Fire Tower Trail
The name is a bit misleading; this trail does peak at a standing fire tower — one of the few remaining in Ontario — but there’s so much more to see!
We say that the 7 km trail should take you about two hours (moderate with some steep, rocky terrain), but there’s plenty to explore along the way so you can easily spend a half-day hiking, bird-watching, photographing, picnicking.
This trail also boasts one of the best lookouts in Ontario Parks.
Stormy Lake Lookout, on the Fire Tower Trail
The trail enters a forest of Red Pine shortly after the trailhead; these tall trees in straight rows fill what were once a farmer’s fields. The farm, settled in 1881, was purchased to create Restoule Provincial Park. The trail winds through the forest, crossing boardwalks, wetlands and streams.
It then rises abruptly to a rocky Red Oak forest. This forest occupies the dry broken edge of a high ridge known as “the Bluff.” This vantage point provides hikers with sweeping views of Stormy Lake and the Restoule River, which flows west along a fault line towards the French River. Bald Eagles have been seen using the updrafts at the cliff edge.
Stormy Lake Lookout
In fall, the view becomes still more breath-taking, as the forest takes on its autumn hues.
Paddling
Stormy Lake is another great spot for leaf-peeping. While not a huge lake, it’s wide enough to give you a pretty big view, and has lots of shoreline to explore (plus it connects directly to neighbouring Clear Lake).
The Bluff, from Stormy Lake
Paddling right up to the base of the Bluff and its towering cliffs gives you a different perspective from the panoramic views from the top. A short portage takes you into Hazel Lake, a small pretty little lake on the north side of Stormy.