Parkside Mansion

Have you ever wanted to explore the outdoors, create a masterpiece or go to space? You’re lucky! Our FREE Discovery Kit rental program is designed to help you do all…

We are excited to bring the Voyageur Adventure Tour back to Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park this summer! Experience the life of a traveler at the height of the fur…

Today’s post comes from Jessie Robinson, a Discovery staff member at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. As we become a more environmentally conscious generation, we pay more attention to how…

The day begins with the best intentions. You’ve brought your inflatable flamingo (or unicorn, yellow duck, or inner tube…) to your favorite beach in hopes of getting some much-needed rest…

Access to green spaces and parks remains essential. With so many visitors enjoying campgrounds, parks and beaches this summer, there has been an influx of food and trash. This excess…

North Beach Provincial Park is a beautiful day park that offers long sandy beaches along Lake Ontario and its enclosed bay – 2000 meters of sandy beach to be specific!…

Mobile phones have changed our lives in many ways. It seems there is an app available to meet all our needs, from baking to banking and everything in between. At…

In today’s post, the Ontario Barks committee chair dog shows us his favorite parks to take a WALK. Nothing makes my tail wag faster than watching my humans pack for…

Fishing is an iconic Canadian pastime. There’s nothing like spending the day by the water with your friends and family, casting a line, and enjoying the outdoors. But did you…

Today’s post comes from multi-species angler and writer Ashley Rae of SheLovesToFish.com. Fishing is a wonderful activity that can be enjoyed all year round at any age. It’s a sport…

Have you ever relaxed at a new picnic table? Did you throw your trash in an empty trash container? Strolling along a newly repaired boardwalk? Thank a maintenance worker. Our…

The berries are finally ripening and it’s time for black bears in Ontario to start putting on weight. In July, breeding season ends and black bears get down to the…

Wondering where to go during your summer vacation? Look no further, because Rondeau Provincial Park could be the perfect getaway for you and your family! Located on Lake Erie, Rondeau…

Tucked away in a corner of Killbear Provincial Park is a special place: the Twin Points Trail. With windswept pine trees, craggy rocks and an abundance of wildlife, this is…

Fairbank Provincial Park is 25 minutes north of Highway 17 and 35 km west of Sudbury. This quiet, family-friendly park offers a peaceful setting for camping, swimming and paddling, and…

You’ve heard about this fantastic new adventure from a friend, a trail guide, or Instagram. It seems a little difficult and you’re pretty new to the whole backcountry thing. Still,…

Today’s post comes from Kelila Seymour, discovery leader at Neys Provincial Park. While some parks may boast a connection to the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR), few parks are “tied” to…

A camping trip requires a lot of planning and preparation, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. Thunderstorms are common throughout parts of Ontario from late April to early October.…

Long lines, crying kids, and “normal” photos can get in the way of your camping style. Find space, serenity and more by avoiding the weekend crowds: 1. Your own personal…

Today’s post comes from our discovery specialist, Dave Sproule. We are lucky to live in a province where nature has blessed us with many lakes, a variety of landscapes and…

Today’s post comes from the Wandering Wagars, an adventure-loving family traveling the world. A great attraction can transport you to another world. But the staff at Murphys Point Provincial Park…

Forks of the Credit Provincial Park is a beautiful park west of Toronto. It offers excellent opportunities for hiking, picnicking, and fishing, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in…

Mono Cliffs Provincial Park is a popular spot. It offers great hiking and scenic views, is home to a portion of the Bruce Trail, protects many rare cliff-dwelling species, and…

Located along the meandering Bonnechere River, Bonnechere Provincial Park is the perfect place to explore with your family. Bonnechere, located in Killaloe, ON (just 2 hours from Ottawa), is one…

We know that spending time in nature is good for us. Sometimes we just need a little push to get out there and feel the effects! That’s why on July…

When you first hear the word “bioblitz,” you might feel a little confused. What does this strange word mean? When you break the word down into smaller parts, it’s much…

