Join us for a day of walking in the Canadian Shield and step into the culture and history of the First Nations of Central Ontario, the Nishnaabe. We will travel to Petroglyphs Provincial Park by washroom equipped, air conditioned coach bus. The fare today includes the cost of parking at the Provincial Park.

Go to the Hike Registration Calendar to sign up now!

We’ll do a series of loops along a variety of trails, taking in a combination of woodland, marshland meadows and small lakes. The trails are generally easy with a few hills, the marshy areas have boardwalks running through them. Before the hike a Park warden will do a talk on the significance of the Learning Rocks at the heart of Petroglyphs Provincial Park. After the hike you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Learning Centre and the small giftshop before we start the trip back to Toronto.

The hike will be roughly 13-14 km in length. If you wish to visit the Learning Centre early there will be an opportunity to drop out of the hike at just over the halfway point.

Please note, photography is not allowed in or around the Teaching Rocks. The restrictions are posted clearly so please respect this. Also no food or drink is allowed in the pavilion erected over the carvings.

After the hiking and history we’ll drive to Lakefield, a little north-east of Peterborough, for a well deserved refreshment stop along the beautiful Otonabee River for  approximately 45 minutes.

Itinerary:

8 am depart York Mills

10:15 am arrive at Petroglyphs, tour of the Teaching Rocks

11:15 am start walk, lunch on Pre-Cambrian rocks above Minnow Lake ca 12:15

12:45 to 3 pm walk several loops of trails in Petroglyphs Provincial Park

3 pm to 3:40 Time to visit the Learning Centre and gift shop before departure for Lakefield

3:40 to 4:20 drive to Lakefield

4:20 to 5:15 pm Refreshments in Lakefield.

5:15 to 7 pm drive back to York Mills (approximate).

We should be back at York Mills between 7 and 7:30 pm.