Category: Hiking
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What to know before visiting Pretty River Valley Provincial Park
Pretty River Valley Provincial Park is nestled into the Niagara Escarpment, and is an important part of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The park is home to a multitude of species, ecosystems, and sensitive habitats, all of which Ontario Parks is trying to protect. Your actions as a visitor can help us keep this unique…
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Introducing MacGregor Point's new Forest Therapy Trail!
Today’s blog comes from Dr. Romola Porchuk from the Global Institute of Forest Therapy and Nature Connection, and Cortney LeGros, the Healthy Parks Healthy People coordinator at Ontario Parks. Forest therapy is much more than just a walk in the woods. It’s all about the journey, not the destination, or the number of steps you…
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How to plan your day trip to Forks of the Credit
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park is a beautiful park west of Toronto. It offers excellent hiking, picnicking, and fishing opportunities, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. But the secret is out on this hiking destination located close to home! Forks of the Credit can experience large crowds of visitors, especially on…
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Backcountry basics: know your limits
You’ve heard about this fantastic new adventure through a friend, route guide, or Instagram. It looks kind of tough, and you’re pretty new to the whole backcountry thing. Still, you don’t want to miss out, so you decide to go for it. But as you start planning, there’s a little voice wondering if this is…
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7 iconic vistas of northwestern Ontario
Ontario Parks is fortunate to be able to both protect and showcase an abundance of natural vistas across the province. While some locations are relatively easy to access, others will challenge you before rewarding you with their amazing views. Here are seven iconic vistas to discover and explore this season.
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How to be a Bear Wise visitor
Black Bears live across Ontario in forested areas where they can find enough food, shelter, and denning sites. Our provincial parks are their home, and over 90% of our parks are in bear country. A safe bear sighting during one of your adventures with Ontario Parks can be a lasting memory. Educating yourself about bears…
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Hitting the trails? Know the etiquette before you go
Matt Cunliffe started at Ontario Parks in 2006 and has spent over a decade working as a park interpreter and an assistant park planner, and is now a Discovery Leader at MacGregor Provincial Park. An avid trail user and self-proclaimed nature geek, when he’s not on the clock, you’re likely to find him onto a…
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How to avoid getting lost
We can definitely recommend “losing yourself” in our provincial parks by delighting in the sights and sounds of nature, and living in the moment. We do not, however, recommend getting actually lost. Park visitors get lost more often than you’d think. It can be a scary, stressful, and dangerous situation. It can also result in…