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 … Continue reading Backcountry basics: know your limits
We don’t know about you, but when we pack food for our backcountry trip, we plan on eating it. That plan can go downhill quickly when raccoons, squirrels, and bears dip into your trail mix, or rain soaks through your pack, ruining your soft sausage buns. You want to see a grumpy bear? A weekend … Continue reading Backcountry basics: storing and disposing of food
Whitney Arnott is a hiking and canoeing enthusiast that likes to spend days at a time in the backcountry when she’s not working at Ontario Parks branch office. Here are her tips for safe drinking water when you’re in the wilderness. When it comes to drinking water in the backcountry, you may think it will … Continue reading Backcountry basics: drinking water
When executed safely, your first backcountry trip forges lifelong memories, opening an immersive getaway into nature. But the leap from car camping to backcountry requires preparation and learning. New paddlers and hikers can find themselves in serious trouble if they overestimate their skills or choose a too-challenging route. Here are some recommended trips for backcountry … Continue reading Backcountry for beginners: the best destinations
So you’re no stranger to camping but want a new adventure? Or maybe you’ve invested some money in winter camping gear? Congratulations! Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park offers the perfect opportunity for those looking to get into winter camping. Just a couple hours outside of the GTA and three hours west of Ottawa, any weekend warrior looking … Continue reading 6 tips for winter camping at Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park
If you’re a summer camping enthusiast, you may be keen to put your skills to the test in a different season. Winter in our parks is a beautiful time. It’s quiet and still. The air is clean. And everything is covered in fresh snow. Here are some tips for a fun and safe winter camping … Continue reading Winter camping 101
At Ontario Parks, we’re constantly on the lookout for ways to promote both the health and wellbeing of our visitors and the parks we protect. The importance of spending time in nature is well documented in scientific research, and we embody our efforts to promote spending more time in nature through our Healthy Parks Healthy … Continue reading Visiting parks on two wheels
Frontenac is a four-season backcountry park with great opportunities for interior camping, hiking, paddling, and winter activities! Nestled within the Frontenac Arch, Frontenac has a unique landscape not typically found in Southern Ontario. You’ll discover a diverse range of habitats, plants, and animals. With upland forests, rocky ridges, and tranquil lakes, camping is only accessible … Continue reading How to plan a trip to Frontenac
The nights are getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and the bears know there is limited time to finish packing on the pounds before retiring to their winter dens. Food will only be available until about mid-October, so the days of feasting are quickly ending. Like the summer, in September bears are focused on … Continue reading It’s September — what are the bears up to?
You’ve seen the Instagram snaps and magazine covers. You dream of the view from white quartzite mountain ridges, of gazing across the landscape that inspired the Group of Seven. Pump the brakes a moment, though. Did you see that word “mountain”? It’s not a metaphor. The Crack is an extremely challenging hike in the LaCloche … Continue reading How to plan a day hike on Killarney’s “The Crack” Trail