Today’s blog comes from Dr. Romola Porchuk of the Global Institute for Forest Therapy and Nature Connection, and Cortney LeGros, Healthy Parks Healthy People Coordinator at Ontario Parks. Forest therapy…

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is the busiest provincial park in the province, welcoming more than 1.5 million visitors each year. Home to the world’s longest freshwater beach, Wasaga boasts 14km…

We often hear our visitors say how much they fear or hate snakes. Ophidiophobia, the name given to the intense fear of snakes, is certainly a legitimate condition and we…

In today’s blog, Discovery Project Program Coordinator Jessica Stillman reflects on our mutual relationship with the Great Lakes. Our human history is reflected in its waters. The Great Lakes capture…

Today’s blog comes from Zahra Ebrahim, Lake Superior Provincial Park’s 2022 artist-in-residence. It was the spring of 2022 when I received a phone call from Friends of Lake Superior Park…

Located on the north shore of Lake Superior, Neys Provincial Park offers visitors beautiful hiking trails, quiet campgrounds, a sandy beach, and rich history waiting to be explored. Here are…

In today’s post, Jessie Pleasance, staff at Neys Provincial Park Discovery, helps us learn some identification skills. Summer is in full swing, so it’s time to brush up on your…

Today’s blog comes from Murphys Point Provincial Park Deputy Superintendent Mark Read. With increasing interest in some of the smaller wild animals found in our provincial parks, moths are quickly…

Pretty River Valley Provincial Park is located on the Niagara Escarpment and is an important part of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The park is home to a multitude of…

Welcome to our “Considerate Camper” series. These are posts with tips and reminders on how to keep our provincial parks clean and healthy. Do you already know how it is…

Never visited Lake Superior? Let us introduce you to this stunning body of water with a park that shows just how great this lake is: Pancake Bay Provincial Park! If…

Today’s blog was written by Jessica Stillman, School Outreach Coordinator at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Moths are wonderful! While we may mock their desire to go toward the light, they…

Ready to get out on the water, but not sure what the best places to boat are? Check out these five water hotspots in southeastern Ontario that could be your…

Today’s blog was written by Discovery Program Project Coordinator Jessica Stillman. We’re not trying to be rude; We really want you to take a hike! On Wednesday, August 9, 2023,…

Do you want to sleep better at night? Be more creative? Do you have more concentration and attention? What about a higher level of job satisfaction or a general sense…

Today’s blog post comes from Corina Brdar. A different way to be mindful of nature is to keep a nature journal. Using writing and sketching as tools can be a…

Picture this: You are alone, deep on a wooded trail. Your only companions are the birds that flit from branch to branch around you. As you walk, you follow a…

We all have fond childhood memories of a roaring campfire. It can be the highlight of a camping trip! Let’s keep those memories positive by making sure even the youngest…

Does the forecast look a little rainy for your next camping trip? Don’t let this get you down! Some of the best memories happen on the rainiest days. All you…

Today’s post comes from Jill Sorensen., The sweetest in Quetico Provincial Park. Are you celebrating a birthday or anniversary during your backcountry camping trip? Here are some of my favorite…

Today’s post comes from Jess Matthews, Chief Naturalist of Rondeau Provincial Park. Special thanks to Kevin Gevaert for providing photos of prothonotary warblers! Close your eyes. Try to imagine a…

We are proud to celebrate the establishment of Monarch Point Conservation Reserve, a new conservation reserve on the south coast of Prince Edward County! Over the past few years, our…

Ontario Parks staff tackle a wide variety of tasks and challenges. Our days are diverse. You may find us researching rare species, applying first aid skills, maintaining safe and healthy…

Today’s post comes from Isabelle Moy, Senior Park Naturalist at Killbear Provincial Park. Here at Killbear, it’s no secret that we are home to Ontario’s only venomous snake species: the…

Ontario black bears are busy searching for food in August! They only have a few months before going into hibernation. In August, black bears focus on finding delicious berries like…

