This 9km hike is one of the most beautiful trails in Muskoka. We'll walk through pine forests, past colossal boulders and along the incredibly picturesque Hardy lake, home of some of the most instagrammed boardwalk photos in the province!
The area is never more beautiful than when snow covered but the trails can be hard to walk so you should bring ice spikes. We'll provide extras free of charge for anyone who has the need.
In the past we've seen a family of otters here and plenty of beavers so fingers crossed for some good wildlife spotting!
After we're done, we'll stop off at one of Muskoka's most famous lookouts - Huckleberry Rock for breathtaking views of the surrounding Canadian Shield before heading back to Toronto.
We're expecting a pretty significant amount of snowfall in between now and Sunday so it's important that you follow the clothing instructions carefully for this hike.
Hike Length: 8.9km
Terrain: Despite the varied landscape, this is a pretty flat hike and should be suitable for anyone who’s moderately fit. There'll be a decent layer of snow that should be fairly compressed by the time we get there.
It’s 8.9km total and will probably take between 3-4 hours after factoring in time for lunch and gawping at scenery.
Estimated time to complete: 4 hours with breaks and exploration time.
We'll be doing 2 hikes so you should download the map below as well as this one for Huckleberry Rock. The second hike is very short but could be in some deep snow.
07:20 - Meet at PetroCanada next to Keele Subway Station. There's free parking on Keele Street north of the station. Make sure you've had breakfast and used the loo before meeting us!
07:30 - Van leaves. We'll be leaving dead on time and can't wait for latecomers so please, please be on time!
09:30 - Meet self drivers at the Hardy Lake Car Park. We can't wait for self drivers so please be on time.
13:30 - Anticipated return to cars
14:00 - Visit Huckleberry Rock Lookout.
18:00 - Rough arrival time back at Keele Station
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
We're likely to have up to 6" of snow on the ground. It should be well trodden by the time we visit so we're recommending ice-spikes rather than snow shoes for this outing.
Winter clothing
The key for winter hiking is to have breathable layers that allow you to adjust your temperature as you start to heat up or cool down. The biggest problem you're likely to encounter is actually getting too hot - the amount of exercise you're doing means you'll warm up quickly and it's important that you vent your clothes before you start sweating because that will only make you colder once you stop.
Pay attention to your fabrics - there's a saying that cotton kills because it keeps moisture and makes you colder. Instead, go for breathable fabrics, like athletic wear or wool. Wool has the advantage of keeping you warm when it's wet but cheap polyester running gear is just fine. We've put together a simple guide to layering on our instagram.
A common mistake is to bring your heavy winter coat that you'd wear in the city - this will become very uncomfortable very quickly. If you'd like advice on what coat is suitable, we'll give you recommendations no matter your budget.
Shoes
You should be switching to proper hiking boots once the snow has started. If the snow is really deep, you can wear a proper winter boot that goes above the ankle but this isn't essential, especially if you have gaiters. These go over your shoe to prevent snow coming in. Trainers and city boots are really not suitable because they won't have sufficient grip.
There's a good chance your feet are going to get wet, either through snow ingress or sweat so you should always pack a spare pair of socks when winter hiking.
Traction
You're going to find that you move more slowly and spend more effort hiking in the snow so we tend to hike shorter distances. From first snowfall you should always bring ice spikes with you. The Kahtoola Exospikes are a great option if you have the budget, otherwise Amazon has plenty of cheaper options. You rarely need snowshoes unless the snow is really deep and powdery and hiking with them usually requires even more energy.
Depending on weather between now and Sunday we may also recommend snowshoes. Keep an eye on the discord for updates. We'll provide snowshoes to those who need them.
Winter Hiking packing list
Have any questions? Ask us on the Discord! Members who turn up dressed in a way that puts themselves at risk will not be able to join us.
Grab breakfast before you go. There's a Tims around the corner from our meet-up point.
Bring a packed lunch, snacks and at least a litre of water for the hike. A hot drink is also a good idea.
We'll have ice spikes with us for anyone who needs them.
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear, ice spikes and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles.
Getting lost - Stay with the group at all times to avoid getting lost. You should also download the map in advance to your phone
We like to share some of the indigenous background of the areas we visit because these territories have rich histories that are easy to overlook. Indigenous communities have a connection to and respect for the land that has largely been lost since European settlement. As we strive to form a deeper connection with the land, we have much to learn from these communities. I use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas and find that developing a richer understanding leads to a greater enjoyment of the adventures.
