Local Guides World
Best Nature preserves in Canada
Top Rated Nature preserves
Top Reviewed Nature preserves
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures
Heart Lake Conservation Park
Heart Lake Conservation Park
Rockwood Conservation Area
Guelph Lake Conservation Area
Albion Hills Conservation Park
Tommy Thompson Park
Tynehead Regional Park
Rattray Marsh Conservation Area
Meadowvale Conservation Area
Rattray Marsh Conservation Area
Kahshe Lake Barrens Conservation Reserve
Eastern Cardwell Forest Conservation
Trout Hollow Conservation Area
Bayview Escarpment Provincial Nature Reserve
Heart Lake Conservation Park
Glen Haffy Conservation Park
Lake Laurentian Conservation Area
Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area
Hillman Marsh Conservation Area
Seabird Island Indian Reserve
Cabot Head Provincial Park
Kortright Centre for Conservation
Reviews
Our wedding at Kortright was beautiful, it's an absolutely stunning venue in the evening once all the bistro lights are turned on. The staff was all very kind and the food was delicious. I wouldn't change a thing about our day at Kortright. However, we were a bit thrown off because there was another wedding during the day we were uninformed about as well as a Halloween event on the grounds we were also uninformed about (during our reception). We were also stranded in the parking lot in the middle of the night after our wedding because their gate was not operating correctly.
These two things aside, it was otherwise a good choice in venue and we were happy with the outcome of our day.
These two things aside, it was otherwise a good choice in venue and we were happy with the outcome of our day.
Beautiful look out spots! If you’re not the biggest hiker, the trails aren’t too hard but it is a workout. Be prepared for breaks, brings lots of water and snacks! The view is worth it.
Wonderful hike, and the summer and the fall! Multiple parking lots to start the loop. Free to enter and enjoy.
I had a great time setting up a wedding today at Kortight! Such a beautiful place! Jeffrey provided us with outstanding customer service! We thank you!
Great place to walk and be one with nature.
We went in late September, although the path was mowed for easy walking the other growth was so high you couldn't see the marsh area or the birds that were in it. Also after a long walk there was a sign saying the trail ahead was closed for hunting from dawn to 3PM, thankfully it was after 3 when we got there because it was a long way back to the start.
So nice, so big, so many different trails, watch for bears though.
Great place for a fall walk. No need for fishing licence will have my father in law back soon
This is an amazing park with areas to barbecue and play games, but also kilometers of trails through beautiful hardwood forests. Nice bridges and fishing ponds.
One of the finest trails you should try. I loved this place and will go there again and again. You can spend a whole day without regrets. I would suggest going there with dry food and water. If you have a mate that would be nice to lay on that and feel the natural beauty
Sudbury is so blessed to have so many kilometres of beautiful trails and fantastic lake views so close within its boundaries. The trails vary in length and challenges. Great way to spend the day from 1.2 km to 10km hikes. There are areas where you can launch your own canoe and paddle on lakes that rarely any souls are on it.
Beautiful! You can see the Laurentian lake from the parking lot, but for best views; take the trails. There are multiple different trails, and its very well marked, and well maintained. We took the chickadee circle route and got amazing views!
Great hiking here! Wear good shoes though, many rocks.
4 stars from me..A nice place for a bbq and great trout fishing. No fishing license is needed. Only negative thing about the place is there to much surface weeds on the ponds because theres not enough water circulation.i would of gave 5 stars but they close way to early on weekdays. 4 PM. So they get 4 stars..but over all not a bad place to spend day and do some fishing and have a bbq with the family and kids.
Kortright was wonderful on a Saturday morning for hikes. The shop staffer was super helpful, describing different trails, taking a group photo for us, and helping with any and all questions!
Nice green space in Brampton for a picnic/ barbecue/ day's outing with family and friends.
Attractions:
1) Tree top trekking -Always get advance online booking.
2) kayaking in transparent kayaks in Heart lake
3) Ziplinning across Heart 💖 lake.
