The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Lake Simcoe

Kempenfelt Bay is a 14-kilomtre long bay on Lake Simcoe a large lake that sits between the much larger Lake Huron and Lake Ontario. The bay is known for its ice fishing and can have over 4,000 huts during the peak season between January and March. Like any good body of water this one has its own mythical creature known as Igopogo or Kempenfelt Kelly and the town of Barrie erected a statue in it honour along the waterfront.

This quiet park is a bit of a hidden gem in Barrie. You'll find a short loop trail through the forest that leads down to the shoreline of Kempenfelt Bay. The trails are popular with dog walkers so be prepared to make some new four-legged friends while visiting the park.

Breedon Tract Black & Red Trails follows the outer boundaries of the Breedon Tract. For mountain bikers, this section of trail has tight corners, flowy berms, and punchy short climbs and descents. The other trail on the track is Breedon Tract Red, and is the more internal part of the trail. The red and black trails are not separate, but different ends of the same trail seamlessly transition into the other.

Breedon Tract is open to hiking, mountain biking, and snowshoeing. It's not a very busy area, so you will likely find peace and solitude here. Dogs are welcome as long as they on a leash. The trails here wind through a canopy of managed pine plantations and native northern hardwoods, creating a lot of shade.

The main parking area for the Breedon Tract is located on Line 9 North in Oro-Medonte, just north of Old Barrie Road East. It's a small dirt parking lot with no water fountains or restrooms, so come prepared. There is a general store to the north, about 10 minutes' drive away, that sells snacks and water.

One of Ontario’s largest inland lakes, Lake Simcoe stretches more than 725 km², creating a broad, open horizon that defines the shoreline at Innisfil Beach Park. Its shallow, sandy shallows and long views make it a popular spot for swimming, paddling, and relaxed lakeside walks. Because conditions can shift with wind, storms, and runoff, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit monitors the lake’s beach water quality weekly throughout the summer, posting results online and on-site so visitors can make informed decisions before swimming. Even on the clearest days, it’s important to avoid swallowing the water.

Extending out into the clear waters of Lake Simcoe, the Gov’t Dock offers one of the most direct vantage points over the lake. A metal edge and mooring cleat mark its working past, but today it’s mostly used as a quiet lookout point — a place to stand above the waterline, feel the wind come off the lake, and watch the horizon stretch out in every direction.

This dedicated dog area is the only spot in Innisfil Beach Park where dogs can legally reach the shoreline, since they’re not permitted within 15 metres of the water’s edge on the main beaches. With those restrictions — plus the park’s rule requiring dogs to stay off sports fields and remain on a leash no longer than two metres — this fenced dog zone becomes the perfect place for pets to run, play, and even splash in the lake. It’s the ideal spot to let your dog burn off some energy, on- or off-leash, without worrying about the limitations elsewhere in the park.