Today’s post comes from Maddie Bray, naturalist at Awenda Provincial Park. As park naturalists, we get asked all kinds of questions about the various organisms that live within the park.…

Art and nature go hand in hand like columbine flowers and a hummingbird’s tongue. Indigenous artists express their relationship with the land through art; Canada’s Group of Seven found inspiration…

Welcome to Ontario Parks’ “Eyes in the Skies” series. This space (

Canada’s boreal forest region stretches from the edge of the Yukon in the north, across the length and breadth of the country to Newfoundland and Labrador. Ecologically rich and diverse,…

Lake Wakami Provincial Park is located in the heart of the Boreal Forest of northeastern Ontario. Four hours from Sault Ste Marie and five hours from Sudbury, This park is…

Today’s post comes from Rose Brandt, a Discovery student at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. If you’ve been to Bagwa Day Use Beach in Samuel de Champlain, you may have…

Today’s post comes from James Burns.conservation officer and former interior ranger of Quetico Provincial Park. Quetico Provincial Park is a great place for many reasons. If you’re reading this, you…

From streams and ponds to rushing rivers and the sprawling Great Lakes, Ontario’s parks are home to a network of more than one million hectares of lakes and rivers. So…

Today’s post comes from Jazmin Gall, naturalist at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. As park staff, one of our favorite questions from visitors is, “Where can I?”Insert various wildlife names.…

Today’s post comes to us from Discovery Program Specialist Dave Sproule. In mid-August, Ontario’s landscape begins to change color. A little gold here, swathes of white there, and even a…

This blog comes from the team of biologists and ecologists at Algonquin Provincial Park. Algonquin is a bastion of headwaters. Most of our lakes are fed by cold, clean water…

Today’s blog post comes from Sara Moore, a Discovery student at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. Have you ever wondered what makes a sunset so special? What gives them those…

We don’t want to discourage children from finding magic in nature. But we are also like the Lorax; we need to speak up for the trees (and all the other…

Thirty years ago, Atikokan resident and Paralympic gold medalist Tom Hainey historically swam the length of Quetico Provincial Park in the Breaking the Barrier Swim. This swim honored Tom Hainey’s…

Today’s post comes from Sheila Wiebe, Marketing Specialist at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Sometimes you have to go back to move forward. Take the family picnic as an example.. Until…

Park lovers are natural explorers and we love our visitors’ passion for adventure. Sometimes we see our visitors create their own shortcuts when passing through sensitive habitats. This is also…

We often get this question: “Why do I see empty campsites but so few available when I make a reservation?” In recent years, our parks have seen a large increase…

Happy International Youth Day! Students and young people are the lifeblood of our parks: we couldn’t do without them! These are just some outstanding students and young people from across…

Sonje Bols is an interpreter and naturalist for Ontario Parks and coordinates the Discovery Drop-in program at several parks in northeastern Ontario. He loves dragonflies: watching them, capturing and identifying…

Ferris Provincial Park is a hidden gem in southeastern Ontario, just two hours east of Toronto. It is best known for its pedestrian suspension bridge with panoramic views of Trent…

Today’s post comes from Natural Heritage Education Supervisor Alistair MacKenzie at Pinery Provincial Park. The landscape of Ontario’s parks is famous as a refuge for countless species, both common and…

Are you planning a cross-province adventure? Review the Driving Routes in Ontario Parks. The Boreal Forest is vast and beautiful, and completely north. This unique ecosystem, unlike anything you’ll find…

Today’s blog comes from Kelsey Fenwick, Senior Naturalist at Blue Lake Provincial Park. Growing up in a small town in Ontario, I always loved and appreciated the natural world. Interestingly,…

Today’s blog comes to us from Sam Alison, former Ontario Parks gray rat snake researcher at Murphys Point Provincial Park. I have to admit, when I was seven years old,…

If you’ve set foot outdoors this summer, you know that temperatures have reached record highs. While the heat can mean beautiful beach days, sunset picnics, and other summer adventures, it…

