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!
In the past we've seen a family of otters here and plenty of beavers so fingers crossed for some good wildlife spotting.
Once we're done taking in this iconic trail, we'll stop into the nearby town of Bala. This is peak beautiful Muskoka where we'll pause for ice cream (provided by WU) and walk the high street.
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.
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.
07:50 - 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!
08:00 - Van leaves. We'll be leaving dead on time and can't wait for latecomers so please, please be on time!
10:00 - Meet self drivers at the Hardy Lake Car Park. We can't wait for self drivers so please be on time.
14:00 - Anticipated return to cars
14:15 - Visit Ice Dreams Soda Shop in Bala, we'll grab ice cream then explore the town
17:30 - 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.
Packing list
Have any questions? Ask us on the Discord!
Heat Exhaustion/Sun Exposure - It could be a hot day with heat exhaustion and sunburn a real possibility. Follow these steps to protect yourself:
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles. Any injuries? Let us know in advance of the hike.
Ticks - Black legged ticks are in the area. You should wear pants rather than shorts to prevent them latching on and lighter colours make it easier to spot them and keep you more cool. There's no need to worry about ticks if we take a few precautions and we'll talk about doing a tick check after the hike just to confirm we haven't picked any up. You can learn more here.
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!
In the past we've seen a family of otters here and plenty of beavers so fingers crossed for some good wildlife spotting.
Once we're done taking in this iconic trail, we'll stop into the nearby town of Bala. This is peak beautiful Muskoka where we'll pause for ice cream (provided by WU) and walk the high street.
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.
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.
07:50 - 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!
08:00 - Van leaves. We'll be leaving dead on time and can't wait for latecomers so please, please be on time!
10:00 - Meet self drivers at the Hardy Lake Car Park. We can't wait for self drivers so please be on time.
14:00 - Anticipated return to cars
14:15 - Visit Ice Dreams Soda Shop in Bala, we'll grab ice cream then explore the town
17:30 - 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.
Packing list
Have any questions? Ask us on the Discord!
Heat Exhaustion/Sun Exposure - It could be a hot day with heat exhaustion and sunburn a real possibility. Follow these steps to protect yourself:
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles. Any injuries? Let us know in advance of the hike.
Ticks - Black legged ticks are in the area. You should wear pants rather than shorts to prevent them latching on and lighter colours make it easier to spot them and keep you more cool. There's no need to worry about ticks if we take a few precautions and we'll talk about doing a tick check after the hike just to confirm we haven't picked any up. You can learn more here.
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
