The first hikes of 2022 are officially in the books. This past weekend, I went on two hikes at two different parks. I kicked off this year’s hiking adventures with a visit to Island Lake Conservation Area where I tackled two short trails - the Memorial Forest Trail (1.6 km) and Sugar Bush Trail (1.2 km). Both are great and fairly easy on the body. The Sugar Bush Trail has some elevation changes with some gentle hills to climb up and down. The variation in the terrain makes it very fun. It’s great to walk through the forest and see signs of life emerge after the winter. There are so many amazing things to sniff while out for a walk. Along the Sugar Bush Trail, I saw many maple trees that were tapped with lines for maple syrup. I have never had maple syrup, but my human friends love it. The Memorial Forest Trail is fairly flat for the most part. It take you through a coniferous forest and some interesting art features along the way.

Island Lake Conservation Area is a wonderful place for families, dog lovers, canoe and kayaking enthusiasts, and cyclists. We usually do the Vicki Barron Lakeside Trail, an 8-kilometre long trail that wraps around the lake and gives you a chance to venture through different parts of the conservation area. However, during my most recent visit, we opted to do two shorter side trails as the weather report was calling for rain, and it was quite windy out so walking in the forest helped as the trees helped block the wind and kept us warm. Island Lake was the perfect place to kickstart the 2022 hiking season. Entrance to the park is free with a Credit Valley Conservation Area Pass. Otherwise it is $6.50 per adult, $3.00 for youth, and $5.00 for seniors. Or you can travel as a group in a single vehicle and pay $27.00 for up to 6 people.

Trails at Island Lake

The next day, we went on a more ambitious hike at Mono Cliffs Provincial Park. We had originally planned to Rondeau Provincial Park but decided to put that off for another time when the temperature is a little warmer. I have been to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park many times and somehow manage to hike a different combination of trails. Mono Cliffs is a beautiful place to visit all year round. Enjoy the beauty of the escarpments while hiking the trails. The Mono Cliffs hiking trails are a bit more challenging than the ones at Island Lake. There are several areas that are quite rocky and steep so you will have to pay extra attention as you are navigating through. Mono Cliffs Provincial Park has a total of 9 trails including the Bruce Trail that connect to one another. The park is open year-round but requires a reservation before you arrive. You can make a reservation using the Ontario Parks online reservation system.

During my visit, my family and I tackled a series of trails. We started by going northwest on the Spillway Trail to the Cliff-Top Side Trail and took a quick lunch break when we reached the viewing platform. After a short rest, we double-backed a bit and went on the McCarston’ Lake Trail. The walk towards the lake was fairly flat. The second half of the trail is pretty hilly. It’s quite challenging if you are not used to it. I recommend going at a pace that is most comfortable for you and making sure you stay hydrated. The McCarston’s Lake Trail connects back to the Cliff-Top Side Trail where we headed south to connect to the Walter Tovell Trail. From there we walked back to the Carriage Trail and then back to the parking lot where we had some water before heading home to rest. We walked almost 10 kilometres that day. I was so tired after our hike. I spent the next couple of days resting but it was so worth it.

If you are planning to visit Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, take a look at the park map to get a sense of the trails.

Trails at Mono Cliffs Provincial Park

Hiking is one of my favourite activities. It gives me a chance to visit different parks where I get to smell new scents, meet new dog friends, and get exercise. I am looking forward to go on many more hiking adventures as the weather warms up. Happy hiking everyone!