Ontario’s captivating, can’t-look-away waterways

“When I moved here from Jamaica, finding nature and my place in it is what helped shape the relationship I've built with Canada. Access to water and nature is important to human existence, and that is why Lake Ontario is one of the greatest meeting places for those in the city. It is an accessible adventure, where we can gather in a space of knowledge sharing, community building, and of creating access for diverse communities. With Lake Ontario as a backdrop, my company hosts hikes along its local tributaries and introduces folks to its beauty through introductory programs, such as Flatwater Intro to Surf, Swim to Surf, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing. We even enjoy the opportunities for fly-fishing. A relationship to water is a relationship to the region and all the species that call it home. Lake Ontario is home, and a powerful reminder that nature, and a relationship with it, does not always require an extensive drive from home to experience the magic of the outdoors.”

- Demiesha Dennis, Founder and Director, Brown Girl Outdoor World

Thanks to the lake’s proximity to a sizeable portion of the province’s population, Lake Ontario helps city dwellers turn quickly into weekend adventurers. This bustling lake is a city in itself, serving as a bridge to the Atlantic Ocean and an important migration path for fish, while providing visitors with kilometers of kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and tours of nearby Thousand Islands, an archipelago of nearly 2,000 islands, as well as the famed Niagara Falls.

“Lake Muskoka steadfastly reflects every profound experience that makes this place so undeniably special for all who visit. 

From Indigenous stewards to steamship captains; from resort guests to cottage callers; from early morning anglers to paddlers in the evening listening for the call of the iconic Canadian loon. All who’ve encountered Lake Muskoka find joy and wonder mirrored unconditionally back to them from her surface. For me? She’s the never-ending source of connection between myself and my beloved community. She is our heart centre.”

- Kate Monk, VP of Strategy at Explorers Edge, Canada.

A loved-by-locals vacation destination, dotted with quaint cottage rentals and colored by enticingly rich hues, the Muskoka lake district finds comradery with nature watchers who prefer to step to the sidelines to simply take it all in. By day, unwind and reflect along wooded shorelines, or perhaps forest bathe with a walking trail meditation along the pristinely clear spring-fed Skeleton Lake. By night, relax under the stars at the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve.

“I am an Algonquin, I come from a long line of canoe makers. My grandparents kept the practice alive and it was handed down to me. It was such a pleasure being in the woods with them. You can take off on your canoe and just keep going, literally stay on the water forever if you want to. I got this message from the spirit world that the canoe was disappearing across our reserves, so passing on that knowledge is a way First Nations people can return to our role in the medicine wheel, as stewards of the land. In the heart of Algonquin Park, on your canoe, you can dip your cup into the water and drink it. With this resurgence in traditional practices, we can take care of the waters. Because water is the element that gives life. Without it, we have no life.”

- Chuck Commanda, Algonquin master canoe builder

A natural wonderland, Algonquin Provincial Park falls predominantly on the traditional lands of the Algonquin Nation. The First Peoples of Canada forged a relationship with nature based on deep respect. The waterways of Canada’s first provincial park continue to play an important role in Algonquin life to this day. Enthusiasts eager to experience this relationship can explore nearly 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) of paddling routes throughout this protected park; and connect them to the inherent vitality of wildlife and camping experiences.

“I've always been interested in the relationship between art and the sense of place. Lake Superior has been an artistic focus for indigenous culture for thousands of years, and from that point on artist-explorers were drawn to the north shore especially. For any creative, the light has a transcendental quality to both the water and where it meets the sky. The infinite sense of mystery, the depth of the water, and the land around it, are what make Lake Superior. You could take the water out of the lake and put it in the prairies or the Eurasian steppes, but it wouldn't be Lake Superior. It’s the cradle of land that it lies in— a vast rift valley that runs on underneath has shaped it over eons.”

- Michael Burtch, artist and sculptor

It’s the largest freshwater lake in the world, but Lake Superior may as well be an ocean—not only is the lake mesmerizingly vast (to the point that it even has its own tide) but its storms are infamous, sending shivers down the spines of even the most seasoned sailors. That power alone makes Lake Superior awe-inspiring, and the unique topography along its shores makes it absolutely jaw-dropping, too. Arctic-like snow caps transform into Caribbean cerulean blues along wooded cliffs and long beaches. A well-rounded chameleon, Lake Superior transforms before your eyes, with the ability to become whatever it is you’re looking for.

“I originally came to Ontario for three years, and that was 20 years ago! I came to Toronto and loved the hustle and bustle—it’s such a cultural melting pot, no matter who you are or where you come from, you’re welcomed with open arms. Niagara is for the thrill seeker, especially through the window of a helicopter. It’s such a rush seeing the curvature of the Earth, and the natural wonder of the falls in different contexts; brilliant sun, wind, rainbows arching over the cascading water. I’ve been over the falls in the region of 45,000 times, showing all manner of people the sights—families, retirees, couples from all over the world. It’s always a thrill, for them and me!”

- Renee Huessy, Chief Pilot, Niagara Helicopters

Almost everyone has heard of Niagara Falls or seen it featured in any number of films or TV shows, but to behold the spectacle in person is incomparable. The sheer magnitude of the water, the natural force at play, the absolutely wild display of power—it’s as though you’re watching Earth’s arteries pump blood to its heart or witnessing breath being made. It’s nothing short of humbling to hear the deafening roar of water and witness it surging over the edge of a cliff, as it sculpts both the landscape and your reverence for nature.

“I started my career at 18 as a summer lock operator. Our family were boaters and we always enjoyed locking through the Rideau Canal system. I remember spending hours as a kid swimming off the locks and dock stations. At a place called Brits Rapids my brother, my friend and I would compete to see who could swim up to this floating marker buoy in the middle of the channel the fastest. The canal system is an amazing waterway for anyone who loves nature, who loves wildlife viewing, birding… really, for anyone who adores the great outdoors, and who likes history. From Smith Falls, if you're going north into Ottawa, it's a canal that meanders through all kinds of little historic villages.”

- Guy Theriault, Travel Media Relations, Parks Canada

Originally conceived as an alternative to the St. Lawrence River, the Rideau Canal is considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century (earning it a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list). The canal has enjoyed three distinct lives since it opened: first as a military supply channel, then as a high-traffic trade route, and finally as a recreational hub for sports, fishing, hunting, and tourism. The Kingston Mills, Chaffey’s Lock, Jones Falls, and Merrickville lock stations all host museums and visitor centers. For a bird’s-eye view of the canal, head to the Rock Dunder trail, near Morton, a challenging but well-marked 2.4-mile (3.8km) summit loop that rewards hikers with spectacular views. Today, visitors can travel the length of the canal and its historic lock system by boat, kayak, or canoe. And in winter, 4.8 miles (7.8 kilometers) of the canal, as it passes through Ottawa, transform into the world’s largest ice-skating rink.