Go wild: From hiking and biking, to the unforgettable Falls, embrace adventure and nature in Ontario
Go off-grid and high octane in this thrill-packed region
Niagara Falls needs little introduction, but there’s much more to the waterways of Ontario beyond the iconic Horseshoe Falls.
So you can plan the ultimate escape, Canadian Affair is the ideal one-stop travel shop for a bespoke itinerary around the province, taking in adventure and nature, tailored to your personal travel tick-list.
Here, we round up some of the highlights of going wild in Ontario…
Explore Niagara Falls and Niagara Parks
Spanning the border between Ontario and New York, Niagara Falls thunderously spills the Niagara River into Lake Ontario. The iconic Horseshoe Falls is the centrepoint for most trips here, but the Falls and surrounding Niagara Parks have a lot more to offer.
You can check out the Falls from above on a helicopter tour, Zipline to the Falls or the Whirlpool Aero Car – suspended 200 ft above the water, this option focuses on the whirlpools and whitewater rapids. There’s the Whirlpool Adventure Course, where, as well as ziplining, you’ll walk across tightropes, climb up cargo nets, fly through the air on rope swings, leap onto swinging logs, and balance on wobbly bridges. Or White Water Walk – a self-guided boardwalk alongside Niagara River’s Class 6 whitewater rapids – for a different experience of these powerful waters, as well as the more traditional Niagara Cruises.
Journey Behind the Falls, based to the west of Horseshoe Falls, provides a unique viewpoint of the watery wonder as well as a deep dive into its geographical evolution. Or for surrounding nature, there’s the Butterfly Conservatory and a mix of hiking trails around the parks.
To relax after your Falls experience, Niagara-on-the Lake is a great spot for a culinary tour at the end of a day or sampling some of the local wineries’ produce. And keep an eye out for the Flying Theatre Experience too, set to open in 2025, which promises to unveil Niagara from a completely new perspective.
Paddle on a canoe route
There’s a tapestry of 2,600 miles of waterways weaving across Canada from coast to coast and the connection with the canoe runs particularly deep in Ontario. First Nations people used the canoe as the original mode of water transport some 20,000 years ago to trade, hunt and ship.
There’s a mix of lakes, rivers and bays for canoeing across the province, from beginner level to more experienced. Golden Lake on the Bonnechere River in the protected Algonquin Provincial Park provides calm, clear waters and sandy shorelines for practising the moves, surrounded by forests and rocky ridges. Close by the Madawaska River connects Ottawa to Kingston, and the Madawaska Kanu Centre here specialises in hard and soft adventure courses in whitewater canoeing and kayaking.
Further south the Canadian Canoe museum in Peterborough tells the story of how vital the canoe has been in Canadian history. Having reopened its doors in May 2024, the museum holds the largest collection of canoes in the world, with the oldest dugout dating back to the 1800s. Book in for a carving workshop to handcraft a paddle from a single piece of wood or get hands on with canoe construction.
Enjoy icy adventures in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
The iconic landscape here is thought to resemble a giant sleeping on its back, which also provides ideal slopes, peaks and trails for winter adventures. Beyond the classic skiing options, there’s over 60km of maintained cross-country classic and skate ski trails for all ability levels, with paths weaving throughout forests of pine. For snowshoeing, there’s the shorter Sea Lion Trail for a taster or the Kabeyun Trail to Tee Harbour for those more dedicated. Cross-country skiing is undeniably the most popular winter sport here and there’s a range of heated cabins for cosy multi-day adventures.
Pedal around Manitoulin Island
Situated in the heart of the Great Lakes region on Lake Huron, Manitoulin Island holds the title of the largest freshwater lake island in the world. So large that the island itself has over 100 lakes on it as well as mountains, rivers and beautiful waterside sunset spots. It’s a hub of outdoor adventure with a particular focus on cycling and bike trails. There’s over 850km of cycling routes, loops, quiet back roads and off-road trails across the island. There’s a whole range of route suggestions that have been mapped out, from gentle afternoon pedals to multi-day tours. You can find bike rental spots across the island or join an organised tour.
Do a bit of everything in North Bay
Finally, why not combine activities on a multi-adventure trip? There are some mapped out routes that take in multi-day adventures around Ontario. The Red Toque trip combines hiking, paddling and cycling with resources to help you plan your ideal escapade around the area. It’s predominantly centred around North Bay, with cycling routes through the rugged Canadian Shield, canoeing on Mattawa River (with suggested must-see natural attractions along the way) and bucket-list hiking trails from Eau Claire Gorge to Stepping Stones Trails.
For more travel ideas and inspiration, special offers and to book your trip, visit Canadian Affair