4)Enjoy a few trails around the lake and in the wooded area.
5) Barbecue is allowed for barbecue enthusiasts
Tip: Carry mosquito repellent spray especially in the summers to avoid getting eaten alive by the mosquitoes.
Attractions:
1) Tree top trekking -Always get advance online booking.
2) kayaking in transparent kayaks in Heart lake
3) Ziplinning across Heart 💖 lake.
4)Enjoy a few trails around the lake and in the wooded area.
5) Barbecue is allowed for barbecue enthusiasts
Tip: Carry mosquito repellent spray especially in the summers to avoid getting eaten alive by the mosquitoes.
Heart Lake Conservation Area is located in Brampton, which is a fantastic site for family or group events, no matter large or small.
Boathouse fishing and tackle, no license required. Learn to Fish program for beginners, pool and splash pad, picnic areas with benches, fitness trail, Tree Top Trecking/ Zip Line, canoeing and kayaking, cycling and hiking, dog walking, or just a nature walk is fine.
If you are looking for an adventure for kids of all ages, get outdoors and choose your adventure, this is the place. However, you have to pay extra if you want to play those activities. I don't think they will allow for overnight camping over there.
There is a bathroom/change room located near the pool and splash pad. There are stairs to walk down to the Heart Lake where you can find another washroom facility. However, there are porta-potties only in the picnic areas or along the trails.
Several huge parking lots in different areas are available, but you have to pay for general admission.
Passenger vehicle: $24.00
Large van: $42.00
Bus: $300.00.
The Medicine Wheel Garden is organized by the Aboriginal Network, TRCA, City of Brampton, and community groups, a place for healing, celebration, and peace, which is fantastic to drop by.
The breathtaking landscape along the lake is absolutely an oasis for nature lovers. It's definitely a natural beauty for spending a whole day with family and friends.
Would recommend!
Boathouse fishing and tackle, no license required. Learn to Fish program for beginners, pool and splash pad, picnic areas with benches, fitness trail, Tree Top Trecking/ Zip Line, canoeing and kayaking, cycling and hiking, dog walking, or just a nature walk is fine.
If you are looking for an adventure for kids of all ages, get outdoors and choose your adventure, this is the place. However, you have to pay extra if you want to play those activities. I don't think they will allow for overnight camping over there.
There is a bathroom/change room located near the pool and splash pad. There are stairs to walk down to the Heart Lake where you can find another washroom facility. However, there are porta-potties only in the picnic areas or along the trails.
Several huge parking lots in different areas are available, but you have to pay for general admission.
Passenger vehicle: $24.00
Large van: $42.00
Bus: $300.00.
The Medicine Wheel Garden is organized by the Aboriginal Network, TRCA, City of Brampton, and community groups, a place for healing, celebration, and peace, which is fantastic to drop by.
The breathtaking landscape along the lake is absolutely an oasis for nature lovers. It's definitely a natural beauty for spending a whole day with family and friends.
Would recommend!
Neat wildlife and flat, easy hiking experience. No staff or any other visitors on a Thursday in August. Saw a snake, grasshoppers, heron, frogs, toads, many butterflies and cool bugs in a very short time. Parking lot for the beach was closed.
The camp itself was great - my son had a lot of fun. However, we had left a raincoat among other rain gear with the camp per their suggestion for the 2 weeks he was there. He never wore the raincoat, yet it didn’t come home. He also lost his water bottle he would have used every single day there. I contacted them and they said they were unable to locate either. It’s frustrating since everything was clearly labelled and this hasn’t happened at any other camps he’s attended. Edit- I have updated my post and stars review as the raincoat was luckily located a few weeks after my son attended the camp. Then separately I got another call that his water bottle was located. I appreciated that the staff called to let me know and I was able to pick it up.
Nice spot. Lots of parking. Lots of room to space out when fishing. But the water is very dirty, green with algae and thick as soup. Most people aren’t catching any trout. And you have to pay for access and extra for fishing.
