Killarney Secrets

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Georgian Bay Ontario Canada

A real insider tip is to go hiking in Killarney Provincial Park

Hiking at Killarney Provincial Park is an experience that makes you feel Canada first hand. The Killarney Provincial Park (Card) is hardly known in this country - wrongly, I think. Hiking in Killarney Provincial Park is a real outdoor experience. Especially nature lovers will feel comfortable there. Only five hours drive north of Toronto It leads to a still very primitive world, where black-tailed deer, brown bears and Canada geese are more frequently seen than humans, especially in autumn, when the Canadian holidays are over. As soon as you leave Highway 69 you will see more wild animals at the end of September than other vehicles. On the way you pass ponds, which are often so overgrown that you only find some open water areas in the middle of the lake. Beavers like to build their buildings here and early in the morning you can often see moose on their shores.

 

Early morning at Lake Huron in Killarney Provincial Park
Hiking in the early morning at Killarney Provincial Park offers wonderful views

 

Killarney Provincial Park hiking tips

In fact, one should also get up early in Killarney Provincial Park to experience the magical moments of autumn Ontario offer at the lakes and ponds: Haze veils rise above dew-soaked meadows and are reflected in the morning sunlight - an image that you will surely not forget so quickly. Such a morning is also nice at Lake Huron or one of the bays. Killarney is on such a side arm.

 

 

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It is therefore worth going out there shortly after sunrise. The play of colors that awaits you is breathtaking. When mist swirls deep over the water and the seagulls set off on their first flight of the day, it is an unforgettable morning. Then your own breath forms clouds when you exhale, and the fresh morning air refreshes after coming from Sudbury.

 

Early morning in Killarney Provincial Park
Early morning in Killarney Provincial Park

 

A few days should take time for the Killarney Provincial Park. Then you have time to experience the silence of the Canadian forests on a hike or a canoe tour. There is nothing better than the only sound you hear is the plunging of the paddles into the water of the lake. The hollow cry of an ice-diver sounds only occasionally over the vastness of the lake. Otherwise surrounds a silence that is interrupted by no sounds of civilization.

The La Cloche - Silhouette Trail

In the Provincial Park, there are also a variety of trails. The longest of them is the La Cloche - Silhouette Trail. It is 80 kilometers long. You should plan about a week for this. Provisions and equipment for a week must be taken with you. There are no overnight accommodations on this path. However, there are also shorter and easier hiking trails. The shortest is the Granite Ridge Trail with a length of 2,3 kilometers. Most of them lead up to the rose-colored rock humps that loom between the woods.

What you should pack if you want to go hiking in Killarney Provincial Park

 

Autumn morning in Killarney Provincial Park
Autumn morning in Killarney Provincial Park

 

Best Hiking Trails in Killarney Park

All trails in Killarney Provincial Park lead over rocky and uneven terrain. Sturdy shoes, plenty of drinking water, a map of the park and a compass you should carry with you. Killarney Park has five day hikes and many other hiking opportunities. Hiking at Killarney Provincial Park almost always means wilderness hiking.

  • Chikanshing Trail

    The 3 km long Chikanshing Trail begins at the end of Chickanshing Road (Card). This is located about 2 km west of the Park Office. Parking is available. The circuit has a length of about 2 kilometers and has a medium level of difficulty. On average you need about 1,5 hours for the hike. In wet weather, the rocks can be very slippery.

    The path winds to the southern park boundary. The Chikanishing Trail crosses several small chains of hills until it ends at a point on the Georgian Bay. This is washed out by the waves of the lake. On this path you have beautiful views south across the bay. On the way you will always find places that are typical of the geology of the Precambrian Shield. With a bit of luck, you can see little animals like squirrels, minks or raccoons.

    The vegetation is typical of the rocky and windy heights of Killarney Provincial Park and the Georgian Bay. The floors are sour. The vegetation is also hard on the small amount of soil and the harsh growing conditions. In some places, however, there is enough soil for pines, oaks, maples and bushes to grow. Along the way you also meet again and again on black metal rings. These come from the time when lumberjacks used them for their work. Declaration boards along the way also tell about the past of this region.  

  • Cranberry Bog Trail

    The Cranberry Bog Trail definitely leads, as the name suggests, through a cranberry moor. It starts at Campground Road, near Pitch #103. (Card) The circuit has a length of 4 kilometers, which takes about 2,5 hours on average. The difficulty is medium, and when it rains, the rocks are very slippery.

A hike along this path leads through some of the park's most beautiful landscapes. You pass the Proulx Marsh, the Cranberry Bog and the AY Jackson Lake. In the bogs, marshes and in the marshes grow sundew, gate grass, pitcher plants and cranberries. On the way you can see beaver piles. Here you will meet different species of birds, and with a bit of luck maybe a turtle. These are always in the cranberry bogs. Smooth round rock surfaces and grooves in the rocks are traces of the ice age.

