Top 10 Ontario Adventures

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts, Top 10s     Canada, canoeing, canopy walk, Competition, helicopter flight, Hiking, ice climbing, Kayaking, mountain biking, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Ontario Tourist Board, Scuba Diving, snowmobiling, trekking, whitewater rafting

By having real temperature shifts and heavy snowfalls in winter, and strong sunrays blaze through its clean skies during summer, Ontario is ready and waiting all year round.

Here are the top 10 Ontario adventures:

Hiking

From the Niagara Escarpment to the peninsular of the Bruce Trail, there are 800kms of paths to discover. In fact, all around the province you’ll find routes, tracks and walks devised for every fitness level. In spring and autumn try walks through the Grand Valley Trail – this route reaches 275km south from the Bruce Trail to Rock Point Provincial Park. Or take on sections of the Waterfront Trail, which follow the banks of the St Lawrence River and the shores of Lake Ontario.

Diving

If you thought great scuba was reserved only for the Caribbean, then think again! The Thousand Islands region offers unsurpassed opportunities, pin-sharp clarity and temperatures that will please. As will the array of wrecks and the spread of underwater life you’ll find. Ontario has everything, from shore dives on Lake Ontario to real deep water adventures. Dives around Kingston vary from 26ft, way down to 100ft and the state has plenty of diving schools so beginners will feel as welcome as the seasoned pros.

Ice Climbing

Climbers are always looking for a challenge. If you’ve scaled a few faces but want to try something altogether different, Ontario is ready to provide you your next challenge: ice climbing. Batchawana Bay is a favourite spot, and there are more than 300 monoliths for people to get their ice axes into. Across the Batchawana and Montreal Harbour areas, you’ll find challenges galore, smaller crags to climb and outstanding views from routes on the southern Niagara Escarpment. It’s a great winter sport and one that’s especially suited to families looking for exciting days out and for something new.

Mountain Biking

There are so many routes for mountain-biking in Ontario the government has brought in a special ‘Bike Train’ – it’s not a train just for bikes, but it does get families and dedicated mud-pluggers to the start of the best rides and routes.

Huntsville features trails around inland lakes and through dense forests. But what riders always notice is the air quality – especially if they opt for the more remote routes such as those along the 100km Powassan Circle Route. While the Bike Train has plenty of stops to guide you, Ontario is ripe for exploration – so take the family out and find your own way. Riding here you’ll pass as many family groups enjoying low-level trails as hardcore downhill riders. Happy faces spattered in mud or just beaming with smiles found out on the trail, you’ll find them all over Ontario.

Canoeing

A quick look at a map of Ontario and you can see this is a province of waterways. So it’s no surprise that canoeing is one of the most popular adventure sports on offer. As a means of getting away from it all, it just can’t be beaten. There are thousands of lakes, islands on which you can pitch camp, and 1,600kms of routes. Using these you can get into the heart of Ontario’s national parks. Algonquin is a favourite, as is Lake Superior and Georgian Bay. You can take a tent and find a place to pitch camp, or explore from a luxury lodge and enjoy all the comforts at the end of each day.

Canopy Walking

Ontarian forests are legendary. They cover two-thirds of the province. In the south you’ll find deciduous trees, in central and north-western sectors you’ll discover the forests are mixed, with different kinds of maples and pines, and further north there are woods dominated by conifers.  Canopy walking takes you high into the treetops revealing the scale of these natural wonders. The longest canopy walk is to be found in the Haliburton Forest, with sections that are 70ft high delivering views only usually enjoyed by the resident wildlife. Not for those without a head for heights, however routes are all secured and well tried – if canoeing is the best way to reach some of the national parks, canopy walking is the way to get the best view.

Kayaking

Kayaking and canoeing are in the same boat, so to speak: they both help visitors to Ontario access areas that you simply can’t reach any other way. To some people a kayak is a canoe with a splash deck; to others the names are interchangeable. Whichever you choose, the experience here will be similar. Marine life, secluded bays and otherwise unreachable parts of the countryside soon come into view. Choose from trips around the Mink Islands, or explore the outlets of the Sandbanks Provisional Park on Lake Ontario nearer the border with New York State.

After a day on the water, you’ll catch a sunset over Toronto to your west, and enjoy a meal cooked under the stars. It’s perhaps the most traditional of adventure activities and possibly the most rewarding.

Niagara Falls Helicopter Flight

Opposite Toronto, on the border with the US, is the Niagara Falls. Ask people to name one waterfall and it’s usually this one they pick! The Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side are the most powerful.  The water flows from the Niagara River and pours uninterrupted over the drop; on the US side the waterfall is less dramatic, as the river has slowed upstream when it passed Goat Island. There are three falls to review, so to get a clearer view, the best way is to take to the air. Passing over all three you’ll see why the Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful: its brink (the edge over which the water pours) is twice as long and delivers 600,000 gallons per second to the river below.

Snowmobiling

Ontario has 34,000km of dedicated tracks for the snowmobile adventurer. And thanks to guaranteed snowfall, this is one sport that’s always going to satisfy. With such a vast landmass to cover, a snowmobile proves the best way to get around. And it’s so much more than transport: it’s a whole lot of fun! Northern Ontario is dotted with smaller towns and areas little seen by regular tourists. Wrapped up, and guided by people who know this spectacular region, on a snowmobile course you’ll get to explore the interior while others less adventurous stick to the cities. From day-trips to week-long adventures, snowmobiling also takes you closer to the lives and natural environments of the Indian tribes of Ontario.

Whitewater rafting

With 1,200km of Ottawa River to raft, there’s really no need to look elsewhere. White-water rafting in Ontario is proof that the adventurous opportunities that fill the province can be safe and enjoyable for everyone. Despite the river’s vast length, most rafting happens in a section of just 12km. Thanks to this, you’ll have guides that know every section of the river, and all the facilities to help you enjoy one of the most thrilling adventure sports in the world: it’s fast, furious and not for the faint–hearted. The waters of Ontario’s second-largest waterway crash and drive through its ravines and passes: Hold tight!

If these top 10 Ontario adventures have got you wanting to visit then check out our competition to win a £5,000 adventure holiday to Ontario.

About the author

Mark Pawlak wrote 194 articles on this blog.

Editor at Adventure Sports Holidays, Mark's love affair with travel and the challenges of adventure sports continues... "You could save all year for a two-week, all-inclusive, doss by the pool, booze and buffet binge. Or, with a little planning and some good equipment, get off your arse and plan an adventure!"

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