A remarkably clean and picturesque area that we thoroughly enjoyed. It's perfect for walking, hiking, cycling, and photography. You'll need to pay around $29 per car at the entrance, but don't worry if you're uncertain about which activities to try. There are numerous options available, including a water park, playground for children, and boat rentals and etc. However, there aren't any public restrooms available.
Great experience! Trails are clearly laid out. Kayaks, canoes, paddle boards. Picnic tables. Fishing. Beautiful scenery and wildlife.
Small but a stunning example of an old growth Carolinian forest. Majestic old Oaks, Silver Maples and Tulip trees, Sycamores etc. Many Sassafras trees as well. Read many of the reviews and I don’t think most people realize how unique this is. It contains many rare Carolinian forest trees. Beautiful.
Really enjoyed visiting this conservation area. If you go on a weekday it typically isn't very busy. If you are entering the park by car it's about $30 for the day so make sure you bring a credit card as they don't accept cash. There are lots of different paths to hike as well as a lot of seating room and picnic benches. This park also has water activities including kayaking and swimming.
Heart lake is a beautiful area, with expansive land for picnics and activities. In addition to the tree top trekking, splash pad and zip lines there were a few small areas to fish, and boat rentals. In addition to the entry fees, all activities have additional fees.
After following the first trail for a few km, it ended, and the only option was to follow the same trail back or make the mistake of diverting to another one and getting lost like we did. We eventually exited into a parking lot 15 minutes away from our original starting point and walked along the road. There are no maps along the trail...only numbered posts which do not particularly help. The trails were long but not very interesting. If you are not interested in the other activities, there is not a lot to see along the trails.
After following the first trail for a few km, it ended, and the only option was to follow the same trail back or make the mistake of diverting to another one and getting lost like we did. We eventually exited into a parking lot 15 minutes away from our original starting point and walked along the road. There are no maps along the trail...only numbered posts which do not particularly help. The trails were long but not very interesting. If you are not interested in the other activities, there is not a lot to see along the trails.
This review is specifically for my kayak/boating rental experience in June of 2023.
Having enjoyed my hiking visits to Heart Lake in the past, I was excited to rent a kayak. The Toronto and Regional Conservation (TRCA) parks website stated boat rentals are $20/hr, which seemed reasonable to me. When I got there, I discovered that that price pertains only to fishing rowboats, which are limited to visitors that fish. The staff will not allow non-fishing visitors to rent these if it is a busy time with many fishers.
Single-person kayaks are $30/hr, while tandem kayaks are $60/hr. We were a party of 3 and ended up spending 3 times what I had budgeted for. I found this to be highly unreasonable and deceptive - is there a reason you charge twice as much for two people using one kayak? Furthermore, they should at least give a comprehensive listing of all rental options on their website, not just the cheapest one. Your lack of transparency ruined what would otherwise have been an excellent outing. This is not a respectable way to do business.
Having enjoyed my hiking visits to Heart Lake in the past, I was excited to rent a kayak. The Toronto and Regional Conservation (TRCA) parks website stated boat rentals are $20/hr, which seemed reasonable to me. When I got there, I discovered that that price pertains only to fishing rowboats, which are limited to visitors that fish. The staff will not allow non-fishing visitors to rent these if it is a busy time with many fishers.
Single-person kayaks are $30/hr, while tandem kayaks are $60/hr. We were a party of 3 and ended up spending 3 times what I had budgeted for. I found this to be highly unreasonable and deceptive - is there a reason you charge twice as much for two people using one kayak? Furthermore, they should at least give a comprehensive listing of all rental options on their website, not just the cheapest one. Your lack of transparency ruined what would otherwise have been an excellent outing. This is not a respectable way to do business.
Wonderful experience. Attended a friend's wedding and I have to say, the venue has an amazing outdoor wooden feel to it. The service team is amazing, helpful, and thoughtful, truly great team. doing their best to host the wedding party & guests. Food was superb and plenty.
