Hiking Toronto for Dog Lovers

Hiking Muskoka In October, we spent two weeks hiking trails in the Muskoka region. This entry is part of that series. Torrance Barrens is a great trail that was recommended to us by local hikers. On a Sunday morning in October, the parking lot was completely filled, so this is a well-known trail. Even with a full parking lot, we rarely encountered other people on the trail. The area is extensive and people walk the trails at different speeds. Parking The official parking lot is on Southwood Road, Gravenhurst .  Portable toilets can be found at this location. We noticed cars parked on other sections of the road, so there are many access points.  One of the first things I noticed about this trail is the secondary name "Dark Sky Reserve." A sign at the trailhead gives more information. For the past year, I've been working with the Space Place Canada team to bring a planetarium to Toronto. One of the things that Toronto is short of is a dark sky. The Torrance Barrens Dark Sky...

Hiking Muskoka When we're able, we use our talents as hikers in Toronto to explore other parts of Ontario. This entry is one of the series from our October visit to Muskoka.  Cooper's Falls Trail is a 7.3 hike each way and is located near Gravenhurst with beautiful lakes and the Canadian Sheild landscape.  The Cooper's Falls Trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail that spans 27,000 km across Canada. There are no waterfalls on this trail, instead expect typical Canadian shield terrain and marshy ponds. Expect to climb over large rocks that are typical in this part of Ontario. The trail is mostly well marked with blue signs. We had some trouble finding the trail past Larroger Road. Parts of the trail are very muddy so wear appropriate footwear.  The leaves were still colourful during our hike, which made the scenery spectacular. We turned around halfway but met several hikers who trekked both ways. Parking There are parking lots at each end:  Housey's Rapids Road...

Like most hikers who live in Toronto, I don't always have the opportunity to hike trails in other parts of the province. I stay fit and active by hiking as often as possible in Toronto so that when I can leave the city, I can enjoy many more trails. Recently we spent two weeks in the Muskoka region of Ontario. This is affectionately known as "cottage country” to many. Hardy Lake Provincial Park is located 19 km west of Gravenhurst, ON on Highway 169. Camping is not allowed, but hiking is very popular. The park is nearly 1800 acres and features million-year-old rocks sloping into Lake Hardy. There are multiple well-marked and well-maintained trails meandering through the park. The forest is made up of mature hardwoods, including maple, oak, beech, hemlock, red oak and white pine. Autumn colours are quite incredible. I loved the park so much that I went twice in a week. On a weekday, we hiked 10 km and saw very few people. Our second hike was on a Sunday in October, and the park...