20 minutes outside Beaverton.
Two words summarize Sibbald Point through the winter: “calm” and “quiet.” That means it’s the perfect spot for some winter fishing.
Lake Simcoe has excellent ice fishing opportunities for perch and whitefish. Just make sure you consult Ontario’s fishing regulations before you arrive (and remember your licence)!
Sibbald Point is thrilled to be offering NEW torch-lit hikes this year! Hike between the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on your own or join a guided hike led by Sibbald Point’s Discovery team.
Visit their event page for dates more details!
Don’t forget to guarantee your entry to Sibbald by making a reservation in advance!
Where will you visit in 2024?
Ontario Parks thanks corporate partners 
like Subaru Canada for their support.