Incredibly, Ontario’s vast system of parks and protected areas totals 9.5 million hectares. We have 110 operating provincial and six national parks, so the ways to get away from it all include everything from pristine wilderness to family recreational areas.

To help you decide what suits your inclination, provincial parks are divided into six categories: natural environment, nature reserve, historical, waterways, recreation and wilderness. And the best part is – many of them are close to urban areas.

Breathe in the splendour of Algonquin – Ontario’s oldest and most famous natural environment park. Be swept away by the beauty of thousands of lakes and rivers, towering cliffs, beaches and an incredible variety of wildlife. Pure bliss for campers, canoeists, fishermen, hikers and cyclists. Paddle to your heart’s content in Killarney – a wilderness park renowned for its crystalline waters, which are overlooked by the spectacular quartzite LaCloche Mountains. Wander through old growth pine forests at Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater near Temagami. Drink-in the beauty of numerous waterfalls and paddle through raging whitewater.

Go birding at Point Pelee National Park. Head for the Bruce – home to Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park, known for its great scuba diving. Boat to beautiful Georgian Bay Islands or St. Lawrence Islands National parks. Or explore the rugged shores of Lake Superior at Pukaskwa – Ontario’s only national wilderness park.