Last Updated on July 29, 2025
This small provincial park makes for a perfect day trip of hiking, swimming, or snowshoeing! Here is your guide to Hardy Lake Provincial Park.
I love living in Toronto, but of course, it’s always nice to escape the city and get out into nature. Many of the best Ontario parks, like Algonquin Provincial Park and Point Pelee National Park are a bit of a drive.
If you’re looking for an Ontario park that’s closer to Toronto, Hardy Lake is perfect. You can visit this park as a day trip, or stay overnight in a nearby town.
Much of my family lives in Orillia, Ontario, which is a small town on the edge of the Muskokas, and just a 45 minute drive from Hardy Lake. Because they live so close to Hardy Lake, I visit it often!
In summer, my parents and I love hiking the trail that takes you all around the lake (with plenty of swimming spots!), and in the winter, you can take the shorter trail which brings you to the edge of the lake, where you’ll likely spot some beavers.
Hardy Lake Provincial Park is a small park, and so it doesn’t have as many facilities as others do. This park is mostly known for its hiking trails, but you can also opt to just hike in enough to reach the lake, and then spend an afternoon picnicking and swimming!
The history of Hardy Lake
Canada’s First Nations have lived throughout the province of Ontario as far back as 9000 years ago, which means that Hardy Lake was originally Indigenous land.
It’s important to take into account the darker parts of Canada’s history, and this includes when visiting provincial parks. When Europeans began coming to what is now called Canada, around the 1600s, systematic colonization started to displace First Nations.
The legacy of that colonization persists today. Indigenous populations of Canada continue to experience systematic marginalization, prejudice, and racism.
To understand Canada’s colonial legacy and the impact it’s having on First Nations today, you can read my blog about the lack of Indigenous representation in Canadian tourism, and read the Truth and Reconciliation report to learn more about Canada’s Indigenous history and the continued impact of colonization.
When visiting Hardy Lake, it’s important to acknowledge it’s Indigenous history. Hardy Lake is the traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg, specifically the Ojibway, Chippewa, and Odewa peoples. Today, the territory is covered by the Williams Treaty, which was made in 1923, and the J. Collins land purchase of 1785.
How to get to Hardy Lake Provincial Park
Hardy Lake Provincial Park is just off of Highway 169, east of the small town of Torrance. It’s about a 1 hour drive north of Barrie, and 2 hours north of Toronto. The address of the park is Hwy 169, Torrance, Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, Canada.
The park has a parking lot which is free to use, but it fills up fast, especially in the summer and fall. If the parking lot is full, you can pull off the side of Hwy 169 to park near the entrance. I’ve done this many times with no problems, and there are always other cars parked on the side of the highway, too.
Where to stay at Hardy Lake
I usually visit Hardy Lake Provincial Park as a day trip, either from Toronto (which can be a long drive, be warned!) or from Orillia, Ontario (where I have family). From Orillia, which is a cute town that’s absolutely worth spending a weekend in, Hardy Lake is about a 45 minute drive.
If you’d like to stay somewhere closer, you can grab a hotel room in Gravenhurst, a town that’s about 15 minutes from Hardy Lake. Gravenhurst is right on the edge of the Muskokas, so it’s a beautiful spot to spend a few days. Alternatively, you can stay in Bracebridge, which is about a 30 minute drive from the park.
Hiking at Hardy Lake Provincial Park
Hardy Lake has several well marked and well trafficked trails, which are considered moderate to hard in difficulty. Personally, I find them moderate, because the trails all stay pretty level in elevation.
You just need to keep an eye on where you’re stepping because the rocks can sometimes be slippery, and there’s always a chance of tripping over a root.
There are two smaller loop trails, which are 3 kilometers long. These trails take an hour or less, and are leisurely with lots of great spots where you can stop to lunch or swim in the lake.
The longer trails are a 7 kilometer loop, and an 8 kilometer loop (which connects you to a 1 km extension loop if you like!). For these longer loops, get an early start because they can take 3 hours or more.
All of the trails start and finish in the parking lot. I find this trail map is useful for seeing where the various loops go, where along the lake they bring you, and how they loop back to the parking lot.
You’ll often see photos of Hardy Lake’s wooden walking bridge. This small footbridge connects the longer loop trails to a small island on the lake. The bridge is a really cute photo opp! To reach it, take the 8 kilometer loop trail.
Hardy Lake Provincial Park in winter
Hardy Lake Provincial Park is really gorgeous in the winter, and it’s a nice time of year to go because the park is very quiet. You’ll find the trees are covered in snow,and the lake is frozen. In the winter, the park’s trail’s are perfect for snowshoeing.
If you don’t have snowshoes, you can stick to hiking the trails as you would in the summer. Just be sure to wear good shoes. The trails can be slippery and quite muddy, so good footwear is a must.
Nearby the parking lot there are two tiny lakes – they are more like ponds, and aren’t connected to Hardy Lake. The park’s trails bring you by them both, and the pond that is closest to the parking lot has beavers! During the summer you can spot their dams, but in the winter, you might get even luckier and spot them hanging out on the ice.
Tips for visiting Hardy Lake Provincial Park
Traveling to a provincial park can take some planning, so I’m including some tips on what is useful to bring, what to look out for, and more.
Park facilities: Aside from a parking lot that has an outhouse, there are no visitor facilities at this provincial park. Camping and fires are not permitted. Dogs are welcome in the park, but they should be kept on leash.
Dress for the weather: Ontario’s weather can change quickly, so I usually pack some layers if I’m spending a day outdoors. For hiking, I typically wear long pants, even in the summer. This helps with avoiding ticks!
Pack the necessities: Bring lots of water and pack a lunch to have on the trail. This is especially important if you do the longer hikes, because you may be out there for a few hours. And be sure to wear proper footwear!
Pack in and pack out: This means you should avoid leaving any litter behind, even if it’s organic. When hiking, stow any waste in a reusable container and dispose of it properly when you leave the park.
Stay on the trails: Leaving trails can disturb the ecology of the region and habitats of animals, and it can cause damage to topsoil.
Beware of ticks: Check your body (and your pets!) for little ticks after a hike in the wilderness. You can also protect yourself by wearing long pants and socks, as well as bright clothing when hiking.
Looking for more inspiration for Ontario travel? Here’s more from Pina Travels:
- 18 of the Best Ontario Parks to Explore
- A First Timer’s Guide to Exploring Algonquin Provincial Park
- Your Essential Guide to Visiting Point Pelee National Park
- How to go Glamping in Algonquin Provincial Park