Today’s post comes from Christian Therrien, former Senior Assistant Ecologist for the North West Zone. Most agree that all dinosaurs became extinct 66 million years ago. However, looking at the…

Fushimi Lake Provincial Park is located in the heart of Ontario’s boreal forest, near the town of Hearst, just north of Highway 11. It’s a long way from some parts…

When making a reservation for a backcountry camping trip, you will be asked to describe your camping equipment in detail. In the rush to confirm your reservation, it can be…

No bugs or crowds: just natural beauty crowned by the splendor of autumn. Fall is the perfect time to pack up the trailer and head out on an adventure! Ready…

Do you secretly wish you could produce photographs that take people’s breath away? There is no better time than now to pursue your dream! We chatted with Thunder Bay photographer…

You recently unwrapped the latest iPhone or a shiny new digital camera, maybe an SLR with some fancy lenses. Now you have itchy shutter fingers. You are ready to point…

Today’s post comes from Laura McClintock, Senior Naturalist at Sibbald Point Provincial Park. I am a naturalist. I work in one of the busiest parks in the province, but I’m…

Are you planning a cross-province adventure? Review the Driving Routes in Ontario Parks. Thinking about taking a road trip in Northwestern Ontario? Welcome to the land of the sunset! This…

The air becomes crisp, the leaves begin to change, and eager anglers begin to pack their gear to escape north. Are you looking forward to fall fishing in Northeastern Ontario?…

Today’s blog was written by former Discovery Leader at Kettle Lakes Provincial Park and current Discovery Senior Birder and Ranger at Rondeau Provincial Park, Sarah Wiebe. Meet the common Nighthawk.…

Cooler weather. Without errors. The aroma of pumpkin pie wafting from your campfire and the warmth of hot chocolate in your hands. It must be fall camping season! Looking for…

Today’s post comes from Carter Morash.who has worked as a rural area warden in Quetico Provincial Park since 2015. The north end of Quetico is a beautiful place. There are…

Looking for the ultimate hiking challenge this fall? Look no further! He The Frontenac Challenge is just for you. Participants will have to cover Frontenac’s 11 hiking circuits, totaling about…

Today’s post comes from Nicholas Ypelaar, former Discovery Assistant Coordinator at Awenda Provincial Park. “Wow! SNAKES! and/or the cries of fear that accompany them are phrases I am very familiar…

This post was brought to you by our guest blogger Sitka the Border Collie, with the help of her human Laura Myers, Strategic Market Development Specialist at Ontario Parks. Hello!…

Located between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, Chutes Provincial Park is a little gem with a lot to offer. With incredible views, rich history, and a full-service campground, Chutes offers…

Not ready to say goodbye to summer? Us neither. Fall comes late to this part of the province, which means campers can extend their fair weather excursions throughout October. Book…

Amber reds, warm yellows, and oranges as bright as a nighttime campfire—there are few places with fall colors as memorable as Lake Superior Provincial Park. Here are five more reasons…

Camping doesn’t always involve driving a long distance to pitch a tent. RVing allows you to experience the beauty of Ontario’s fall colors with more of the comforts of home.…

At Ontario Parks, we are constantly looking for ways to promote both the health and well-being of our visitors and the parks we protect. The importance of spending time in…

Ah, fall… the weather cools, the bugs disappear, and our parks become a kaleidoscope of stunning reds, oranges, and yellows. If you love fall hiking, northeastern Ontario is the place…

Today’s post comes from Hope Freeman, Senior Naturalist at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. Have you ever heard the term “species at risk”? Maybe you have; maybe you haven’t. In case…

From yeasts (responsible for bread leavening) to molds (we’ve all forgotten about food for too long), the world of fungi is vast and fascinating. But the role that fungi play…

Today’s post is from Allison Spadoni, Superintendent of our Nipigon Node, Rainbow Falls, Neys, and White Lake parks. Oh, fall! It’s the perfect time of year to get out and…

