One of the best things about living in and visiting Muskoka is enjoying some of Ontario's most breathtaking natural landscapes. Explore your adventurous side by hiking, biking or skiing through the captivating wilderness within our provincial parks. Rampant with various wildlife, there is no place better to experience all that is Muskoka. Let’s look at Hardy Lake Provincial Park.
Though small in size, covering an area of only 8.08 kilometers squared, just east of Torrance, Ontario, Hardy Lake Provincial Park is a true gem among local parks. While it is a non-operating park, which means there is no biking or camping, and it has neither facilities nor staff, it remains one of the most popular parks in the area.
Hardy Lake Park is home to, you guessed it, Hardy Lake. No motorboats are allowed in the lake. However, canoeing and kayaking are permitted. And the park has incredible hiking trails. Visitors and locals flock to the park for its stunning scenery and the three hiking trails that range in difficulty. Novice users will find the three-kilometer trail across rocky outcrops, natural shorelines and forested areas delightful. The nine-kilometer trail that circles Hardy Lake is a challenging wilderness trail that offers enchanting views of moss-covered rocks and a sparkling lake. If you hike in the fall, you’ll also notice the colourful trees reflected in the lake's calm surface. From start to finish, this trail takes approximately two to three hours, traverses wetlands, shorelines and forested areas, and requires some navigating skills. Lastly, the seven-kilometer trail at the southeast end of the park travels through forest and over wetlands along the shores of Lake Muskoka, offering a fantastic view of the Big Three Lakes. This trail is also a challenge and requires navigating thick bush at times. These trails are a delight to take all season round, though hiking in the winter means carefully stepping along the slippery trail or snowshoeing along with a surer foot.
Fortunately, it doesn’t matter whether there is dirt or snow under your feet, Hardy Lake Provincial Park has some of the best trails around. We’re sure you’ll find something on your trek that interests you. Perhaps you’ll find that you “enjoy the boardwalks taking you from one stretch of the shore to the other” or checking out the ruins of the abandoned stone house like Managing Broker Steve Keshen. Or maybe you’ll find the small cascading waterfall along the stream that empties Hardy Lake into Lake Muskoka a nice treat. Or perhaps the animal lover in you will rejoice in the sights of frogs bobbing in the water or a hawk darting out of the forest overhead. Whatever aspect of the park appeals to you, why not stop and take a photo or two?
If you want to know more about Ontario Parks, please visit the Ontario Parks Website.
Posted by Royal LePage Lakes of Muskoka on
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