October 2011
Situated near Penetanguishene on Georgian Bay, Awenda Provincial Park is one
of the most popular parks in Ontario. The great thing about Awenda is that it’s
only a 2 hour drive from Toronto therefore making it an easy day trip if one
wants to escape the city briefly. The park offers magnificent views of Georgian
Bay and has several clean beaches making it ideal for swimming. There are over
30 kms of trails for hiking and biking that provide nice views of Georgian Bay.
The 4 km return Beach Trail skirts the shoreline and allows visitors to walk
along the park’s four beaches. The Beach Trail also provides a great view of
Giant’s Tomb Island in the distance which is also part of Awenda Provincial
Park.
The longest of the trails, the Bluff Trail (hike and bike) which is a 13km
circular trail offers wonderful views of Georgian Bay from a 60 meter high bluff
especially in the fall when the leaves have fallen from the trees.The Wendat
Trail is a 5 km loop trail that circles Kettle Lake. There are plenty of
opportunities on this trail to view red-winged blackbirds and blue herons in the
swamps surrounding the lake. The Nippising Trail provides nice views of the
forest canopy as you descend or climb the 155 step staircase of the Nipissing
Bluff.
I’ve been to Awenda many times but never during autumn. Awenda is one of the
nicest parks to view the autumn colours which usually peak during the second
week in October. A favourite hike of mine which showcases Awenda’s brilliant
foliage is to start at the parking lot at First Beach and take the Nippising
Trail to the Bluff Trail. Follow the Bluff Trail to Kettle Lake and then do a
loop around the lake and return to the parking lot the same way you came. The
total distance of the hike is around 12 kms. After working up a sweat it’s
really nice to spend the rest of the day enjoying the beach and if possible do
stay around for the spectacular Georgian Bay sunsets.
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| 1st beach, Awenda Provincial Park |
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| View of Tomb Island from 1st beach |
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| Bluff Trail on the way to Kettle Lake |
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| Kettle Lake |
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| Awenda Park Drive |
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| Boardwalk through marsh area at far end of Kettle Lake |
For more information visit the following related links.
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