Ontario Parks Celebrates its 125th
In 2018, Ontario Parks, one of Canada’s largest provincial park systems, celebrates 125 years. The birthday theme is Healthy Parks Healthy People (#HPHP) and connecting people to nature.
Special events are planned in honour of the anniversary and campgrounds are expected to be very busy—2018 visitors are advised to book their campsites early by taking advantage of Ontario Parks’ five-month booking window. Reserve online or by phone.
A newly designed Parks Guide and a new 125th anniversary calendar will be available in early January 2018 at participating Ontario stores. Winter season permits are available online from the Parks Store. Watch for 2018 annual and summer park permits to be added too.
Keen to try a new Ontario Parks overnight experience in 2018? Ten out of 26 winter parks have cozy cabins, yurts and cottages to rent to those who love to cross-country ski, snowshoe, skate, fat bike, or dogsled groomed park trails.
In summer 2018, rent roofed accommodations from one of 30 provincial parks across Ontario. Click here for all the information you need to book your 2018 overnight adventure.
Ontario Parks kicks off its 125th with a series of fun winter events. Ring in the New Year at Bronte Creek Provincial Park with a guided Coyote Howl and Kid’s Countdown bonfire. Start 2018 on the right foot with a #FirstDayHike!
The concept is simple: visit a provincial park on January 1 for a hike. It’s a fun and healthy way to kick off the New Year! Otherwise head to Rondeau Provincial Park in southwestern Ontario for an early January week of guided owl prowls, suet feeder-making sessions, afternoon movies, and park scavenger hunts.
Algonquin Provincial Park‘s Winter in the Wild on Saturday, February 17, is one of many Family Day celebrations planned. Skate, ski, or snowshoe Ontario’s oldest provincial park, and then join park rangers at Mew Lake Campground for a bonfire followed by an evening wolf howl.
More #OP125 events are listed on the parks’ calendar with new ones being added every week. Check back often to see what else the parks have in store for 2018.
The Parks Blog is another source for 125th anniversary news. Park naturalists and biologists often post stories on seasonal things to see and do. In the winter, a vacancy report is published every month highlighting roofed accommodation vacancies.
