In winter, Nordic ski or snowshoe the 2.5-mile trail. And when the sunlight catches the spray you’re surrounded by rainbows. There are two viewing towers on the marsh that make for excellent photographs.

With panoramic views of the scenic Upper Ottawa Valley and Laurentian Hills, this park features peaceful waterfront campsites on the Ottawa River, a large sandy beach, and opportunities for exploring the Ottawa and Dumoine River mouth by canoe, paddleboard, or sea kayak.

Duncan Escarpment Provincial Nature Reserve: Located 165 km away from Toronto with an approximate driving time of 2 hours and 12 minutes.

2007 – Introduction of new legislation: “Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act” with 329 provincial parks and 292 conservation reserves. Facilities: All Terrain Wheelchairs, Camping, Comfort Stations, Picnic Shelters, Playgrounds, Rentals (Kayaks), Showers, Toilets Get a guidebook and go. The waterfall at Chutes Provincial Park in Massey along Highway 17 between Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie is the site’s main attraction. Ontario’s most southerly provincial park is situated among a tangle of creeks in a beautifully wooded Carolinian forest. The management and creation of provincial parks came under the Department of Lands and Forests in 1954 and led to a period of accelerated park creation: a nine fold increase in the number of parks over the next six years. The town of Glenora has a number of small eateries which have views of Lake on the Mountain or of Lake Ontario. Oastler Lake Provincial Park: Located 232 km away from Toronto with an approximate driving time of 2 hours and 20 minutes. Facilities: Non-operating park so there are no facilities 1970 – Polar Bear, Ontario’s largest provincial park at 24,000km. Go for incredible sunsets, clear-lake swimming, fishing, backcountry camping, and paddling. Closest town is Harcourt. Fushimi Lake Provincial Park, (705) 372-5909, Hearst Highway 60 runs though the park and connects the park’s 11 campgrounds and visitors’ centre, logging museum and art centre. Mara Provincial Park , (705) 326-4451, Ramara Closest town is the Blue Mountains. This iconic, world-renowned park is a year-round destination for hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, canoe tripping, wildlife watching, fall colour viewing, camping, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and more. For people with disabilities aged 6-17 the walk-in fee is $0.50 (HST included) and for those aged 18+ it’s $1.00 (HST included). Massasauga Provincial Park: Located 240 km away from Toronto with an approximate driving time of 2 hours and 28 minutes. The famed Canadian Group of Seven painted landscapes here in central Ontario on the land flanking wild Georgian Bay, and even prompted the government to make it a park. However, drive-in, full-service camping is only available at Dawson Trail, located just off Highway 11 on French Lake. . J. Albert Bauer Provincial Park: Located 256 km away from Toronto with an approximate driving time of 2 hours and 38 minutes. For a list of protected areas in Ontario, see the List of protected areas of Ontario. Wakami Lake Provincial Park, (705) 233-2853, Chapleau

Biscotasi Lake Provincial Park, (705) 865-2021, Massey Beginning in the Temagami highlands, Sturgeon River waterway park provides canoeists with plenty of whitewater, scenic falls and rapids, wildlife spotting, and good fishing, all in a remote setting.

Closest Town: Georgina is Ontario’s largest park after Algonquin and is about three hours from. You can head out on day trips or go further afield on a portage adventure to some of the backcountry campsites.

There are picnic tables available for those wanting to have a bite to eat. Get the latest provincial park updates here. Time from Toronto: 52 minutes Time from Toronto: 1 hour and 49 minutes

French voyageurs, fur traders, trappers, and missionaries once traveled.

There’s also a parking lot right across the street from the wooden paths so the park is very easy to visit. 1983 – The new land use planning system leads to the announcement of 155 new parks to be designated. Rushing River is a family camping destination offering beaches, playgrounds, interpretation programs, hiking trails, and access to five canoe routes. Hockley Valley Provincial Nature Reserve is another non-operational park but like the other non-operational parks it does provide some options for hiking. This park offers picnicking, sand beaches, swimming, canoeing, and a great hiking trail to scenic Silver Falls. Recommended by Liliane from My Toronto, My World. Activities: Biking, Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Kite Boarding, Skiing (Cross Country), Snowshoeing, Swimming. Located on Big Rideau Lake, part of the historic Rideau Waterway, this all-season park offers tours of the Silver Queen Mine, an early 1900s mica mine, as well as car and boat-in camping, and hiking trails groomed for skiing in winter. You can explore either of the two hikes in the park, Maidenhair Fern Trail or the Cultural History of Sibbald Point Provincial Park. If you’re interested in renting a picnic shelter or bringing a bus you can see those fees here. The park offers car camping, swimming, and hiking, and is a fine place to view the fall monarch butterfly migration. A post shared by MūDA (@themudalife) on Apr 27, 2017 at 2:57pm PDT. Pinery Provincial Park: Located 229 km away from Toronto with an approximate driving time of 2 hours and 40 minutes. This park is known for its world-class spring bird migration and is home to the second-oldest operating lighthouse in Ontario. As of March 18th, 2020 all Ontario Parks are closed until at least April 30, 2020. Pancake Bay Provincial Park, (705) 882-2209, Batchwana Bay Distance from Toronto: 123 km Enjoy camping, swimming, hiking, and cycling. Pinery Provincial Park – photo credit Three is Us. You can access the 2,796-square-mile park by canoe, boat, or floatplane.

