Photo via Discover Muskoka
August is the perfect month to explore our gorgeous province on foot. Ontario’s outdoor experiences are the absolute best, and if you’re a sucker for a great boardwalk trail, we’ve got just the place. Or shall we say… a few places. We’ve compiled a list of some of Ontario’s most scenic and beautiful boardwalks.
And we’re sure you’ll love them just as much as we do. Let’s get right into it!
Scenic strolls don’t get better than this. The gorgeous town of Goderich has a boardwalk trail that connects to various beaches, and it’s totally worth a visit.
The boardwalk trail extends 1.5 kilometres along the waterfront, with an ice cream pit stop at the end of it. The pathway is over 10 feet wide and offers front-row views of the beautiful “must-see” beaches along Lake Huron.
Where: Goderich, Ont.
We’ve never crossed a boardwalk trail we didn’t like, but this one might be Ontario’s best. Hardy Lake Provincial Park is one of the quieter hiking spots in the Muskoka region, with a wooden walkway to take in your surroundings.
According to Ontario Parks, there are no visitor facilities or amenities at Hardy Lake; however, its fascinating geological history makes it a destination worth visiting.
Where: Highway 169, Torrance, Ont.
If you find yourself in Ontario’s Muskoka region, check out Hunters Bay Trail for a long and leisurely hike through a boardwalk that looks as if it’s floating on top of the water.
Located right in Huntsville, this is said to be one of the most amazing hikes in the whole area. Per Muskoka Tourism, the Hunters Bay Trail is a walking, running and cycling trail that spans 4.6 km in length.
Where: Main Street West (off Highway 11), Huntsville, Ont.
The park is located in the town of Mono, along the Bruce Trail. It’s also part of the Niagara Escarpment Parks System and the Escarpment Biosphere Reserve.
It has a breathtaking spillway trail that takes you right through a canyon, clifftops, and 30-metre rock faces.
Where: 795086 3rd Line EHS, Shelburne, Ont.
According to the National Capital Commission, the Mer Bleue Bog is “one of the most outstanding natural features of the Greenbelt, and is one of its most visited areas.”
Here you’ll find interpretive boardwalks, sand ridges, natural hiking trails, and forests.
The most popular walk in the area is the Mer Bleue Bog Trail due to its storytelling route.
This 1.2 km-long wooden boardwalk is the most photographed part of the Greenbelt, according to the NCC. The boardwalk here is accessible, which is great for families as well.
Where: Ridge Road, Ottawa, Ont.
This lovely walk is located on the southern shores of Manitoulin Island.
“Spanning the Mindemoya River and running for a considerable length of the Providence Bay Beach crossing dunes with elevated platforms, this wheelchair-accessible boardwalk is worth a stroll,” shares the Municipality of Central Manitoulin.
Where: Mutchmor Street, Central Manitoulin, Ont.
For a truly amazing sight, walk along the Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront Walkway, which stretches over 2.5 km. It trails alongside the St. Mary’s River, between Canal Drive and the Art Gallery of Algoma in the downtown area.
According to Destination Ontario, you can watch “marine traffic navigate locks along the river and take in views of the International Bridge, Whitefish Island, and even the US shoreline in Michigan State.”
“The boardwalk features benches, picnic tables, and lookout platforms and is connected to the longer multi-use Hub Trail that circles the city, as well as several attractions like Roberta Bondar Park, Ermatinger-Clergue Historic Site, and the Canadian Bushplane Museum.”
Where: 5V4 Hub Trail, St. Marys River, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Ready to take a walk on the wild side? White Water Walk in Niagara Falls takes you right to the edge of some of North America’s most powerful whitewater rapids!
This incredible attraction offers a firsthand encounter with the raw power of the Niagara River’s Class 6 whitewater rapids.
Where: 4330 River Rd., Niagara Falls, Ont.
Located in London, Ont., the Sifton Bog trail features a beautiful wooden boardwalk that leads out to Redmond’s Pond. This park is also home to ecologically significant wetlands, according to Destination Ontario. “Notably, it’s one of the most southern floating acidic peat bogs with boreal plant life in Canada.”
This scenic route is worth exploring.
Location: 1210 Oxford St. W., London, Ont. (between Hyde Park Road and Oxford Street)
Looks like your next Ontario adventure awaits!
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