Winter in Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario

February 14, 2016

Bruce Peninsula National Park is situated just a few hours north of Toronto between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. The park is comprised of shoreline cliffs, crystal clear turquoise waters, sea caves and many kilometres of hiking trails making this an ideal and picturesque outdoor destination. While the park is very popular during the summer months, the winter brings few tourists. In fact, Tobermory, the main town which lies within the park completely closes down with only one or two restaurants and hotels staying open throughout the season.

Here are some pictures I took while snowshoeing in the Cyprus Lake area. The Cyprus Lake area is the most stunning part of the park as it features the Grotto which is a sea cave and Indian Head Cove.

We did a loop hike beginning first at the Cyprus Lake Trailhead continuing on the Marr Lake Trail to Boulder Beach. We then continued along the ridge to the Grotto and Indian Head Cove and returned via the Horse Lake Trail.

 

 

Boulder Beach, Bruce Peninsula National Park

Boulder Beach, Bruce Peninsula National Park

On the trail heading to the Grotto

The Grotto, Bruce Peninsula National Park

Indian Head Cove, Bruce Peninsula National Park

Indian Head Cove, Bruce Peninsula National Park

Looking down on Indian Head Cove from the ridge

Biking in Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada

July 2015

In July 2015, I visited Vancouver before embarking on a cruise to Alaska. I decided to explore Stanley Park by what I consider the best way to do so, by bicycle. There are many bicycle rental places on Denman Street just a few blocks away for around $30-40 per day but you can also rent by the hour.

Stanley Park is a large urban park which is roughly 400 hectares in size. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful urban parks in the world. The park is comprised of manicured lawns, gardens, dense forests, hiking and biking trails and a seawall that circles most of the park. The park offers amazing views of the downtown skyline, Lions Gate Bridge and English Bay.

There are over 27kms of trails winding inside the park as well as a 9km trail that follows the seawall around the park. It takes about 1 hour to bike the seawall but it is worth taking more time in order to visit the many attractions and viewpoints within the park.

Vancouver Rowing Club

Stanley Park Totems

Brockton Point Lighthouse, Stanley Park

Prospect Point, Stanley Park

Looking out towards English Bay from Prospect Point

View of Lions Gate Bridge about 200 feet from Prospect Point

View of Lions Gate Bridge from the Seawall

Stanley Park Seawall

Siwash Rock

Third Beach

Lost Lagoon

Rose Garden, Stanley Park

Hardy Lake Provincial Park, Ontario

June 2015

Hardy Lake Provincial Park is located in the Muskoka Region of Ontario. It is a day use park meaning that there are no facilities and no camping. This is  a wonderful park to spend some time either swimming or hiking or just looking for a for a little tranquility as it is not heavily visited like the other provincial parks or Ontario Conservation areas.

There is a nice loop trail that circles the lake passing over rocky outcrops, boardwalks, shoreline and forest.

30,000 Islands Day Cruise on the Island Queen,Georgian Bay National Park, Ontario

July 12, 2014

Hole in the Wall

There is nothing more spectacular than Georgian Bay on a beautiful summer day and the perfect way to spend it is by cruising the World Biosphere Reserve of the 30,000 Islands. The boat tour I chose was the 3 hour afternoon cruise aboard the Island Queen, a 132 foot expedition cruise ship out of Parry Sound, Ontario. The ship navigates past granite shoals into narrow channels and provides an up-close look of the pristine beauty of Georgian Bay’s remote island wilderness.

As the ship leaves Parry Sound it makes its way into the Big Sound, a body of water reaching depths of 350 feet. Around 20 minutes into the cruise the ship passes the first point of interest, The Hole in the Wall. Hole in the Wall is a narrow channel which is just wide enough for the Island Queen to pass through with 80 foot granite cliffs on either side. As we passed through we were entertained by locals jumping from the cliffs into the clear blue waters. 

The next real point of interest is Killbear Provincial Park which is a very popular summer park that features beautiful sandy beaches and granite cliffs. The ship then enters the Waubuno Channel and continues pass the Outer Islands, Bears Head and makes a tight angle turn at Devil’s Elbow before entering the Seven-Mile Narrows. Seven Mile Narrows is a narrow channel that was blasted out years ago and is dotted with cedars, white pines, moss and other forms of vegetation.

The ship then passes Five Mile Narrows and provides an opportunity to spot osprey in their nest. Before returning to Parry Sound the ship finally passes through the Rose Point Swing Bridge. Upon approach the ship gives 3 horn blows to signal to the attendant that the Island Queen is approaching and needs to be let through.

I plan on returning but this time in the fall to view the magnificent changing of leaves.

Killbear Provincial Park

Killbear Provincial Park

Approaching Five Mile Narrow

Rose Point Swing Bridge

Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, Ontario

Mono Cliffs is situated northeast of Orangeville around 1.5hr from Toronto. It is part of the Niagara Escarpment which runs from Niagara to the Bruce Peninsula. The main features of the park include crevice caves, limestone plains and talus slopes.

There are 7 trails in the park for activities such as hiking, biking, and horseback riding. These trails include the Carriage Trail, Spillway Trail, Cliff Top Trail, McCarston’s Lake, South Cutler Trail and Lookout Trail.The Bruce Trail also runs through the park.

Silent Lake Provincial Park, Ontario

 

September 2013

 

I visited Silent Lake Provincial Park in mid September and stayed in a yurt for the first time. This is a beautiful park situated near Bancroft, Ontario. It offers canoeying and has great hiking trail that circles the lake.



 

Arrowhead Provincial Park, Ontario

September 2013

Anytime of the year is a good time to visit Arrowhead Provincial Park. The park which is situated near Hunstville offers many summer or winter activities such as camping, hiking, swimming, canoeing, skiing(they have 30 kms of trails), snowshoeing and skating. The park has 5 hiking trails which meander over ridges, through forests, and pass beaver ponds.

The best views can be seen from Big Bend Lookout where one can see the Big East River looping back and forth through the forest and Stubb’s Falls where the river rushes down a rock chute. There are 2 moderately challenging mountain bike trails: the 4.5-km Arrowhead Lake Trail and the 3 km Lookout Trail. Within the park, there are two small lakes, Mayflower and Arrowhead Lake, where one can go for a swim.




Arrowhead Lake



Stubb Falls



Big Bend Lookout