Find outfitters, accommodation, and services. Reflecting the overwhelming richness and variety of Ontario’s ecological, geological, and recreational treasures, each of our 115 operating provincial parks offers a unique experience for visitors. Situated on Lake Simcoe, this park offers car camping, picnicking, and a fine sand beach for swimming. With 8 different trails ranging from 0.6km to 4.8km you can have your pick of difficulty when it comes to selecting a trail. Driftwood Provincial Park, (613) 586-2553, Stonecliffe The park is mainly for hiking and is day use only. Visit in spring to avoid the summer rush if you want to savor the solitude — you’re likely to see lots of wildlife, too. Ontario Parks system uses a classification system to divide the provincial parks into the following categories: As of 2010, Ontario Parks system manages: The Ontario Parks system began its long and rough history in 1893 with the creation of Algonquin Park, originally designed to protect loggers’ interests from settlement. See for yourself the white quartzite La Cloche Mountains and pink cliffs flanking 50 deep-blue inland lakes. Rushing River Provincial Park – photo credit Cups of English Tea.

The Ontario Parks website defines this as those with a CNIB identify card and those with Ministry of Transportation accessible parking permits. Recommended by Daisy from Beyond my Border. Arrow Lake Provincial Park, (807) 473-9231, Kakabeka Falls Point Farms Provincial Park: Located 223 km away from Toronto with an approximate driving time of 2 hours and 31 minutes. Facilities: Non-operating park so there are no facilities Given its proximity to Orillia it’s easy to spend a few hours in the park and then head into town for food or shopping.

This is because the river offers the shortest route between Lake Superior in the south and James Bay in the north. 1894 – Rondeau becomes Ontario’s second provincial park. Algonquin Provincial Park: Located 276 km away from Toronto with an approximate driving time of 2 hours and 49 minutes. Features Plan your visit. Closest town is Aylmer. There is a man made pond that you can walk around for a great hike in addition to a number of other hikes including a portion of the Bruce Trail. Closest town is Tweed. Find outfitters, accommodation, and services. My favourite hike was the Lower Rapids Fall, which brings you on an old portage trail and allows you to see some waterfalls. Closest town is Huntsville. There are many amenities such as an interpretive centre, store and car camping sites. Due to being situated in an area which is surrounded by residents, areas of the park are most commonly used for picnics and hiking during the summer, and some parks turn into ski slopes during the winter months. The northern portion of the park has a great lookout as well. Located by Lake Simcoe, Duclos Point Provincial Nature Reserve is a non-operational park that is home to some interesting plants and birds. 14 Ontario Provincial Parks You Must Take A Road Trip To At Least Once All within a few hours drive from Toronto. Six Mile Lake Provincial Park is located right by the stunning, and very popular, Muskoka and is by a lake as the name may suggest. Activities: Biking, Swimming. Closest town is London. Portages take paddlers around roaring waterfalls, with intimidating names like Thunderhouse Falls and Hell’s Gate. Enjoy one the finest sand beaches on Lake Superior’s north shore, hike to unique geological formations and sweeping views, and camp beachside at this spacious park. This family-friendly park features waterfront car camping, hiking trails, sandy beaches and canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals. or relax on the soft sand. Look for osprey, loons, and Great Blue Herons. Wasaga Beach is the longest freshwater beach in the world with 14 km of sandy beaches and it was the first provincial park to get “Blue Flag” designation. Nearest Town: East Gwillimbury

Closest town is Huntsville. Activities: Hiking. Egan Chutes Provincial Nature Reserve: Located 255 km away from Toronto with an approximate driving time of 2 hours and 46 minutes. It’s a great one if you’re just looking to use the beach for the day or if you want to get out on the water to do some kayaking or canoeing. Paddling enthusiasts and history buffs choose the backcountry, mostly boat-access, , an hour south of Sudbury. Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park is Ontario’s largest park after Algonquin and is about three hours from Ottawa. The park provides a variety of camping experiences, including vehicle and interior boat and canoe sites on Missinaibi Lake, and backcountry canoe sites on the river. Nearly 800km long, the entire river (including Missinaibi Lake at the start and Moose River at the end) takes four weeks to paddle. Hike or paddle in the water, or relax on the soft sand. While the park itself isn’t that large, it’s still worth visiting the area. Activities: Fishing and Hiking. Activities: Biking, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Skiing, Snowshoeing. Inverhuron Provincial Park: Located 231 km away from Toronto with an approximate driving time of 2 hours and 40 minutes. For Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans (who live in Ontario) it is free to access the parks on weekdays. The park itself hosts a number of different trails, including the Bruce, Dominion, Kettle, Meadow and Trans Canada.

There are so many amazing parks to choose from. Komoka Provincial Park is located west of London in southwestern Ontario. A few trailers are available. With eight different campgrounds, a number of group campsites, a cottage and three yurts/tents available you’ll have plenty of options should you want to stay in the park overnight.