Ontario is a province built for exploration. Sculpted by the Niagara Escarpment, bordered by the Great Lakes, and draped in endless forest, it offers some of the most spectacular natural escapes in Canada. From quiet wetlands to towering cliffs, there’s a rare balance here: moments of deep stillness alongside opportunities for wild adventure.
For travellers who crave the outdoors, these five destinations highlight the best places in Ontario for nature. Each is distinct, offering its own landscape, ecosystem, and way to connect with the land.
If your journey takes you north, this guide to Tobermory’s activities is a helpful starting point.
Tobermory and Bruce Peninsula National Park
At the northern tip of the peninsula, Tobermory feels like it belongs in another world. Here, cliffs of ancient limestone drop into clear, aquamarine waters. As part of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the area is celebrated for its mix of rugged landscapes and ecological significance.
The unique nature and ecosystems of Bruce Peninsula National Park make it a standout. The Grotto, a striking sea cave filled with glowing turquoise water, is its most famous spot. Coastal trails deliver sweeping Georgian Bay views, while long-distance hikers can connect with the legendary Bruce Trail. Hidden along the way are rare orchids, ancient cedar trees clinging to cliffs, and wildlife ranging from black bears to migrating songbirds.
Offshore, Bruce Anchor’s glass-bottom boat tours glide above shipwrecks resting just beneath the surface, their details visible through crystal-clear water. Their Flowerpot Island Cruise carries visitors into Fathom Five National Marine Park, where dramatic rock pillars and wildflower-filled trails create another layer of discovery.
Tobermory offers a rare combination—adventure for hikers, history on the water, and a friendly harbour-town atmosphere to return to at the end of the day. For anyone seeking the best places in Ontario for nature, it’s a must.
Plan your visit with Bruce Anchor to experience it from every angle.
Algonquin Provincial Park
Few parks capture the Canadian wilderness spirit like Algonquin. With over 2,000 km of canoe routes and dozens of hiking trails, it has been drawing paddlers, campers, and wildlife enthusiasts for generations.
The park feels alive with encounters—moose browsing in marshes, loons calling across lakes, and beavers building lodges at dusk. Each season brings its own magic: vibrant greens in summer, blazing red and orange foliage in fall, and quiet, snow-covered landscapes in winter.
For hikers, favourites like Centennial Ridges and Barron Canyon offer breathtaking panoramas. For paddlers, the network of interconnected lakes is nearly endless, giving visitors the choice of a few hours on the water or a week-long journey into the backcountry. Algonquin embodies the heart of hiking in Ontario: vast, untamed, and unforgettable.
Killarney Provincial Park
With sapphire-blue lakes set against white quartzite ridges, Killarney is one of Ontario’s most photogenic natural settings. The trails here are legendary, especially “The Crack,” a challenging climb that rewards hikers with sweeping views of the La Cloche Mountains.
Canoeing is equally rewarding, with calm waters ringed by rugged granite and forests of wind-bent pines. The landscapes of Killarney were immortalized by Canada’s Group of Seven painters, whose works captured its raw beauty and bold colours.
For adventurers looking for variety, Killarney offers both the serenity of quiet paddling routes and the challenge of steep hikes, making it a top destination for hiking trips in Ontario.
Point Pelee National Park
At the opposite end of the province lies Point Pelee, Canada’s southernmost national park. This narrow spit of land stretches into Lake Erie, creating a mix of marsh, forest, and sandy beach.
It is a hotspot for biodiversity, especially during spring and fall migrations. Birdwatchers flock here to see warblers, herons, and countless other species, while in autumn, monarch butterflies gather in staggering numbers before beginning their journey to Mexico.
Unlike Ontario’s rugged northern parks, Point Pelee feels delicate and intimate, a reminder of the province’s ecological diversity. For eco-travellers, it’s a destination where every visit reveals something fleeting and extraordinary.
Lake Superior Provincial Park
Wild and awe-inspiring, Lake Superior Provincial Park is the definition of remote beauty. Stretching along the rugged shoreline of the world’s largest freshwater lake, it is a place of crashing waves, dramatic cliffs, and hidden coves.
The Coastal Hiking Trail challenges even seasoned trekkers with its length and terrain, but shorter trails lead to waterfalls and lookouts that capture the park’s grandeur. Among its cultural treasures are the Agawa Rock Pictographs—centuries-old paintings left by the Ojibwe people, preserved on a cliff face beside the water.
For those who crave solitude and wilderness, Lake Superior offers a chance to feel small against the vastness of nature, a reminder of how powerful and untouched Ontario’s landscapes can be.
Where Nature Writes the Story
From the turquoise waters of Tobermory to the marshes of Point Pelee and the rugged cliffs of Lake Superior, Ontario is a province defined by its landscapes. Each destination tells a different story, whether of history, biodiversity, or sheer natural power.
If you’re ready to explore Ontario’s wild side, consider beginning with Bruce Anchor in Tobermory—where caves, cliffs, and cruises create an unforgettable first chapter in your journey through the province’s great outdoors.
