Ontario is a great place to be if you love the outdoors. The province is full of lush forests, majestic hikes, and, of course, waterfalls. As stunning as these cascading streams of water are, it's nice to chase something different for a change. Next time you're in need of an adventure, take a trip to these Ontario natural wonders — they aren't just another waterfall. These incredible spots around the province will give you major wanderlust. Instead of taking another road trip to Niagara Falls, you can explore some lesser-known natural wonders just waiting to be discovered. From hikes that lead to panoramic views, to deep spiralling caves, Ontario has a diverse landscape to explore. You can spend your summer days in a turquoise swimming hole at the Elora Quarry. Encased by towering limestone walls, this spot is a little pocket of paradise located less than an hour from Toronto. Cheltenham Badlands will transport you to another planet. These rolling red clay hills look like something you might find on Mars. Flowerpot Island is home to rare plants and uniquely-shaped rock formations. You can take a cruise to this hidden oasis and spend the day exploring. Forget about waterfalls and marvel at these other natural wonders instead! Flowerpot Island Price: $7.90 per adult Address: Flowerpot Island, ON Why You Need To Go: Hop on a boat and explore this island full of unique rock formations, rare plants, and a historic lighthouse. View this post on Instagram shoutout to the guy who started feeding the birds A post shared by Jessica Sole (@jessicasole_) on Jul 29, 2018 at 8:33am PDT Website Point Pelee Price: $ 7.90 per adult April-October; $6.10 November to March Address: 1118 Point Pelee Dr., Leamington, ON Why You Need To Go: This stunning provincial park has a boardwalk trail leading through a marsh, as well as thousands of migrating butterflies in the summertime. View this post on Instagram Le premier papillon de la saison fait votre bonheur? Si oui, nous vous recommandons de visiter le parc national de la Pointe-Pelée, où vous pourrez apercevoir de nombreux oiseaux et papillons qui reviennent en Ontario pour l’été. 📸@alexaoutside 📍 @OntSouthwest #DécouvrezON | #ExploreCanada A post shared by Tourisme Ontario (@tourismeontario) on May 2, 2019 at 7:26am PDT Website Agate Island Price: Free Address: Agate Island, ON Why You Need To Go: Take a boat trip to this mystical beach filled with rare agate gemstones. View this post on Instagram The colours of the north shore #lakesuperior #canada #explore #agates #gems #discoverON #northshore @discoverontario @visitnwontario @ontariotravel @parks.canada @explorecanada #itssuchaniceday A post shared by Zack Kruzins (@itssuchaniceday) on Sep 4, 2018 at 8:14pm PDT Website Elora Quarry Price: $10.50 per adult Address: 319 Wellington County Rd. 18, Elora, ON Why You Need To Go: Bask among blue waters and dreamy views at this two-acre limestone quarry surrounded by white cliffs. View this post on Instagram Weekend getaway 🌴 - #EloraQuarry #Canada A post shared by Mervé • Travel enthusiast 🌎 (@mervefiglali) on Jul 15, 2019 at 1:20pm PDT Website Cup And Saucer Trail Price: Free Address: 6301 Bidwell Rd., Sheguiandah, ON Why You Need To Go: Wander along 12 kilometres of hiking trails and live on the edge at this towering lookout point. View this post on Instagram We hiked our last mountain of the vacation. We had great company for this adventure. We hiked 4KMs of the Cup and Saucer trail to take in the beauty from the top. There were quite a few lookouts along the way. I try to steer clear from the edges of the cliffs because the height makes my legs feel like noodles. Such an exhilarating feeling though to be so high up! Great spot to explore! But what is the deal with the gum tree? 🤢 . . . . . #exploringontario #exploring #ontariotourism #tourismontario #manitowaning #manitoulinisland #adventureswithbrenn #adventure #ontario #cupandsaucer #cupandsaucertrail #canada #hiking #2020vacation #travel #hikingadventures #nature #gumtree #adventuretrail #mountaintop #rockcliff #rockcliffs #tothepeak A post shared by Natasha (@chinadollll23) on Jul 18, 2020 at 7:01am PDT Website Bruce Caves Price: Parking fee only Address: Grey Rd. 1, Wiarton, ON Why You Need To Go: Explore giant, ancient caverns at this rustic spot. View this post on Instagram Weekend adventures #canada150 A post shared by Alexander Kim (@silvex) on Sep 5, 2017 at 5:10pm PDT Website Rock Dunder Price: $10 per person When: May 15 through Nov. 15 Address: Stanley Lash Lane, Lyndhurst, ON Why You Need To Go: Climb this forest trail to a stunning lookout point with panoramic views. View this post on Instagram #JustHappy #energyofNature #amazingviews #TheView #ExploringCanada #rockdunderlookout #enjoinglife #enjoingNature #BestWomanhug @annapelypenko ❤️🖤❤️ #lovetotravel #traveltheworld🌍 #travelling #traveladdict #seetheworld #travellers #travelpassion #nature #travelgrams #traveling #instatravel #photography #igtravel #travellife #traveljunkie #travelphotography #travelgram #explore #summer #travel A post shared by 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐯 (@vvv87) on Jul 15, 2020 at 6:10am PDT Website Bathtub Island Price: Various fees Address: 96 Broadway Ave., Wawa, ON Why You Need To Go: You can float around in a natural bathtub in Lake Superior Provincial Park. This tiny island is filled with water, just like a tub. View this post on Instagram Splish Splash🛁 A post shared by @ hannahrowswell on Sep 4, 2016 at 10:59am PDT Website Cheltenham Badlands Price: Parking fee only Address: 1739 Olde Base Line Rd., Inglewood, ON Why You Need To Go: This area looks like something from Mars. The red clay hills will transport you to another planet with every step. View this post on Instagram 𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕚𝕟 𝕄𝔸ℝ𝕊-𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕕𝕦𝕟𝕖𝕤. #ontario has a bunch of hidden gems and this is one of them. It’s really sad that they had to close the area for three years in order for the area to regenerate. The site was damaged due to visitors walking on the formation. Cheltenham Badlands is a small example of #badlands formation. The formation was exposed by poor farming practices that led to soil erosion and exposed the underlying shale. It’s an unusual sight. Have you ever visited a Badlands? . . . . . #beautifulcanada #canada_gram #justcanadathings_ #cheltenhambadlands #bloggersoftoronto #traveljournals #discover_earth #damespassport #journeyofgirls #explorecanada #exploreontario🇨🇦 #torontotravelblogger #girlstoptravel #girllovestravel #neverstopexploring #passionpassport #roamtheplanet #sheisnotlost #travelwithmeaning #girlswhotravel #wanderlusts #travellust #femmetravels #travellist #thecuriousexcursionist #momtraveler A post shared by 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 🇨🇦I𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 & 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 (@sams.escapenotes) on Nov 3, 2019 at 8:09am PST Website Marmora Mine Price: Free Address: Marmora Mine Road, Marmora, ON Why You Need To Go: This abandoned mine is filled with bright blue water encased in towering rock walls. View this post on Instagram #MarmoraMine #canadadairies #whenincanda #keepexploring #traveldairies A post shared by Mandeep Lakhon Ke (@mandeep_atwal_) on Oct 21, 2019 at 12:07pm PDT Website Ojibway Prairie Complex Price: Free Address: 5200 Matchette Rd., Windsor, ON Why You Need To Go: Made up of parks and natural areas, this complex boasts wildflower fields and even a rainbow pool. View this post on Instagram Fairytale forest — a rainbow of colours is emitted from the surface of this forest floor pool as oil produced by natural tannins leaches from the organic material in the area. • • #canada #discoveron #earthfocus #explorecanada #exploreontario #forest #forestlife #landscape #liveoutdoors #natgeo #nature #naturelovers #naturephotography #oil #ojibway #ojibwaypark #ontario #pond #sharecangeo #rainbow #springtime #tanninwater #tree #tree_magic #trees #treestagram #water #wetland #windsor #windsorontario A post shared by Kevin Biskaborn (@kevinbiskaborn) on May 9, 2018 at 3:47am PDT Website Bonnechere Caves Price: $19 per adult When: May through October Address: 1247 Fourth Chute Rd., Eganville, ON Why You Need To Go: Take things down a level by exploring these mystical limestone caves filled with fossils and stalactites. View this post on Instagram We had such an incredible afternoon exploring and shooting the Bonnechere Caves! The whole park is beautiful, and the caves blew us away - highly recommend the complete guided tour! Thanks to @tiredtim for sharing this amazing location with us! A post shared by Shawn Kent (@shawnmkent) on Jul 15, 2019 at 10:07am PDT Website Bruce Peninsula Ice Towers Price: $7.90 per adult Address: 469 Cyprus Lake Rd., Tobermory, ON Why You Need To Go: Each winter, the shores of the Bruce Peninsula transform into incredible ice fortresses worthy of Elsa. View this post on Instagram Incredible time exploring the Bruce Peninsula National Park this week, I have been going up for years and I have yet to experience anything like this. The heavy winds and waves have transformed the landscape into a spectacular place to explore and photograph , infront of us lays a tree with at least twelve inches of ice encasing it! This photo was taken using a Nikon d7200 and Tokina 11-16, 25 second exposure at iso 1600 at f2.8, I also had it on timer so when I hit the shutter button I had to run back and all three of us had to stand perfectly still for 25 seconds, sounds a lot easier then it is! A post shared by Nick Seman (@nick_seman_photography) on Jan 23, 2020 at 3:20pm PST Website Scarborough Bluffs Price: Free Address: Scarborough Bluffs Park, ON Why You Need To Go: Take a trip to these looming white cliffs with spectacular views of Lake Ontario. View this post on Instagram Summer just