Living in Toronto can make nature feel a million miles away.
This is especially true in the winter, when the closeness of the buildings, the busy streets, and the slush limit the best that winter has to offer – tranquility, wide-open spaces, and room to play.
In truth, however, the natural world is never too far away. Several provincial parks are open all winter and offer easy day visits for city-dwellers.
We’ve partnered with our road-trip loving friends at Subaru Canada to share some of the top parks near Toronto you need to check out:
Darlington Provincial Park
Distance from downtown Toronto: 45 minutes east, near Oshawa.
Darlington is a lovely GTA destination just off Highway 401, minutes from Oshawa.
Hikers will love the Burk Trail, which moves through fields, meadows, and a mature forest past a pioneer cemetery to a scenic lookout over Lake Ontario.
Visitors should also check out McLaughlin Bay Trail and Robinson Creek Trail.
Guarantee your entry to Darlington by making a reservation in advance!
Bronte Creek Provincial Park
Distance from downtown Toronto: 40 minutes southwest, just past Oakville.
Bronte Creek features a disc golf course and a toboggan hill.
The park also hosts exciting activities to help cure your winter blues. Watch their Facebook page for updates.
Guarantee your entry to Bronte Creek by making a reservation in advance!
Silent Lake Provincial Park
Distance from downtown Toronto: 2.5 hours northeast, on the way to Bancroft.
Silent Lake is a bit further away than the other parks on this list, but trust us – it’s worth the visit! We’re talking some of the prettiest landscapes in southeastern Ontario.
Want to make it more than a day trip? Silent Lake offers heated yurts and camp cabins for those wanting to stay overnight.
Presqu’ile Provincial Park
Distance from Toronto: 2 hours east, on the way to Belleville.
While camping may be closed during the snowy season, Presqu’ile Provincial Park is open for day use 365 days a year.
Many animals are more visible in the park once people are gone for the summer. Red Foxes, Wild Turkeys, and White-tailed Deer are all routinely seen.
Bald Eagles, Snow Buntings, and Snowy Owls are also frequent visitors. How many of them can you spot?
Guarantee your entry to Presqu’ile on even the busiest days by making a reservation in advance!
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
Distance from Toronto: Just under 2 hours north
You’ve seen Wasaga Beach in the summer, but winter shows off a completely different side of the park.
Adventurers aren’t the only occupants of Wasaga Beach this season, much of the wildlife stays active too! Watch for White-tailed Deer, rabbits, squirrels, and — if you’re especially lucky — Fishers and Coyotes!
Sibbald Point Provincial Park
Distance from Toronto: just over 1 hour north, 20 minutes outside Beaverton.
Two words summarize Sibbald Point through the winter: “calm” and “quiet.”
Birders, you’ve just found your next hotspot. Walk along the shore of Lake Simcoe to spot mergansers, goldeneye, Buffleheads, and other ducks.
Looking in-land, common winter birds such as Dark-eyed Juncos, American Goldfinches, Black-capped Chickadees, several species of woodpeckers, and other birds can be found throughout the park.
Don’t forget to guarantee your entry to Sibbald by making a reservation in advance!
Where will you visit in 2024?
Ontario Parks thanks corporate partners like Subaru Canada for their support.
