Getting outdoors is important for people of all ages and walks of life.
Getting outside is a great way to relax and soak up the beauty of nature that surrounds us.
Best of all, there are real benefits to enjoying the outdoors, especially for seniors.
Studies are continuously reporting the benefits gained by seniors who spend time in nature. These are some of the top reasons older adults should make time to get outside each day:
So you’re heading into one of our parks for the day, and looking to reduce your ecological footprint?
Here’s how to have a day of fun outside with a low-waste twist.
Summer’s here and it’s time to get outside!
Walk through the forest. Get lost* in the intoxicating smell of the earth and gaze up at the sun peeking through the green canopy.
Bliss.
*Not literally. Please do not literally get lost in nature.
This month’s FREE digital download comes from the stunning Rushing River Provincial Park.
Throughout 2023, we’re sharing a free downloadable graphic for you to use as wallpaper for your favourite devices. We’ve specially sized these images for your computers, tablets, smartphones, and Facebook covers.
With hundreds of parks in Ontario, it’s easy to overlook one that’s right next door.
But you don’t need to drive far for great camping options!
Here are five reasons you should consider Earl Rowe Provincial Park when you’re planning your next (or your first!) camping adventure.
Continue reading 5 reasons to visit Earl Rowe Provincial Park
Matt Cunliffe started at Ontario Parks in 2006 and has spent over a decade working as a park interpreter and an assistant park planner, project lead for Operational Policy and Training. An avid trail user and self-proclaimed nature geek, when he’s not on the clock, you’re likely to find him onto a new discovery somewhere in one of our parks.
Spring has sprung and I, like many Ontarians, cannot wait hike and bike as many trails as I can.
While you’re getting your gear ready for the next adventure, here are some tips to help you prepare and minimize impacts while you are out enjoying the trails.
Continue reading Hitting the trails? Know the etiquette before you go
We can definitely recommend “losing yourself” in our provincial parks by delighting in the sights and sounds of nature, and living in the moment.
We do not, however, recommend getting actually lost.
Park visitors get lost more often than you’d think. It can be a scary, stressful, and dangerous situation. It can also result in complicated and expensive search-and-rescue operations.
While we know no one sets out to get lost, there are steps you can take to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.
Did you know that Kakabeka Falls is Ontario’s second tallest waterfall?
Camp, hike, bike, and swim to your heart’s content next to a natural wonder.
The 40 m falls are the crown jewel of the appropriately named Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, a hub of family fun in northern Ontario.
With the park’s convenient location just 30 minutes outside of Thunder Bay, Kakabeka Falls is the perfect basecamp from which to discover one of Ontario’s most dynamic and interesting northern cities.
Here’s why you need to check it out:
Continue reading How to use Kakabeka Falls as a basecamp to explore Thunder Bay
Trail guide and cellphone and water in bottles,
Flashlight just in case your hike is a dawdle,
High energy snacks secured with drawstrings,
These are a few of our essential things… (can’t you just hear Maria von Trapp’s voice?)
A walk through a pine tree forest in crunchy snow can be dreamy, however your trip through a winter wonderland can go south quickly if you’re missing important items.
Being prepared with a few essentials in your bag will help keep you safe on your adventure. Here are six items that should always be in your day pack on a winter hike:
Continue reading 6 essential items to pack for your winter hike
Today’s post comes from Habitat Stewardship Technician Justin Johnson from Pinery Provincial Park. Justin has a M.Sc. in biology with a focus on bird acoustics.
Birders are an interesting breed of people. Sometimes everything they do seems to subvert the norms of society.
Sleeping in? Rather not. Too much coffee? No such thing. $4500 binoculars? Yeah, I’ve seen it.
Birders’ bread and butter is local natural spaces and their trails. They can be very particular about which trails they walk. Seasoned birders often only use trails they perceive as “birdy,” neglecting those off their sacred path.
But how do we really know which trails are the “birdiest?”
For many, autumn is the ideal season for outdoor fun. But as the temperatures start to drop, we want to make sure our hikers and campers stay safe while exploring our parks.
With help from our friends at Subaru Canada, we’ve gathered some top tips for staying warm and dry during your fall forays:
