Wild Northerner Magazine Summer 2018 | Page 42

BY SCOTT HADDOW

Wild Northerner staff

Exploring is one of the neatest aspects of the outdoors and nature. Hiking is one of the easiest and best ways to get outside and discover animals, birds, water systems and more in the summer. Provincial Parks and National Parks make ideal places to visit and power over wild terrain and give your mind, body and spirit a boost. Here are a few parks to check out this summer while you are out being wild and free.

Pukaskwa National Park

This park boasts one of the best day hikes in northern Ontario IMO – the White River Suspension Bridge Trail. This is described by some as the ultimate walk in the park. It is an 18-kilomtre journey that showcases Pukaskwa’s rugged and unforgettable landscape and pristine ecoregions. This hike takes you through wetlands, Canadian Shield rock and into places where you might see a moose. The gem of the hike is the suspension bridge, 23-metres above Chigamiwinigum Falls. It is a sight that can only be appreciated by standing I the middle of the bridge. This park also features a coastal trail, delivering 60-km of challenging terrain and amazing sights.

Quetico Provincial Park

This park is known for being a paddler’s paradise and for good reason, but it also plays host to 35-km of hiking trails to keep any hiker busy for a few days. There are nine trails to pick, ranging from barrier-free to strenuous. The Pines Hiking Trails is a highlight. It is a 10-km return hike rated as moderate and it takes in a sandy beach guarded by a stand of majestic old-growth Red and White Pine. The French Portage Trail would be a hit for history lovers as it traces the steps of a portage established by First Nations people and later utilized by European explorers and traders. It is five-km and rated as strenuous.

Hike happy