Categories: Travel

This Ontario park has a 155-step staircase descending down the face of a gorgeous bluff

Image via @awenda_pp

Outdoor adventure awaits at Awenda Provincial Park! The Ontario park is located in the town of Tiny but don’t let the name fool you – there are some big-time natural sights to discover. One of the park’s coolest spots is the Nipissing Trail, leading hikers to a 155-step staircase that descends into a bluff.

Let’s start planning your visit!

Getting there

Awenda Provincial Park sits on Georgian Bay, about 20 minutes northwest of Penetanguishene in Tiny, Ontario.

The park is an excellent spot for a day trip from Toronto as it only takes two hours to get to by car.

There is a day fee to visit Awenda, costing $12.25 per vehicle.

Things to see and do at Awenda Provincial Park

There are 2,900 hectares of forested land and 31 kilometres of trails to check out once you enter the park so you’ll need at least one full day to enjoy the park to its fullest.

First stop, Nipissing Trail. The trail spans just one km but packs in some truly beautiful sights. At the end of the hike, you’ll be treated to a “155-step staircase that allows hikers to easily descend 32 metres down the face of the bluff, at times providing the sensation of being part of the forest canopy,” shares Ontario Parks.

There’s also the ancient dune system that dates back nearly 12,000 years.

The dunes were formed during the last glacial retreat and are considered fragile, so while you can check them out from a distance along the Robitaille Homestead Trail, the park asks that visitors don’t touch or climb the dunes.

Wendat Trail is 5 km, so if you’re looking to get some more steps in this is the one.

Along this walk, you’ll see Kettle’s Lake – a lake thought to be formed by the gradual melting of a large buried piece of ice left by retreating glaciers!

Pretty cool, huh? The park is open year-round so you can plan your trip during any season.