This Ontario park with 10,000-year-old glacial channels has a breathtaking lookout trail

Love cottage country? Make a trip to Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes this fall season and explore Balsam Lake Provincial Park. Here you’ll find plenty of trails, perfect for unwinding under the glow of golden hour. One of these trails leads to a panoramic lookout – perfect for taking in autumn sights. Here’s what to know.

Just less than a two-hour drive away from Toronto is Balsam Lake Provincial Park.

What to do at Balsam Lake?

It’s home to a sandy beach and offers paddling opportunities, scenic hiking trails and camping.

You can camp until the end of October and sleep under canopies of red, orange, and gold leaves. It’s a magical experience.

But if you’re there for a day trip, you’re in for a fun-filled fall day.

Wear your hiking boots and embark along the Lookout Trail. According to Destination Ontario, the 2.1 km hike winds through 10,000-year-old glacial channels and hills.

Those looking for a longer excursion will enjoy the 4.2 km Woodland Trail, described by Ontario Parks as “a moderate forest trek with both natural and pioneer highlights.”

And if you still have some energy left, check out Lori’s Link Trail.

Per Ontario Parks’ Instagram, this trail is a staff favourite. “This time of year, the trail transforms into a breathtaking spectacle of fall colours. Especially during golden hour, the beauty of the fall leaves is truly mesmerizing.”

So, whether you’re looking for a picturesque autumn day trip or one last camping adventure of the year, Balsam Lake Provincial Park is calling you name.

Balsam Lake Provincial Park

Where: 2238 Kawartha Lakes County Rd 48 – Kirkfield, ON
Where: Open until October 31st, 2024

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