Photo courtesy of SAIL

This feature is Part 3 of 6 of our “Escape the City” series, presented with SAIL – your outdoor equipment store.

Part 1: Discover the Best Places to Go Camping This Summer Near Ottawa

Part 2: Camping Hacks You Need to Try

 

Hiking is great… the fresh air, getting active, and of course, the views that you get to take in at the end. But if you’ve “been there done that” when it comes to hiking in and around the Ottawa area…this list is for you! Within just a few hours of the city you’ll find hikes with incredible views that will have you saying “hey Ontario, you look good!” Gather some friends, hop in the car, and make a day of it. Or even a whole weekend!

 

Mazinaw Rock, Bon Echo Provincial Park

2.5 hours from Ottawa

Bon Echo is the home of the Mazinaw Rock, a 100-metre high rock featuring over 260 Indigenous pictographs

  • The Hike: Take a ferry to the beginning of the 1.5km Cliff Top Trail that leads you to the top of the Mazinaw Rock. Once at the top, you’ll enjoy three observation decks overlooking the lake.
  • Don’t Miss: The sandy beaches at Bon Echo! There are 3 to choose from to cool you down after your hike.

 

The Lookout Trail, Algonquin Park

3 hours from Ottawa

Algonquin Park has tons of great trails with views – but for a bird’s eye view of the park, check out the Lookout Trail.

  • The Hike: 2 km hike (don’t be fooled by the short distance –it’s quite steep and rugged and is rated ‘difficult’ by the park)
  • The View: once you reach the lookout point, you’ll be greeted by an amazing view of several hundred square kilometres of Algonquin.

 

Callaghan’s Rapids Conservation Area

3 hours from Ottawa

  • The Hike: Hike along the river, which will lead you to the spectacular waterfalls at the end. When the water is low enough, you can even explore the limestone bedrock caves or river bed on foot.
  • The View: Two waterfalls which are 1-metre in height that both span the entire width of the Crowe river (about 40m-60m across).

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Always battling the current

A post shared by Mitchel Thompson (@mitch_thompson26) on

 

Silent Lake Provincial Park

3 hours from Ottawa

No motor boats are allowed on Silent Lake – making it an incredibly calm and relaxing place to visit.

  • The Hike: the Park features over 19km of hiking trails that range in difficult from beginner to difficult
  • The View: Follow Bonnie’s Pond Trail for a beautiful lookout point over Silent Lake

 

Montmorency Falls, Québec

5 hours from Ottawa

Located 15 minutes from old Québec, this park features an 83-metre high waterfall.

  • The Hike: There are a number of trails ranging from 0.5km to 3km in length across the park.
  • The View: From the panoramic circuit, you’ll get a magnificent view of the falls from a few different lookout points.
  • Don’t Miss: The suspension bridge – you can feel the waterfall roaring intensely beneath your feet!

 

 

Wherever your adventure takes you, make sure you’re equipped with the right gear. Visit your local SAIL store for all your outdoor needs.

Filed under: EscapetheCity