Underrated Ontario provincial park has wooden lookout with unmatched views

Nestled on the Niagara Escarpment just a little outside of Collingwood, Ontario, is an underappreciated, concealed treasure of a provincial park that boasts hiking trails, limestone outcrops out of a rock climber's dreams, and a wooden viewing deck with unbelievable views of a gorge below.

While Devil's Glen Provincial Park may have a sinister name, it is a heavenly natural wonderland just begging to be explored, often going overlooked in favour of some of the province's bigger parks, as well as some of the area's other attractions.

The off-the-beaten-path feel of Devil's Glen is part of what makes it so appealing, with its small, easy-to-miss parking lot, quiet and rugged trails, serene vantages of the beautiful Ontario wilderness and, most often, nary another human in sight.

You can hike down to the Mad River that carves a valley deep through the green space (a valley that Parks Ontario says is "geologically significant"), challenging yourself with the switchbacks that lead down into and back out of the canyon. The reward is what visitors call a pleasant and stunning walk along the waterway between two faces of the famed escarpment.

Footpaths also allow you to connect to the nearly 900-kilometre-long legendary Bruce Trail and its countless side trails if you're looking for further adventure.

And, of course, you can't forget a stop at Devil's Glen's key draw: the wooden boardwalk and viewing platform that overlooks the bluff and some local ski hills, providing breathtaking views in any season from more than 500 metres above sea level.

 

 

 

 

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Only 60 hectares in size, this provincial park does not have camping facilities — or really any facilities, really, though it is maintained by Ontario Parks. It is thus completely free to enter, and feels almost secret.

Whether you're looking to embark on an extensive hike or a just short nature walk, to get in some rock climbing or just make a quick pitstop to take in the scenery, Devil's Glen Provincial Park and its viewing platform is a site to add to your list if you're ever in Simcoe County.

It is in close proximity to Blue Mountain and Wasaga Beach, but also a destination of its own right, under two hours' drive from downtown Toronto.