It’s September already and let’s face it, fall weather is not that far behind. It’s time to take advantage of the warm weather and explore the beauty of nature. Why not go for a hike?
We may not quite have what our friends to the west have in terms of mountainous terrain. But don’t let that stop you! There are still some solid hikes in Ontario you can enjoy.
Also, less grizzly bears over here. That’s a major upside. Plus, less incline means more time on the trail before your thighs start to really hate you! With all of that in mind, here are 13 of the best hikes in Ontario to check out before summer ends.
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Pines Hiking Trail
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Push past the beginning of the Whiskey Jack Trail (a 2.5 km starter) to reach sandy beaches framed by stunning pine trees. Relax around French Lake for a mid-hike picnic, which is hands-down one of the best kinds of picnics there are!
Where: Off Dawson Trail in Quetico Provincial Park
Distance: 10 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Dundas Peak
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Don’t go chasing waterfalls. Actually, do. Especially at Dundas Peak since they are oh-so-pretty. The forest scenery is A+ and we love the view of Hamilton. We recommend going at end of summer, or in autumn when the trees are especially stunning. Chase away! FYI, this is not a particularly safe lookout, so take all precautions necessary when heading out.
Where: 607 Harvest Rd
Distance: 2.9 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Maple Mountain
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Feeling particularly adventurous? Like, 40km canoe to the trailhead adventurous? Perfect, we’ve got the place for you! This 642m summit is reachable via the Canadian Express. That is a quick portage and a long paddle.
Where: Paddle starts from Mowat Landing – Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park
Distance: 3.2 km hiking
Difficulty: Hard
Hilton Falls Trail
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There are three different trails you can take to enjoy this gorgeous spot. Stop for a bonfire along the way, admire the falls, and eat more marshmallows than anyone should on a “hike.”
Where: Off Campbellville Rd in Milton
Distance: 4.7 km
Difficulty: Easy
Ishpatina Ridge Tower Summit
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Let your legs warm up on the first half of this hike, and then get ready for a light burn in the second half. Sorry, lungs. We’ve neglected you too long. Here’s a fun fact to ease the pain: Ishpatina Ridge is the highest point in Ontario, at 693 metres above sea level.
Where: Trail starts from Scarecrow Lake
Distance: 4 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Niagara Glen Trail
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This scenic little trail is a must if you’re near the Falls. Along with gorgeous water views, there are spots to try a bit of bouldering if you’re feeling fearless!
Where: 15 Niagara Parkway
Distance: 2.3 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Lake Superior Coastal Trail
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This stunning trail traces the edge of Lake Superior. The entire thing start to finish would be a nice, light 65km. If you want to cut it down a bit (and you probably do), there’s various access points along the trail so you can soak up as much or as little coastline as you like!
Where: Access points at Sinclair Cove, Agawa, Katherine Cove
Distance: 65 km total
Difficulty: Depends how far ya go
Nassagaweya & Bruce Trail Loop – Rattlesnake Point
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Patience is a virtue we don’t usually have. Although it’s worth it for this one. If you can stand waiting, taking a hike through here in summer when the greenery is 10/10 doing its thing is ideal.
Where: 7200 Appleby Line
Distance: 7.2 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Cup & Saucer Trail
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This is the choose your own adventure of hiking. The different trails branching off mean you can hike anywhere from 20 minutes to 4 hours up here! What’s the same is the epic view over the cliffs. Speaking of the cliffs, don’t post anything online that’ll give your mom too much anxiety, okay?
Where: Highway 40 & Bidwell Rd
Distance: 12 km total
Difficulty: Easy- moderate
Lion’s Head Loop
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Views on views on viiiiews! This is quite the loop in terms of distance. Dunking your head in the bay at the end is the second best part after the gorgeous scenery. We’d say it’s on the spicier side of moderate because of the length, but take one look at that water and you’ll know this is one of the best hikes in Ontario. You’ll definitely earn your snacks on this one!
Where: Start at Bruce Trail on Moore St, Lion’s Head
Distance: 15.3 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Mizzy Lake Trail
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Get an early start to the day to fully appreciate nine ponds and numerous small lakes. Also, you might run into some wildlife. We hear the sasquatch is around sometimes. Friendly dude.
Where: Kilometre 15.4 on Highway 60
Distance: 11 km
Difficulty: Easy
Centennial Ridges Trail
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Want to get high? Nah, we mean gain elevation. If you’re thinking yes, this is the trail for you! A few hours of solid effort and you’ve got some of the highest views in the area. No, we don’t mean like that.
Where: Off Centennial Ridges Rd, Algonquin National Park
Distance: 9.8 km
Difficulty: Hard
Singhampton Caves Trail
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Leave the claustrophobic buddy at home for this one. Caves aren’t for everyone, but we say give them a shot because they’re freakin’ cool! This trail is super scenic, so go in the summer for wildflower season.
Where: 794685 Osprey Clearview Townline
Distance: 2.3 km
Difficulty: Moderate
We’ve got the essentials: backpack, boots, a bag of gummy worms, water bottle. It’s time to get out and get lost on the best hikes in Ontario! Happy hiking, pals!
