Take a rainbow walk at Ontario Parks

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

While we’ll be donning our head-to-toe green, we’ve got our eyes set on something grander…

…finding the rainbow!

The rainbow connection

If you’ve never heard of a rainbow walk, the concept is very simple: visit your favourite greenspace and take time to see if you can spot every colour of the rainbow.

Parents can bring along their phone, camera, or journal (with your favourite art supplies) to document what you and the little ones see!

child looking through binoculars
Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints

Completing the rainbow on your next outdoor adventure not only gives you a great sense of accomplishment, but taps into plenty of other body and brain benefits.

If you can’t find every colour in the rainbow, don’t sweat it! Wait a few weeks and visit the same greenspace — spring blooms can pop up quickly!

Wondering what you might spot? We’ve split some common Ontario species and sights into colour categories:

Red

red trillium
Red Trillium
  • Northern Cardinal
  • ladybugs
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Red Trillium

Orange

baltimore oriole in tree
Baltimore Oriole
  • American Robin
  • Red Fox
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Spilosomina Caterpillar
  • Blackburnian Warbler

Yellow

Marsh Marigold
Marsh Marigold
  • Two-spotted Bumble Bee
  • Trout Lily
  • Marsh Marigold
  • Yellow Warbler

Green

Maidenhair Fern
Maidenhair Fern
  • grass
  • tree foliage
  • ferns
  • Eastern Smooth Green Snake

Blue

Indigo Bunting
Indigo Bunting
  • Blue Jay
  • sky
  • water bodies (lakes, rivers, ponds)
  • Indigo Bunting
  • Blue Dashers

Purple

Hepatica
Hepatica
  • Hepatica
  • Creeping Phlox
  • crocuses
  • Common Lilac

Rainbow

person photographing rainbow

If you’re lucky enough to spot an actual rainbow, nice work!

You can choose to end your walk right then and there… or go to the next level: finding a double rainbow.

Did you find every colour of the rainbow in parks?

We’d love to see!

Share your rainbow walk by tagging us on social media @OntarioParks!


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