Categories: Travel

This Ontario Park has a rare blue & green ‘meromictic’ lake

Photo via KissCat on Shutterstock

Ontario is full of natural beauty – from its cliff tops to its wonderful lakes. And it’s even home to some rare wonders of nature like McGinnis Lake in Petroglyphs Provincial Park. Here’s what to know about this stunning piece of outdoor beauty.

Located just two hours from Toronto is Petroglyphs Provincial Park, a gorgeous nature preserve home to the “largest known concentration of Indigenous rock carvings in Canada, depicting turtles, snakes, birds, humans and more,” according to Ontario Parks.

These carvings are called petroglyphs, which is what the park is named after. This sacred site is also known as “The Teaching Rocks.”

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Here you’ll get to learn more about this lands history, through the traditions of the Ojibway (Nishnaabe) people. Visit the Learning Place Visitor Centre to learn through the teachings of the medicine wheel.

After your history lesson, it’s time to check out the jaw dropping views of McGinnis Lake.

What makes it stand out is its very bright blue and green hues that are pretty visible to the naked eye. It’s actually a meromictic lake which means its different layers of water don’t mix.

Though you’ll only be able to view it to truly enjoy it. Swimming is not allowed in McGinnis Lake in order to preserve its meromictic nature and scientifically significant sediment record, according to Ontario Parks.

As for hiking adventures, there are three trails to explore:

Marsh Trail – 7 km (2.5 hours) moderate – winds through dense pine forest and marsh and then climbs to uplands.
Nanabush Trail 5.5 km (1.5 hours) easy – crosses a variety of terrain from wetlands to rock outcrops.
West Day Use Trail 5 km (1.5 hours) moderate – winds through large pine stands, areas of oak and birch, and over a bridge that crosses an ancient streambed made thousands of years ago.

Get ready for an outdoor experience like no other at Petroglyphs Provincial Park. Explore its ancient carvings, learn about Indigenous traditions, and embrace its wonderful outdoor experience.

Time to book a trip!