Hiking Nature Trails in Northern Ontario

Ontario is a huge province. At more than 1 million square miles it is larger than France and Spain combined! Not only are we blessed with space in Northern Ontario, but also an amazing abundance of wildlife and natural wilderness just a few hours drive from the more built-up urban areas of Southern Ontario. What better way to see this amazing abundance by taking time hiking the thousands of kilometers of nature trails literally at your doorstep! Below are some things to keep in mind when hiking in Northern Ontario so you get the most of your experience!

Plan and know your route. If you are new to nature hiking make sure you pick a route or trail that is clearly marked. Smart phones have GPS capability but it is a good idea to also take a compass with you so you can be aware of your bearings while on your hike. If a map of the trail is available take it with you so you can track your progress. At www.Campblazerereat.ca there are over 9 km of trails that are clearly marked over an area of 100 acres. You can find more trails within 2 hours of Camp Blaze Retreat at Northern Ontario Hikes | AllTrails. When you go hiking make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

Know your limits. Not all trails are alike! Happily, there are an abundance of nature trails in Northern Ontario for hikers of all levels of experience from the absolute beginner to the most advanced. Trails are rated Easy, Moderate, Difficult, and Route. A good guide to trail rating can be found at Guide to trail ratings and descriptions (canada.ca). The trails at Camp Blaze Retreat are less than 5 km each and do not require any previous hiking experience or special equipment to enjoy them. The average speed of travel on a nature trail is 2 km to 2.5 km per hour for a beginner. The longest trail at Camp Blaze Retreat can be explored in under 2 hours.

Leave no trace. Nothing can take away from the enjoyment of exploring nature more than finding that someone before you has left litter on the trail behind them. When hiking a nature trail make sure you leave no trace behind you. This means what you take onto the trail you don't leave on the trail. If you find someone else's litter on the trail it is good practice to take it out with you as well.We recommend you bring a small reusable bag for this purpose. In this way we can all enjoy and protect the natural environment while protecting the wildlife we share nature with. For more information on the Leave No Trace principle of hiking go to Leave No Trace Principles | REI Expert Advice.

Enjoy the journey. The purpose of hiking a nature trail is not only to get from point A to point B but to enjoy the beauty of nature along the way. To get the most out of your hiking experience take your time and make sure you take in your surroundings. Northern Ontario is home to the second largest mammal in North America; the iconic moose. While hiking look for signs of bark being scrapped off trees These could be "moose scrapes" which are caused when moose rub their antlers against trees to remove the velvet on the antlers and help remove the entire antler itself as moose shed their antlers in the winter and grow new ones in the spring. If you see moose scrapes stop and see if you can actually find one of the moose's antlers nearby! More information on these amazing animals can be found at Moose - Wikipedia. Also, don't forget to look down! No matter what the time of year, animals that use the trail will leave tracks . Being familiar with what different animal tracks look like will give you amazing insight into who you are sharing the trail with. To make identification easier take an animal track identification chart with you. A good chart can be found at Animal Tracks - Procyon Wildlife. If you find a moose antler on the trails at Camp Blaze Retreat we ask that you notify us so we can track its location.

There is no better way to experience the beauty of Northern Ontario and immerse yourself in nature than hiking the extensive network of nature trails Ontario has to offer. For more information on the trails at Camp Blaze Retreat go to www.campblazeretreat.ca or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Rob Dunford