Algonquin Park is one of the few provincial parks in Southern Ontario that remains open in the winter for camping, hiking, and XC skiing. While the park isn’t fully functional, it’s still wonderful to visit- even if it’s just for a day hike! Here is a list of all the hiking trails in Algonquin that remain open and accessible in the winter. I’ve listed them in order from East to West along Highway 60 because I’m currently writing this from my kitchen in Ottawa. Algonquin is gorgeous any time of year! (except maybe spring). Photo courtesy of @smmashleynicole. Outdoor Exhibit Trail at the Logg ..read more

The day use shelters in Gatineau Park always make for a fun destination. These wooden cabins all have a wood burning fire place, picnic tables inside, and are just generally a great spot to warm up and relax during your outing in Gatineau Park. There are 5 day use shelters that you can get to by snowshoeing- you can check out the full list here. The Brown Lake Shelter is one of the easiest to get to, since it’s only 2 km out and 2 km back. There’s also a lovely view over the river leading Brown Lake itself that’s worth the trip. Looking out over the river. Quick Facts Length: 4.7 km Difficul ..read more

Years ago, my husband and I started the Adirondacks based “Saranac Lake 6er.” We brought our infant daughter to the tops of some of the coolest little mountains in Saranac Lake, and had a blast! Then the borders shut down, and… Now it’s 2023! Early this year I asked my husband if he would complete a “Winter 6er” with me, and he enthusiastically agreed. Which I thought was a little suspicious, since normally this type of thing takes a little more convincing. To complete the Saranac Lake 6er, you have to hike the six mountains surrounding Saranac Lake. To complete a “Winter 6er” you have to hik ..read more

I was super excited when I saw that the NCC had added new snowshoe trails this year, leading out to the Carbide Willson Ruins! I love the waterfall beside the ruins and couldn’t wait to see it in winter. Then I saw the hike would be 12 km round trip and I was a little less excited… but just slightly! I grabbed a couple of friends recently and slogged through the snow. And it was totally worth it. The ruins and the waterfall are incredibly beautiful in the winter! Trails 44 and 45 out to the ruins are shared with fat bikes (although we actually saw very few people and no fat bikes on the day we ..read more

The day use shelters in Gatineau Park are the perfect spot to stop and rest, enjoy the wood-burning fireplace, and spend a bit of time indoors during your outdoor adventure. I’ve seen them used for kids’ birthday parties (so cute!), as well as small social get togethers- a great way to be active and socialize with friends. In the winter, it can sometimes seem like anywhere you want to get to in Gatineau Park, you have to ski. But a closer look reveals that there are actually 5 day-use shelters that you can walk or snowshoe to in the park- no ski skills required. (You can also fat bike to them ..read more

If you’ve been to Calabogie, you’ve probably visited the Eagles Nest Lookout. But did you know that some of the lookouts on the opposite side of the mountain are just as beautiful? Recently my husband and I took a day for ourselves and stayed at the Somewhere Inn in Calabogie (it was beautiful, and the property itself is great for spending time outdoors). Of course, we wanted to get in a hike while we were there, so we decided on the Lost Valley Loop, so that we could check out the Juniper Ridge Lookout as we’d never seen it before! This hike is just under 5 km, with a few good hills thrown in ..read more

Every year when winter arrives, things change on our favorite trails here in Ottawa. Some become XC ski trails, and some are closed altogether. Fortunately, there are still a bunch of trails close to Ottawa that remain hike-able in winter. Including some with amazing views! Here are 15 of my favorites, in order of distance from Ottawa. Taking in the view from the top of the hill at Dacre Heights. Wolf Trail Length of Trail: 8.4 km Difficulty: Difficult Distance from Ottawa: 30 minutes North Dog Friendly in Winter: No Full Trail Report: Wolf Trail- An 8.4 km Hike in Gatineau Park | Adventure ..read more

This hike is part of the Adventure Report Ottawa Hiking Challenge! If you hike this trail, you’re officially working on the Views Edition! Join our Hiking Challenge Facebook Group to connect with other hikers working on the challenge, and don’t forget to tag us on social media so we can share your progress! The Rock Dunder Trails are some of the best trails that we’ve been on near Ottawa. We went on the long weekend at the beginning of September, but I have no doubt this trail would be stunning in the fall as well. There are some really exceptional views on this hike! Rock ..read more

This list is for all the people in Ottawa who love hiking with their furry friends! All the trails on this list are dog friendly during the warmer months- typically from April to early November. For a list of hiking trails that are dog friendly during the winter months as well, click here. Have you ever SEEN a cuter hiker than @wolfandrita_official? East End The Princess Louise Falls Distance from Ottawa: 17 Minutes Full Trail Report: The Princess Louise Falls in Orleans | Adventure Report The Bilberry Creek Ravine Trails Distance from Ottawa: 18 Minutes Full Trail Report: The Bilberry Creek ..read more

Gillies Grove in Arnprior is a short hike, but the sit spot by the river means you could happily spend hours there connecting with nature. Plus, Gillies Grove is home to the tallest tree in Ontario! So they say, although I have questions. Like: Which one is it?? I’ve been twice now and still can’t figure it out. And honestly how do they figure out which is the tallest in all of Ontario? Seems complicated. Anyways! Gillies Grove is really beautiful, because its actually old growth forest, which we don’t get to see too often. Dogs are allowed there (on leash), and the trails are open year-round ..read more