Gravenhurst and the surrounding area is on the traditional territory of the Anishnabek and Mississauga Nations
This 9km hike is one of the most beautiful trails in Muskoka. We'll walk through pine forests, past colossal boulders and along the incredibly picturesque Hardy lake, home of some of the most instagrammed boardwalk photos in the province!
The area is never more beautiful than when snow covered but the trails can be hard to walk so you should bring ice spikes. We'll provide extras free of charge for anyone who has the need.
In the past we've seen a family of otters here and plenty of beavers so fingers crossed for some good wildlife spotting!
After we're done, we'll stop off at one of Muskoka's most famous lookouts - Huckleberry Rock for breathtaking views of the surrounding Canadian Shield before heading back to Toronto.
We're expecting a pretty significant amount of snowfall in between now and Sunday so it's important that you follow the clothing instructions carefully for this hike.
Hike Length: 8.9km
Terrain: Despite the varied landscape, this is a pretty flat hike and should be suitable for anyone who’s moderately fit. There'll be a decent layer of snow that should be fairly compressed by the time we get there.
It’s 8.9km total and will probably take between 3-4 hours after factoring in time for lunch and gawping at scenery.
Estimated time to complete: 4 hours with breaks and exploration time.
We'll be doing 2 hikes so you should download the map below as well as this one for Huckleberry Rock. The second hike is very short but could be in some deep snow.
07:20 - Meet at PetroCanada next to Keele Subway Station. There's free parking on Keele Street north of the station. Make sure you've had breakfast and used the loo before meeting us!
07:30 - Van leaves. We'll be leaving dead on time and can't wait for latecomers so please, please be on time!
09:30 - Meet self drivers at the Hardy Lake Car Park. We can't wait for self drivers so please be on time.
13:30 - Anticipated return to cars
14:00 - Visit Huckleberry Rock Lookout.
18:00 - Rough arrival time back at Keele Station
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
We're likely to have up to 6" of snow on the ground. It should be well trodden by the time we visit so we're recommending ice-spikes rather than snow shoes for this outing.
Winter clothing
The key for winter hiking is to have breathable layers that allow you to adjust your temperature as you start to heat up or cool down. The biggest problem you're likely to encounter is actually getting too hot - the amount of exercise you're doing means you'll warm up quickly and it's important that you vent your clothes before you start sweating because that will only make you colder once you stop.
Pay attention to your fabrics - there's a saying that cotton kills because it keeps moisture and makes you colder. Instead, go for breathable fabrics, like athletic wear or wool. Wool has the advantage of keeping you warm when it's wet but cheap polyester running gear is just fine. We've put together a simple guide to layering on our instagram.
A common mistake is to bring your heavy winter coat that you'd wear in the city - this will become very uncomfortable very quickly. If you'd like advice on what coat is suitable, we'll give you recommendations no matter your budget.
Shoes
You should be switching to proper hiking boots once the snow has started. If the snow is really deep, you can wear a proper winter boot that goes above the ankle but this isn't essential, especially if you have gaiters. These go over your shoe to prevent snow coming in. Trainers and city boots are really not suitable because they won't have sufficient grip.
There's a good chance your feet are going to get wet, either through snow ingress or sweat so you should always pack a spare pair of socks when winter hiking.
Traction
You're going to find that you move more slowly and spend more effort hiking in the snow so we tend to hike shorter distances. From first snowfall you should always bring ice spikes with you. The Kahtoola Exospikes are a great option if you have the budget, otherwise Amazon has plenty of cheaper options. You rarely need snowshoes unless the snow is really deep and powdery and hiking with them usually requires even more energy.
Depending on weather between now and Sunday we may also recommend snowshoes. Keep an eye on the discord for updates. We'll provide snowshoes to those who need them.
Winter Hiking packing list
Have any questions? Ask us on the Discord! Members who turn up dressed in a way that puts themselves at risk will not be able to join us.
Grab breakfast before you go. There's a Tims around the corner from our meet-up point.
Bring a packed lunch, snacks and at least a litre of water for the hike. A hot drink is also a good idea.
We'll have ice spikes with us for anyone who needs them.
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear, ice spikes and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles.
Getting lost - Stay with the group at all times to avoid getting lost. You should also download the map in advance to your phone
We like to share some of the indigenous background of the areas we visit because these territories have rich histories that are easy to overlook. Indigenous communities have a connection to and respect for the land that has largely been lost since European settlement. As we strive to form a deeper connection with the land, we have much to learn from these communities. I use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas and find that developing a richer understanding leads to a greater enjoyment of the adventures.
Gravenhurst and the surrounding area is on the traditional territory of the Anishnabek and Mississauga Nations