ended but I can’t help starting to plan my trip for next summer! I’m thinking a European summer and visiting a few countries that I didn’t get a chance to visit in 2018. Have you started to plan your trips for next year? ✈️ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #everydaytoronto #girlstraveldiary #thesix #traveldeeper #letsmeettheglobe #lovethisglobe #unbelievablescenes #passporttoearth #letsflyawayto #adventuretime #wanderlustgirls #scarboroughbluffs #bluffersmarina #narcitytoronto #discoverontario #bluffstoronto #curiocitytoronto #summertrips #europeansummer #traveldreamseekers #canadaphotos A post shared by Tiana | Travel✖️Lifestyle (@passportofmemories) on Oct 14, 2019 at 5:58am PDT Website Warsaw Caves Price: $7+ per adult; $17 per car When: May 8 to October 12, 2020 Address: 289 Caves Rd., Warsaw, ON Why You Need To Go: This forest is home to ancient spiral caves that lead deep into the ground. View this post on Instagram Fun fact: This spot used to be an old riverbed and the hole that I’m sitting in is called a kettle. This kettle was formed long ago, when a granite stone that was trapped in the river current was spun in a circle until it ground a circular depression in the underlying limestone. Just goes to show how small actions repeated over a long period of time can eventually have a big impact.👊🏻 A post shared by Ashley (@takingahike) on Nov 25, 2018 at 7:17am PST Website Pukaskwa National Park Price: $5.90+ per adult When: May 15 through October 15 Address: Heron Bay, ON Why You Need To Go: Home to boreal forests, driftwood beaches, and a suspension bridge over rushing water, this breathtaking park is a must-visit. View this post on Instagram Call me a blasphemer, but Lake Superior is better on the Canadian side. The drive through is like going through low-level mountains combined with the boundary waters and giant Lake Superior on the side. My jaw dropped several times in shock that we even have views like this so close by. It also has more beaches in certain areas with shallow, warm water. I'm currently situated at Lake Superior Provincial Park for the night before finishing my trek down to Sault Ste. Marie and back. A post shared by Ryan Leichty (@ryanleichty) on Aug 12, 2016 at 5:42pm PDT Website Greig's Caves Price: $10 per adult When: Mid-May through Thanksgiving Day Address: 407 Scenic Caves Rd., Lion's Head, ON Why You Need To Go: You can wander through ancient limestone caves and even get gorgeous views of Georgian Bay by climbing them. View this post on Instagram Exploring Greig's Caves in Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada Greig's Caves . #arizonaphotoadventures #ExploreCanada #parkscanada #canada #canadaswonderland #igerscanada #ohcanada #ig_canada #igcanada #tourcanada #enjoycanada #DiscoverON #ontario #exploreontario #fall #foliage #autumn #brucepeninsula #cave #canon #people #greigscaves #hiker A post shared by Andrei Stoica (@arizonaphotoadventures) on Oct 29, 2019 at 1:15pm PDT Website Thousand Islands Address: Thousand Islands, ON Why You Need To Go: Comprised of over 1,800 islands, this area has tons of places to explore, including a whimsical castle. View this post on Instagram Fairy tale castles in the Thousand Islands, NY. Take me back asap ✨🥰🏰 A post shared by Karley DeCocker (@karleydecocker) on Oct 27, 2019 at 10:20am PDT Website Quetico Park Price: Prices vary Address: 108 Saturn Ave., Atikokan, ON Why You Need To Go: Home to sparkling lakes and soaring rock cliffs, this is a spot that will make you happy to live in Ontario. View this post on Instagram World famous for backcountry canoeing with over 2,000 lakes and 460,000 ha of remote wilderness, Quetico Provincial Park is a bucket-list destination for those who love the outdoors. 🌲 📷 @davidjackson__ 📍 @OntarioParks #DiscoverON |#explorecanada A post shared by Ontario Travel (@ontariotravel) on Sep 23, 2019 at 7:01am PDT Website Dorion Tower Price: Free Address: Dorion, ON Why You Need To Go: This spectacular pinnacle looks like something out of Lord Of The Rings, but you can find it right here in Ontario. View this post on Instagram Whenever the opportunity arises where I get to shoot this magical spot, I do not hesitate. Here is @outdoor_skills climbing The Dorion Tower - @discoverontario @ontariotravel A post shared by ＤＡＭＩＥＮ ＧＩＬＢＥＲＴ 🇨🇦 (@dmangilbert) on Jul 27, 2019 at 6:55pm PDT Website Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve Price: Free Address: Southwood Road, Gravenhurst, ON Why You Need To Go: Relax under the stars at this twinkling dark sky preserve. View this post on Instagram 🌌 #milkyway #stars #meteor #toronto #torrancebarrensdarkskyreserve A post shared by Angel Gao🧸 (@angel.dot) on Jul 2, 2019 at 7:07am PDT Website We strongly advise that before you go swimming or visit any location, you check the most recent updates on potential hazards, security, water quality, and closures. If you do plan to visit a location, respect the environment.
