This provincial park has everything you could ask for; from hardwood forests, to wildflower meadows, and beautiful beaches. Balsam Lake Provincial Park is located in the picturesque region of the Kawartha Lakes. The two hiking trails in the park will take you through various natural and human-impacted landscapes. There are majestic cedar swamps intermixed with a deciduous forest, alongside old logging sites, farm fields, and a reforested plantation. The Plantation Trail illustrates the impact humans have had on the land over the past 150 years. The Balsam Lake staff are actively restoring and protecting the natural environment by removing unused asphalt surfaces and planting native trees. When hiking up the balsam Lake Lookout Trail, make sure to bring your camera. Once at the top, you will find a lookout tower with stunning views of the lake and the surrounding countryside. There are beaches located close to the park campsites where you might want to try canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, or simply relaxing in the park's water hammocks. In October, this park offers amazing views of the autumn colours. The winter season is quiet in Balsam Lake Provincial Park, making it the ideal time to try out traditional winter sports, like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing.
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As of 2024, the Great Lakes Guide will be transitioning to Biinaagami.org. Biinaagami is a multimedia, change-provoking initiative rooted in Indigenous knowledge aiming to uplift voices and to connect people with their watershed.
