by Lori Straus

Ontario is home to several national parks bursting with wildlife and diverse nature. If you’re looking for a family trip this winter to get away from things, here are a few possibilities.

Point Pelee National Park

This national park in Ontario is perhaps best known as the southernmost tip of Canada. When temperatures are cold enough, the water around the tip of Ontario’s arrowhead freezes, creating a beautiful view. Point Pelee offers day hikes and limited camping possibilities in the winter.

However, did you know that Point Pelee was designated a Dark Sky Preserve in 2006? That means on a clear night you could see millions of stars visible to the naked eye, because there’s no light pollution. The Windsor Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada offers Dark Sky Nights, when the park is open until midnight on special days throughout the entire year.

Pukaskwa National Park

Located 3.5 hours away from Thunder Bay (five hours from Sault Ste. Marie), near Marathon, Pukaskwa National Park is on the shore of Lake Superior. Its Hattie Cover Campground is open from May 15 to October 15, though the park’s visitor centre is only open from June to August.

Pukaskwa is Ontario’s only wilderness natural park. You’ll experiences seclusion, nature, and adventure. You can hike 60 km of varied terrain or paddle for a week or more in the park’s most remote region. Perhaps the park’s best-known attraction is a challenging, scenic day hike to a suspension bridge promising a breath-taking view over a waterfall.

The park also offers a Club Parka booklet for kids, with activities they can complete for a reward at the end.

Fathom Five National Marine Park

If you’re not familiar with Fathom Five National Marine Park, you most likely at least know its famous landmark: Flower Pot Island. Reachable by boat from Tobermory, the island offers backcountry camping, boat tours, a hiking loop, and the lightstation.
Like all protected parks, Fathom Five has its share of natural beauty, too. It’s home to dolomite formations that date back 420 million years. In addition, the park is a freshwater ecosystem that includes 22 shipwrecks, common and rare orchid species, and forests that grow on cliffs.

Rouge National Urban Park

Rouge National Urban Park is not your average national park: as an urban park, it’s home to incredible biodiversity, some of the few remaining farms in the GTA, human history going back 10 millennia, Carolinian ecosystems, and some of Canada’s oldest First Nations sites. It’s also the only campground in Toronto.

This urban national park has a range of hiking trails, from 500 m to 7.6 km. Most trails are easy or moderate, making them suitable for most people. If leaving your home isn’t an option, virtual hikes most definitely are.

Enjoy Canada’s National Parks in Ontario

The diversity of life, both flora and fauna, in Canada is awe-inspiring. Share the beauty of our nature with your family through a day, a weekend, or week-long trip to one of our national parks in Ontario.