The Proulx Marsh is not a marshland in the truest sense of the word. Instead, it is a beaver meadow. Until 1997, this region was covered in water. Today, most of the water has disappeared. If you pass this place again in a hundred years, maybe there is a forest here.

Also interesting is the AY Jackson Lake. This lake is named after one of the painters of the Group of Seven. He was fascinated by the scenic beauty of this region. He enjoyed painting the reddish rocks in front of the deep green of the forests and the blue of the water and the sky.

 

Lighthouse at Georgian Bay
Lighthouse at Georgian Bay - At Killarney Provincial Park Hiking on the shores of Lake Huron

 

  • Granite Ridge Trail

This intermediate trail starts just off Highway 637 across from the Park Office (Card). It's an 2 km long circular route with some steep sections, which takes about 1,5 hours. When it rains, the rocks are very slippery. In addition, the path itself can be slippery.

The trail offers views of the La Cloche Mountains, known for Killarney Provincial Park. He winds his way through old fields and forests and climbs up to a ridge of hills. There are two viewpoints over the park. In the south you can see along the lakeshore from Collin's Inlet and Philip Edward Island to Georgian Bay. On clear days you can even see Manitoulin Island in the distance. In the north you can see the spectacular La Cloche Mountains. Who wants to have a good overview of the region, should choose this trail.

  • Lake of the Woods Trail

The Lake of the Woods Trail starts at Bell Lake Road opposite the Turbid Lake access road (Card) in the northern part of Killarney Provincial Park. There is a small parking lot there. The 3,5 km long trail is intermediate to difficult with some steep sections. The hike takes about 3 hours. Rocks are slippery in the rain.

This circular route leads around the Lake of the Woods. You walk through different types of forest. You can see old forest vegetation up to raised rock domes. From these you have good views of Silver Peak six kilometers to the west and Lake of the Woods below. When the path descends again, you have to cross some footbridges that lead over creek beds. At one point the path descends to the lake shore, where a short boardwalk leads over to the only island on the lake.

What makes the Lake of the Woods Trail special

Crippled old birches throw off their thin bark like wrinkles. This gives the forest its special look. Low plants and fungi provide a variety of colors that are typical of this ecosystem. Today one hardly believes that this region was once threatened by woodcutting.

As soon as you leave the forest, you will reach open hilltops that are typical for Killarney. Up here you can not only see beautiful landscapes, but with a bit of luck also wild animals. The path is marked in this open region with red way markers and small cliffs.

 

 

  • The Crack Trail

    The Crack Trail (Card) is the most difficult of the five day hiking trails. It is not a circular route, you have to go the same way back. If you continue, you will follow the La Cloche Silhouette Trail. The trail is 6 kilometers back and forth until the “crack”. On the way you have to overcome some steep climbs. You should plan around 4 hours for the hike to the crack and back. For this route you have to be physically fit and bring good hiking shoes. It is advised to start this route very early in the morning.

The parking lot at Trailhead is difficult to find because there is no sign on the Hwy 637. You can find it on the north side of the highway (left hand when coming from the George Lake Campsite / Park Office). It is located about 7 km east of the campsite and 1,5 km west of Carlyle Lake Access Road.

Hiking

The hike starts at Hwy. 637 on an old lumberjack street. Follow this for about 20 minutes and then continue on the La Cloche Silhouette Path. First, it runs flat for about half an hour. After that it climbs slowly, then soon steeply up to the "crack". It is a deep notch that forms walls on both sides of the path. As soon as you have put this behind you, one of the most beautiful views of the park is offered. From here you can see the deep blue Killarney and OSA lake. Unfortunately we could not go this route because of the miserable weather. Therefore we cannot show you any photos from this point.

You should be fit for this path

You should have good physical condition for this hike. The path leads towards Kakaise Lake and then on to the crack through forest and rock area. The climb to the crack requires concentration and effort. Large boulders that have broken off the rocks act as “stairs” that must be overcome to reach the ridge. As soon as you are at the top, you have a wonderful panoramic view of inland lakes and white hills in the park as well as the coastline of Georgian Bay.

Alternatively, “The Crack” can also be reached by canoe tour from either Killarney Lake or Kakakise Lake.

If you do not want to do any of these longer hikes, you can walk from the Killarney Mountain Lodge along the lakeshore to the Killarney Lighthouse. This is also easily reached by car.

Hiking at Killarney Provincial Park means views of lakes and forests

From there you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view that extends beyond the lake landscape to Lake Huron or north to the South La Cloche Mountains. Even for connoisseurs, the Killarney Provincial Park is of interest, as it contains numerous sites that were banned to the screen by the Group of Seven. They had specialized as landscape painters in this region. Her pictures are now world famous.

 

Canada geese migrating at Killarney Provincial Park
Canada geese in Killarney Provincial Park

 

Starting point for Killarney Provincial Park hiking

The place Killarney at the end of the park road is not big. However, it offers everything you need to explore the park. At the entrance there is an outfitter. With this one can book tours in and through the park. In the village itself there are shops. In addition, there are two accommodation options, from which the short trails in the park are easy to reach. We stayed at the Killarney Mountain Lodge. At the George lake There is also a campsite near Killarney.

