With its prime location on Lake Simcoe, and within only an hour’s drive to the Blue Mountains, arguably, the best of Barrie is in the great outdoors. The people of Barrie love to be outside. Don’t you? Making the most of nature and the natural Ontario landscape in Barrie should be at the top of your mind. There are an impressive selection of trails, green spaces, parks, and outdoor activities to take advantage of.
Let us walk you through it:
Trails
The range of trails available from Barrie is expansive and invigorating. From those rich in history, to those with pure fun in mind, there is something to suit every age and every desire:
Ardagh Bluffs Natural Area
With over 17 kilometers of trails, this is the perfect park to enjoy a walk or hike with the family and to bring the dogs. Located in Barrie’s south end, this is an environmentally protected area that offers beautiful scenery all year long.
Nine Mile Portage
This trail runs between Memorial Square and Fort Willow and is created as a historic trail to connect the past and present; water and land; urban and rural; and recreation and discovery.
North Shore Trail
A multi-use trail running along all of Barrie’s north shore, this short section is open to walking, biking, snowshoeing, skiing, dog-walking, and strollers.
Trans Canada Trail
Winding its way through every province and territory of Canada, running from sea to sea, this is one portion of the Ontario section of this nationwide route. Take a look at the Barrie portion of the Great Trail.
Waterfront Heritage Trail
Designed to offer a historical experience around the length of Barrie’s waterfront, the trail is complete with eleven interpretive stations, each offering historical insight into the early days of Barrie.
Parks
Barrie has several small parks within the city limits. They offer the perfect green space solution to get away from the busy pace of the city. You could take the kids to run around, or take the dog for a walk. Ontario also has an impressive array of provincial and national parks, many of which are easily accessible from Barrie to spend a Saturday afternoon or to head to after work.
Springwater Provincial Park offers a beautiful natural setting with hiking trails, picnic areas, and large open fields, and is located less than fifteen minutes from the city limits. It is also regularly filed with wildlife, and there are many open viewing spots to allow you to catch a glimpse.
Centennial Park is the place to go if you would like waterfront access and offers life-guarded lakefront swimming in the summer. Perfect for kids, the park has a playground, picnic areas, trails, and a lakeside boardwalk to enjoy.
UNCOVERED SECRET:
Lawrence Park on Little Lake is a gem in Barrie. Make your way over to Little Lake Drive and you’ll see the sign on your left. You can rent boats by the hour or day. The great thing about Lawrence Park is that once you’ve rented your boat, you can enjoy the fishing life. Don’t worry about bait, they’ve got you covered. Make sure that you get your fishing license from Service Ontario before you arrive.
From trails to parks to lakes, when it comes to the great outdoors, there is not much that Barrie doesn’t have.
Be sure to make the most of Barrie by spending time taking in the beautiful outdoor landscape of the city