Great event space in a beautiful environment! Very helpful staff and very accommodating. I highly recommend this venue if you are looking for something a little different from the usual hall type venue.
Magical, when you go it just transports you to another world. It is the most relaxing place on earth.
This place is beautiful and while its still maintained, the owners and caregivers try their best to let nature stay natural and take its course. The paths are clear and its a very safe area. I've never seen any negative activity. There are a few trees with carvings from young people on them, but they look awesome. It's a very nice place to explore.
We had a taste of their Nature Trail on the day. Due to rain, we stayed for less than 2 hours. Very nice, and quite forestry. Scenic, will go back again.
Quiet and filled with life in the pond. The marsh was pretty dry due to no rain for abt 2 weeks but we still had the opportunity to see heron, rabbits, turtles, ducks, and other birds. We only saw a small portion of the area and plan on going back to check out the beach and other pathways we missed. There is also a small second story patio to look out at the area. Most enjoyable.
This is a great place for a short walk through beautiful woods. Excellent bird watching opportunities as well. Check out our video of a walk through the woods in winter on youtube @thewrongsideof40
Great place to hike around if you are looking for shorter, medium, or a long hike. Although the shorter one is very simple with few elevations but a great place to be if you love nature. It's surrounded with greens.
For fishing, there is a separate area, and it might be full during summers so advisable to come a little early.
Also, few spots can be reserved for a larger group, which also has benches and tables. Overall a great place to be.
For fishing, there is a separate area, and it might be full during summers so advisable to come a little early.
Also, few spots can be reserved for a larger group, which also has benches and tables. Overall a great place to be.
The trail is short so good for older people or people with mobility issues. Most of the trail has a wooden boardwalk. The trees are very tall with many beechnut & maple species. The birding was good with a variety of warblers & a grey tufted titmouse spotted.
A wonderful place for hikes.
They have removed the per person entry and introduced per car entry at $24.
Also the Treetop trekking here is a great adventure activity!
They have removed the per person entry and introduced per car entry at $24.
Also the Treetop trekking here is a great adventure activity!
Really nice walk - boardwalk & woodland trail. So many different birds to see and hear!
A must-visit for birders, Hillman is renowned for attracting shorebirds, ducks, egrets and gulls. Songbirds migrate through the trees and shrubs and eagles can be seen overhead (as we did on this visit). We had a Hooded Warbler, a Wilson's Phalarope, lots of Dunlin and several Short-billed Dowitchers.
Easy trail, just me and my friend and a couple on that day, parking available, great hike for family too
It was an awesome experience. The conversation park was not crowded. You can enjoy hiking, cycling or exploring trails even by walking. The lake is beautiful and the cool breeze can soothe your soul. There are a lot of points for photography as well and the natural lighting and beautiful nature will add the jinx in your picture. There is a playground for kids, lots of places to sit and hangout with your friends and family. It's a good idea to enjoy your day picnic as well.
Overall it was an excellent experience, one should definitely go and visit this place once.
Overall it was an excellent experience, one should definitely go and visit this place once.
Nice Trail. I believe it's about 4km. There are some restrictions to when you can hike due to hunting.
Gorgeous trail offering incredible views of the Bighead River! Plan for a longer day if you intend to do the full 13-km loop. There is parking available off Edwin St across from Beautiful Joe Park, which is the start of the "Easy" trail along the south/east of the river. The "Moderate" trail along the north/west of the river does not have much parking at the trailhead (we walked to the Moderate trailhead after parking at Beautiful Joe). The yellow trail markings were somewhat infrequent at the very beginning of the trail but we found our way through. There were some cool old ruins on the Moderate side with the occasional information plaque. Highly recommend as a nice full outdoor day!
Beautiful trail that winds along beside the river.
Amazing paddled for 8 hours still so much left to see.
Spent couple hours on sandbar Island BBQ and chilled .
Packed out everything we packed in.