Located just outside of Huntsville, Arrowhead Provincial Park offers visitors the opportunity to experience the beautiful fall colors in the heart of Muskoka. Explore 9 miles of hiking trails, fresh…

From family biking to mountain biking, you’ll find the perfect trail for your fall adventure at Ontario Parks. Enjoy the colors of fall as you bike through some of Ontario’s…

In today’s post, we’ve collected emails from some wild animals that live in provincial parks. Keep wildlife wild, respect wildlife, don’t disturb wildlife. These are common phrases… but what do…

Located just 40 minutes from Ottawa, Rideau River Provincial Park offers a relaxing camping experience with activities for the whole family. Rideau River is open for camping and day use…

Welcome to Ontario Parks’ “Eyes in the Skies” series. This series covers a wide range of astronomy topics with a focus on what can be seen from the pristine skies…

Tucked away in a neighborhood an hour north of Toronto lies a slice of one of Ontario’s rarest ecosystems. Holland Landing Prairie Provincial Park is part of the last 3%…

Today’s post was originally published in 2016 and comes from David Bree, then our Senior Discovery Leader at Presqu’ile Provincial Park and a passionate protector of Ontario’s shorebirds. I don’t…

On September 23 and 24, 2023, you are invited to the annual Bronte Creek Harvest Festival. Experience harvest season as it might have been over 100 years ago at Bronte…

From the prick of our thumbs, something wicked comes this way… We have tons of haunted Halloween events coming up! Find some notable spooky moments below (and don’t forget to…

The signs of spring always catch our attention. We are excited about the arrival of the familiar birds, butterflies and fish that we see every summer. Maybe it’s simply because…

September is one of the best times of year to get out into nature and hike! Most of the month of September is still technically summer. While it is generally…

Today’s blog was written by Jessica Stillman, School Outreach Coordinator at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. When you visit a provincial park, you will likely interact with staff from various departments.…

In today’s post, the park’s former chief naturalist, Angela Gunn, reflects on the at-risk pitcher thistle. It’s been almost 20 years since we took a close look at the pitcher…

Influencer Diana Lee lives for adventure, the outdoors, and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP)! Find out what @only1phoenixx likes on Instagram and Twitter. Enjoy land and water activities beyond the summer season…

As the cold weather arrives, opportunities arise to see a stunning array of fall colors across the province. Ontario Parks is committed to making our parks as accessible as possible…

Leaf peepers, unite! ‘Tis the season to enjoy the splendor of fall. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, these parks are sure to surprise you when it comes to…

It’s not difficult to understand why so many park visitors plan to visit in the fall: the changing colors, migrating birds, and sprouting mushrooms make a visit all too tempting!…

Parks alone are not enough to save at-risk species. As we continue our species at risk blog series this summer, we’ve been able to share stories of the amazing species…

Mikisew Provincial Park is located on the western shore of scenic Eagle Lake and is the perfect park for vacation fun and camping each summer. But why put away your…

Fall is the perfect time to paddle. As temperatures drop, there are no bugs and the lakes become less crowded. Plus you’ll be able to capture some of our beautiful…

Today’s blog comes from Quetico Provincial Park canoe route technician, Gavin Morito-Karn. In 2019, I spent the summer paddling through much of the vastness of one of Canada’s waterways. Brigitte…

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hunt and eat swans? It’s not something you hear about every day, and for good…

For those cozy days indoors, why not try out this thrilling game of Winter Would You Rather? Gather your family or friends and get ready to have a blast! With…

Picnics are a wonderful way to make the most of the summer and spend quality time with loved ones. However, sometimes the weather can play spoilsport. Dark clouds, wind, moisture,…

Our contributing photographer, Noah, with an average Lake Ontario river steelhead. Check Noah’s other great images on Instagram. I’ve been a salmon guide in Ontario for over two decades, but…

Imagine standing at the entrance of Whitefish Bay, taking in the breathtaking views of Lake Superior. Here, at Coppermine Point in Ontario, Canada, history and nature intertwine to create a…