Natural beauty close to home

Discover the beauty of our parks and conservation areas this summer

I fondly remember the days of hopping into the family car and feeling the pure excitement of heading off on a camping adventure. Twenty-something years later I am fortunate enough to be able to offer that same excitement to my own children. You don’t have to travel far distances in Ontario to enjoy all that nature has to offer.

From beautiful scenic views to outdoor adventures, the provincial parks offer a great deal for the outdoor enthusiast. Camping allows your family to explore and experience the unexpected wonders of the wilderness. Swimming, bike riding, hiking, fishing, horseshoes and baseball are just a few of the activities offered throughout the various picturesque parks. A number of parks also offer educational children’s programs and guided hiking tours.

If a slower paced vacation is more your speed, there are beautiful sandy beaches to relax on or calm waters to canoe around. A few parks offer canoe or paddle boat rentals (including life jackets). At the end of a long day, there is nothing like sharing stories around the campfire and enjoying roasted marshmallows, popping popcorn or cooking smores.

If you head east towards Kingston, you will find Charleston Lake Provincial Park. This peaceful lake is a treat to swim in and the tranquil waters make canoeing a breeze. The children will enjoy playing on a rustic playground hidden in the trees. On one of the hiking trails, you can stand under a rock overhang where native people once took shelter. What a great learning experience.

Another trip may take you west to Lake Huron. The Pinery Provincial Park is full of endless sandy beaches. One day you are diving over waves and the next day you are casually swimming in calm waters. The long bike trail is full of twists and turns and is a thrilling ride for everyone.

Evenings are not complete without witnessing the breathtaking beauty of the reddish-orange sunset.

Ontario’s northern parks are a pleasure to visit and they give you a chance to see amazing wildlife. At Bon Echo Provincial Park, you will have the opportunity to observe chipmunks, foxes, beavers, loons and deer. A highlight of this trip is canoeing, or taking a ferry, over to Mazinaw Rock. This incredible flat rock face towers one hundred meters above Mazinaw Lake. Up close you can see the Aboriginal pictographs left behind on the rock. There is a hiking trail that takes you all the way to the top. What a sight to see!!

Other popular provincial parks include Arrowhead, Emily, Awenda, Balsam Lake, Killbear, Sibbald’s Point and Sandbanks Provincial Park. A few parks set aside a small number of non-reservable sites, but there is no guarantee that there will be a spot available when you arrive. You will want to try and book a spot early to assure you get a site. For more information on park services, activities, locations, and fees, you can go to the Ontario Parks website at www.ontarioparks.com, or call 1-800-ONTARIO. Reservations can also be made by calling 1-888-ONT-PARK.

Camping in Ontario is an affordable option for families young and old. If you don’t want to stay overnight, but would still like to plan an escape from your everyday routine, most parks offer day use access. Whether you go for the day, a long weekend or stay for a full week or two, each park has its own unique features. One thing for sure is that connecting to natural beauty close to home is a wonderful way to spend quality time and truly bond with your family.

In addition to our provincial parks, Durham Region has plenty of conservation areas and trails to discover. Click TRAIL TALES to get first-hand accounts and tips for your next visit.