Categories: Travel

A lonely windswept white pine tree in Ontario has inspired countless works of art

Photo via Elena Berd on Shutterstock

If you’re looking for peaceful and serene outdoor getaways, Killbear Provincial Park is worth the trip. While its sweeping vistas and rugged beauty make it a must-visit, one particular wonder stands out: a single, wind-sculpted tree that has inspired countless works of art.

You’ll find Killbear Provincial Park about three hours away from Toronto. According to Ontario Parks, expect kilometres of “rugged, rocky shoreline mixed with numerous sand beaches.”

Though this is definitely a day-trip hot spot in the summer, Destination Ontario recommends making it a longer trip and camping for a few days.

Camping at Killbear

Car camping is available at one of its seven campgrounds, radio-free camping at Granite Saddle, Harold Point, Lighthouse Point and Georgian, or roofed accommodations.

It’s important to note that the park reopens for the season on May 9, 2025. So if you’d like to go camping, check out its availability online ASAP.

But to enjoy the outdoors, you don’t need to dedicate an entire weekend to camping. You can do so by embarking on one of its trails.

Hiking trails at Killbear

There are actually four trails. These range from easy to moderate and guide you through different types of forests:

Twin Points Trail – 1.6 km loop (40 minutes) easy
Lookout Point Trail – 3.5 km loop (1.5 hours) moderate
Lighthouse Point Trail – 800 m loop (25 minutes) easy to moderate
Recreational Trail – 6 km linear (3 hours) easy to moderate

The shorter route, Lighthouse Point Trail is an 800 m loop that takes you to the tip of Killbear Point. Here is where you’ll catch a spectacular view of Georgian Bay and interesting rockscapes, according to Ontario Parks.

Killbear’s famous tree

According to Destination Ontario, just along its shore, atop a rocky platform, is a “windswept isolated white pine tree” which is known as “The Killbear Tree.”

“This picturesque tree is reminiscent of famous Group of Seven and Tom Thomson paintings,” shares the site.

Standing alone against the elements, this resilient tree has weathered everything nature throws its way. To some, its twisted form is a symbol of strength; to others, it’s a work of art.

Or you could just say it’s a crooked tree.

Nonetheless, it serves as a pretty cool picture and a memorable adventure. It sounds like it’s time to make summer plans.