Learn more about Killarney Provincial Park in Ontario Canada:

  • Current opening hours and parking information: The official website of the park always provides the latest details on opening hours, available facilities and any restrictions.
  • Weather conditions: For current weather forecasts and conditions in the park area, use reliable weather services such as The weather network or Environment Canada.
  • Tips for Wildlife Observation: The page of Friends of Killarney Park contains valuable information about the animal world and rules of conduct for visitors.

 


Travel Arrangements:

Parking at the airport

Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.

Arrival:

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Car Rentals:

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Accommodations:

Accommodation in Killarney * You can also easily book through our partner booking.com. We have in the Killarney Mountain Lodge .

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Killarney Provincial Park hiking
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Source: own research on site with the kind support of Tourism Ontario. We would like to thank you very much for this. However, our opinions remain our own.

Text: © Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video: © Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline

Killarney Secrets

Monika Fuchs

Monika Fuchs and Petar Fuchs are the authors and publishers of the Slow Travel and Enjoyment travel blog TravelWorldOnline Traveller. You have been publishing this blog since 2005. TravelWorldOnline has been online since 2001. Your topics are Trips to Savor and wine tourism worldwide and Slow Travel. During her studies, Monika Fuchs spent some time in North America, where she traveled to the USA and Canada - sometimes together with Petar Fuchs - and spent a research year in British Columbia. This strengthened her thirst for knowledge, which she pursued for 6 years Adventure Guide for Rotel Tours and then for 11 years as Study tour guide for Studiosus Reisen tried to breastfeed all over the world. She constantly expanded her travel regions, but curiosity still gnawed at her: “What is beyond the horizon? What else is there to discover in this city? Which people are interesting here? What do you eat in this region?” These are the questions she is now trying to answer as a freelance travel journalist (her articles have appeared in DIE ZEIT, 360° Canada, 360° USA, etc.), among others. travel writer and travel blogger answers in many countries around the world. Petar Fuchs produces the videos on this blog as well as on YouTube. Monika Fuchs from TravelWorldOnline is below Germany's top 50 bloggers in 2021 Other Information about Monika and Petar Fuchs. Recommendations on LinkedIn from tourism experts Further recommendations from cooperation partners and tourism experts Professional experience Monika on LinkedIn

12 thoughts too "Killarney Secrets"

  1. Hi monika,

    Once I was in Canada - Ontario, with the Ojibwa Indians. In the late summer they harvest wild rice on lakes with small canoes. The land is fascinating and nature is still largely intact there. Nice report and nice pictures of you. Makes you want more nature. Best regards Andreas

    1. Hi Andrew,

      it is definitely a great experience to go wild harvesting with the Indians. We'd like that too. "Wild kitchen" from nature, so to speak. We just got to know something from Finland. You can still really taste the forest. Nice if you like our photos.

      Best regards,
      Monika

    1. Hi Jenny,

      that's it. We were there for three days. One day of it has totally rained us. Therefore, we could not go through our planned program (canoeing and hiking), but we still had a few moments in which the sun came through. And we enjoyed it very much. Killarney Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada is well worth the trip.

      Best regards,
      Monika

  2. Dear Ones,
    what beautiful pictures. I think going around the area early in the morning is always a wonderful idea. The silence and the usually very special light, make you want to park.
    However, if I would be happy to meet a bear? I am very skeptical.

    Best regards,
    Katja

    1. Dear Katja,

      I agree with you, even if getting up early is usually difficult. But the morning mood is very special. Bears are usually shy. You just have to make enough noise, then they usually roll by themselves. And if nothing helps, there is still bear spray. I have never experienced such a situation in my more than 25 years traveling to Canada.

      Best regards,
      Monika

  3. Dear Ones,

    Thanks for the great tip. I did not have the national park on the screen and I will definitely plan it on my next trip to Eastern Canada. These are really beautiful and absolutely gorgeous pictures that really make you want to go there yourself and go hiking. Thanks a lot for this. ;)

    Many greetings
    Kathi

    1. Hello Kathi,

      Killarney has not made it to the National Park yet, but it's definitely one of Ontario's finest provincial parks. I'm glad, if my photos make you want to go there.

      Best regards,
      Monika

  4. My first long-distance trip went to Canada, I still remember it today. With these pictures much more and since I do not know the East yet, your tip will be on the list for 2018ff.

    1. Dear Antje,

      I am very happy if my photos inspire you for another trip to Canada. The east of the country has many interesting places to offer.

      Best regards,
      Monika

  5. The landscape is so bewitching! That has a very special charm.

    Although I do not necessarily need too many bears around me, the wilderness itself has its charm, of course. Thanks for the nice report and the tip: Killarney, I realize that!

    1. Haha, Barbara, you get used to the bears You just have to know how to behave towards them. The region is one of the most beautiful we have seen in Ontario so far.

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