Algonquin Provincial Park is internationally renowned and holds a special place in hearts of so many Ontarians.
No wonder, then, that it’s also one of the most popular parks in the province! Reservations — especially for the park’s busiest summer and fall seasons — are hotly competed each year.
That’s why we’re so pleased to share that in the past year we’ve built four cabins and four yurts, some of the most requested park features!
Today’s blog comes to us from Algonquin Provincial Park Naturalist Sarah Lamond.
Picture it: a warm July day at Algonquin.
You’re basking in the day’s rays and exploring an interpretive trail. It’s all picture perfect until you hear that telltale buzz and feel an all-too-familiar pain on your scalp. The Deer Flies have arrived. Swatting at the growing swarm, you look to the sky and wonder: will there be no relief?
And then they arrive. The prehistoric predator. The Deer Fly devourer. The people’s champion: dragonflies.
Continue reading The fascinating world of dragonflies and their importance to ecosystems
Nature looks completely different under a glittering blanket of snow. Why not strap on some snowshoes and experience Ontario Parks in a whole new way this winter?
Check out some winter parks with top-notch snowshoeing opportunities:
This one’s been brewing for a while.
An epic showdown.
A frosty rivalry.
A battle between wintry giants.
Finally, we put the question to you, our visitors: which park, Algonquin Provincial Park or Arrowhead Provincial Park, is the winter destination park in the region?
Which one deserves the title of The Big A?
Planning a visit to Arrowhead Provincial Park?
Skating through the forest is definitely a winter bucket list activity!
But the secret is out! Arrowhead has quickly become one of the region’s most popular winter attractions so it’s important you plan your visit carefully.
Know before you go! Availability of skating and skiing is weather dependent. Check our Twitter for updates and the Snow Report for ski conditions.
Continue reading Winter adventure at Arrowhead Provincial Park
Brrr! Temperatures are dropping, and winter’s icy grip is almost upon us.
We bet you’re feeling just about ready to tuck into a nice, long winter’s hibernation. Not so fast! Outdoor activity is important for our mental and physical health all year long. Getting outside is good for you even when the weather is not ideal.
Ontario Parks has 31 parks open in the winter. Each park offers plenty of ways for you to get active in the chilly months.
Here are some great ways to stay healthy, and enjoy winter!
We called on Ontario Parks Architect Matthew Harvey to provide some insight on outhouses…the good, the bad, and the stinky!
In the course of my 25 year architectural career with Ontario Parks, I occasionally get asked what I do for a living. I proudly reply “Why, I design outhouses!”
If that person doesn’t excuse themselves, turn on their heel and beat a hasty retreat, then we might get down to a discussion that goes something like this:
In today’s post, Rondeau Provincial Park‘s Chief Park Naturalist Jess Matthews takes us back in time…
There may be a time when you used your paddle to get through white caps. At other times, it leisurely pulled you over still wetlands.
They are a lifeline. Solid, reliable; something that won’t break down on whatever journey you may be on.
But what if we told you that a paddle can also take you through time to the very beginning of the provincial park system? A time when the only two superintendents in Ontario Parks were 600 km away from each other, and correspondence was mainly though letters.
Just two paddles are the tangible pieces of history that connects Algonquin Provincial Park and Rondeau Provincial Park through a story of beginnings, friendships, and marriage.
Looking to extend your camping season?
Many of our parks are open for overnight stays in October and November. Whether you snuggle up in your tent or get cozy in your RV, make sure you pack extra socks!
Bundle up and book a trip to one of these late fall camping spots:
Continue reading Perfect parks for your late fall camping trip
Today, Content Development Specialist Andrea Coulter takes us through some family-friendly fall crafts.
Last fall, my kids and I joined my parents on a three generation camping trip to Canisbay Lake Campground in Algonquin Provincial Park.
We spent our days going for bike rides, hiking, and visiting around the campfire, but my kids’ creative bug was definitely itching. I was glad I had prepared some activities for around the campsite!
