Explore Port Carling’s Parks & Trails



July 13, 2021

As the summer season unfolds, are you getting a little bored with the city life? You know what it’s like: pounding the hot pavement under your feet, riding the subway next to strangers in the humid train, and hearing the sounds of sirens passing by every other minute? Living in a city offers many exciting round-the-clock activities, but sometimes you want to get away from it all — particularly in the summertime.

It’s the season for exploring the great outdoors and getting in touch with nature. While there are many urban parks and trails to discover in cities, nothing beats the authenticity of sinking your teeth into wilderness untouched by skyscrapers and streetcar tracks.

If you want to escape the city this summer, why not discover the beauty of Port Carling, Ontario? Located on the Indian River in the beautiful region of Muskoka, Port Carling is ideal for summertime escaping. It’s one of the most popular places to buy a cottage in Ontario and offers many family attractions and activities. If you’re looking to purchase a new summer home, the Port Carling real estate market is red hot right now, and the cottages in the area are second to none.

We’re The Aben Team — Muskoka real estate agents who have been in the business a long time. We know a thing or two about this beautiful part of the country and how owning a cottage in the area can change people’s lives. There’s something magical about the 1600 lakes, 250 kinds of birds, and 50 mammal species that help make this area a nature lover’s paradise.

Then there are the numerous golf clubs and luxurious summer homes that make Muskoka the ideal summer vacation spot for those who love the outdoors and want to experience comfort while at the cottage.

And Port Carling offers it all. Known to locals as “the hub of the lakes”, it’s a vibrant community that’s a short distance from Lakes Muskoka and Rousseau. It provides culture, fine dining, and exquisite shopping experiences from local retailers situated in the downtown core. It’s also known for its beautiful nature parks and trails.

Cottagers have been flocking to Port Carling for decades to check out the naturally stunning scenery of its landscapes. Are you on the hunt for a summer home in the area? You’ll want to optimize your cottage experience by having access to some of the country’s most beautiful and accessible hiking trails and provincial parks.

Read all about our favourite parks and trails in or near Port Carling to help get you in the Muskoka frame of mind.

Butterfly Lake Resort

If family fun is at the top of your summer to-do list, you’ll want to check out Butterfly Lake Resort. Just minutes from Port Carling, Butterfly Lake Resort is a family summer paradise. It’s perfect for those weekends when you want to experience nature by spending a couple of nights deep in the heart of the forest, next to the lake.

Enjoy yoga on the beach, water sports, relaxing on a private beach, and paddleboarding. You and the family can rent out a trailer and live rustically for a day or two before heading back to the cottage for the rest of the summer. Hanging out together with nothing but the lake and each other’s company to enjoy is a beautiful way to bond and create precious memories that will last a lifetime.

Hazelwood Trail

Located on Lake Rousseau, the beautiful Hazelwood Trail spans 4.2 km and has an elevation gain of 85 m. It’s a historical trail that once linked Port Sandfield to Port Carling and is named after the pioneer family that settled on Lake Rousseau, the Hazelwoods. Many years ago, the family would use this trail to walk to Port Carling from Port Sandfield. And today, nature enthusiasts use the very same trail to hike and enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature.

The trail has some moderate to steep climbs over a scenic, mature hardwood forest. However, one of the most stunning parts of the trail comes close to the end of the route: a large beaver pond full of breathtaking bird life!

Arrowhead Provincial Park

Arrowhead Provincial Park is one of Muskoka’s most popular attractions, and it’s about a 40-minute drive from Port Carling. It’s open all year long with endless activities for the entire family. Cottagers love to escape into the park for weekend camping trips, swimming on sandy beaches, and so much more. For example, other activities include:

If you don’t have the equipment, the park rents out everything from mountain bikes to canoes to kayaks, so you won’t have to worry. There are also picnic shelters if you want to celebrate a birthday or have a large outdoor meal with friends and family.

Do you also have four-legged, furry family members? The park has a pet exercise area where dogs can roam free without a leash. There’s also a designated area on the main beach where you can take your dog for a swim.

Become a Muskoka Resident

If you love the outdoors and want to soak in as much of it as possible, consider checking out the current Muskoka real estate for sale — you could enjoy living close to nature all summer long and even throughout the remainder of the year.

When you own a cottage in Muskoka, you’re mere minutes away from some of the world’s most beautiful hiking trails, lakes, and parks, and you can visit such places at any time you want. So visit our website to peruse our featured listings in Port Carling and throughout the Muskoka region.

Our goal at the Aben Team is to provide outstanding service to our clients. As Muskoka residents ourselves, we’re proud of our work because we genuinely believe that this is one of the finest places to be on the planet. Nowhere else can you experience the natural beauty of the Canadian Shield and the sublime quality of coniferous forests full of Pine and Cedar, and have a modern, luxurious summer home to return to each evening.

But don’t take our word for it. If you love hiking and exploring the wilderness in national parks, contact us today to find out how you can make such activities a part of your everyday routine.