W we make this a yearly event for a group of us recreational kayakers.
Spent couple hours on sandbar Island BBQ and chilled .
Packed out everything we packed in.
W we make this a yearly event for a group of us recreational kayakers.
Google took us to a spot with no visible entrance to this site. There was a road allowance ahead that appeared to be used so we walked down it only to have it end at a Department of Defence Army base. Don't use Google if you want to find this site, we drove several kilometers down Highway 26 and then took another side road in, nothing still don't know where it is.
The place is nice but small. Not too many trails for walking
Lovely picnic and volley ball area, nature trails are beautiful as well but more of a hike than a walk. Lots of frogs hoping around and saw some fuzzy bumble bees too. Was a nice way to spend a sunny afternoon.
I’ve been here a few times over the years and it is a great conservation area for easy hikes with the family. They have various activities throughout the year. The maple syrup festival is one of my favourite. It’s very educational and the kids love tasting the maple syrup. It’s a big shame that the old cabin with the cauldrons where they demonstrate the how they burn off the water to get the maple syrup had burnt down.
Family friendly park with a lot of pros than cons
Pros
1. People help each other and normally treats each other with respect and some people are generous to share some fish or worm
2. The scenery is one of a kind
3. Beginner to intermediate fishing spot
Cons
1. they don't normally add fishes on their pond.
2. You need to pay for fishing and there's no guarantee you'll catch one
3. Overcrowded for fishing spot
Pros
1. People help each other and normally treats each other with respect and some people are generous to share some fish or worm
2. The scenery is one of a kind
3. Beginner to intermediate fishing spot
Cons
1. they don't normally add fishes on their pond.
2. You need to pay for fishing and there's no guarantee you'll catch one
3. Overcrowded for fishing spot
Absolutely gorgeous. Every thing about Georgian bay is beautiful. Lake Huron in general is my happy place.
The trail is generally easy and now dry. After the first several hundred metres it narrows and is rocky in many places. A couple places with views of the lake.
Fantastic trail through a forest . This trail gas it all. Beautiful lookouts, rock path, hills, and wide smooth walking path.
4.5km total loop.
4.5km total loop.
Beautiful place, in winter more so.
Another wonderful conservation area maintained by Essex Region Conservation Authority. The entire trail is quite a long walk. Talks about an hour to go around the marshes. 90% of the trail is grass so feels good to walk. There's a bird watching tower in the middle of the marshes. There's also a boardwalk that takes us into the marshes. Washrooms are maintained well. Great place to spend some evening hours.
A small wooded area preserved by the Essex Region Conservation Authority. Major portions of the trail are boardwalk while some portions are mud trails. The feeling of being amidst the giant trees makes us feel humble and connected to the earth more. It is sad that this small woodlot is all that's left after humans deforested the area for agriculture. We need more trees, more forest cover. Thank you ERCA for maintaining the woods. The toilets need refurbishing.
What a beautiful place to be for walk and trails. Had great experience. Definitely highly recommended for all groups. Great trail and event services available.
Always a great place to hike.
Nice and dry today with a cool breeze.
The views are always perfect.
Nice and dry today with a cool breeze.
The views are always perfect.
Excellent birdwatching spot! This was my baby's first bird watching expedition! And we got a bonus experience: The Detroit symphony orchestra played a free concert outdoors at the nature center and the birds sang along with flute and the harp!!!! it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life! (I recorded some of what we heard at that concert... if you would like to hear it please visit my YouTube channel and/or bandlab. Table and Spoon 3)
Mature maple tree plantations and what appears to be an abandoned orchard along the River Kwai side trail. Somewhat disappointing that the Meaford Tank Range (I know it has a more official name now) has pushed the trail back from the escarpment edge. Some long views but not necessarily of water. The trail itself is quite easy in most parts so I did some trail running but other parts are more technical. Lots of berries along the side trail and lots of flora to identify. Not my favorite section but worth hiking at least once.