The best walks and hikes around North Middlesex

Pinery Provincial Park protects one of the largest remaining oak savanna ecosystems in North America, along with freshwater coastal dunes, forests, wetlands, and more than 10 kilometres of beautiful, sandy Lake Huron shoreline. The park’s diverse landscapes support an impressive variety of plant and animal life, including many rare and endangered species, making it one of Ontario’s most ecologically significant protected areas. The park is very popular for its beaches and extensive trail network, and if you’re lucky enough to be here in the evening, you’re in for a treat, as the park is ranked as one of the top ten best places in the world to watch the sunset by National Geographic.

Savanna Bike Trail is a 14-kilometre cycling route that loops through Pinery Provincial Park, connecting major hubs including the park store and the visitor centre. The trail passes through a mix of beautiful oak savanna, forest, along the Old Ausable Channel and the park’s road network. It’s an easy, flat route that’s ideal for exploring the park’s core landscapes in a single continuous loop.

The Old Ausable Channel is a remnant of the historic Ausable River that was cut off from the main river in 1875 when a new channel was created to improve drainage into Lake Huron. Today, this beautiful, calm, narrow waterway winds through Pinery Provincial Park, supporting one of the most biologically diverse freshwater ecosystems in Canada, including numerous rare fish, reptiles, and aquatic plants. This is a great spot to stop, appreciate its beauty, and watch for Great blue herons who may be quietly hunting along its sheltered banks.

High Ridge Trail is a relatively challenging route in Lambton County Heritage Forest that climbs through narrow sandy paths and rolling dune terrain in one of the forest’s highest areas. The trail winds through oak savannah and Carolinian woodland, with regular elevation changes that give it a more rugged feel than other routes in the forest. Along the way, you’ll pass through lovely, peaceful wooded sections shaped by the dunes that help define the Port Franks area.

Tulip Trail is the easiest of the Heritage Forest routes, following a mostly flat path through mature woodland. Popular for more relaxed walks, it passes through sections of Carolinian forest and oak savannah while avoiding the steeper climbs found on the High Ridge Trail. The relaxed terrain makes it ideal for families and anyone looking for an easier way to explore the forest landscape.

Lambton County Heritage Forest is a beautiful natural area that protects one of the largest remaining tracts of Carolinian forest in the region. Nestled along the Lake Huron shoreline, there is a network of trails that wind through mature woodlands, wetlands, and sand dunes, supporting a diverse mix of plants and wildlife that call this area home. Popular for hiking, birdwatching, and leisurely walks, the forest is a peaceful setting that’s an ideal place to experience one of southwestern Ontario’s most ecologically significant landscapes.

The Wilderness Trail is a well-marked loop trail that visits the beach halfway through. The trail passes primarily through the woods, so it stays pretty shaded. Stay on the trail, as in summer, poison ivy grows in some parts of the woods.

The Beach Lookout at the end of the Wilderness Trail is a wooden boardwalk with an observation area with seating but no shade. There is a long set of stairs that descends to a golden sandy beach where beachgoers can be seen dotting the sand in summer, enjoying the clear water of Lake Huron.