After spending all week in Zoom calls, it's time to leave your computer and enjoy some one-on-one time with nature. To help you escape the crowds, here are some lesser-known Ontario hiking trails perfect for your next adventure.
Even if you aren't an avid hiker, we have options for you. Many of the locations below offer short paths to lakes or waterfalls.
Editor's Choice: 7 Jaw-Dropping Bridges In Ontario That Will Take Your Next Hiking Adventure To New Heights
The next time you have a free afternoon, why not explore one of these scenic routes for yourself?
Spruce Bog Trail
Price: $10.84 per vehicle
Address: Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario 60, ON
Why You Need To Go: The easy 1.5-kilometre trek has multiple boardwalks over bogs where you can see water lilies and turtles.
Rockway Falls Trail
Price: Free
Address: 1742 St. Paul St. W., St. Catharines, ON
Why You Need To Go: You get to see not one but two cascading waterfalls on this trail in the Niagara Escarpment.
Valens Conservation Boardwalk
Price: $15.50+ per vehicle
Address: 1691 Regional 97 Rd., Cambridge, ON
Why You Need To Go: It is a peaceful escape, only one hour from Toronto. The flat 300-metre boardwalk is perfect for novice hikers and will give you a breathtaking view of the water.
Crawford Lake Trail
Price: $6.50 per person
Address: 3115 Conservation Rd., Milton, ON
Why You Need To Go: The lake path decorated with wooden statues of butterflies and birds feels straight out of a fairytale.
Wetlands Trail
Price: $6.64 per person
Address: 625 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, ON
Why You Need To Go: Within Laurel Creek Conservation Area, there is a 2-kilometre trail that will take you through a pristine forest and over a boardwalk.
Tip Trail
Price: $7.90 per person
Address: 1118 Point Pelee Dr., Leamington, ON
Why You Need To Go: While at Point Pelee National Park, you can go on a short 1-kilometre walk to the most southern point of mainland Canada.
Red Pine Trail
Price: $6.64 per person
Address: 450 Avenue Rd., Cambridge, ON
Why You Need To Go: Shades Mill Conservation Area is a fantastic choice if you want to escape the scorching sun. Here, you can stay cool as you walk under a dense canopy of trees.
McGinnis Lake Loop Trail
Price: $10.84 per vehicle
Address: 2249 Northey's Bay Rd., Woodview, ON
Why You Need To Go: No visit to Petroglyphs Provincial Park would be complete without seeing McGinnis Lake. It is one of the few meromictic lakes in Canada and has sparkling turquoise water.
Before you get going, check our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.