The best walks and hikes around Melancthon

Mono Tract Forest Trail runs through a mixed forest of conifers and hardwoods, following old forest roads and narrower trails throughout the tract. It’s ideal for hiking, running, and mountain biking, and its natural setting makes it easy to leave the busier routes behind for a while and spend a few hours enjoying a lovely walk, run or bike ride through the trees.

The Mono Tract is one of 14 tracts in the Dufferin County Forest, a patchwork of woodland replanted from 1931 onward after early land clearing left thin, sandy soils too eroded to farm. Today it’s a healthy mix of pine, spruce and mixed hardwood forest, with Hurontario Street along its western edge and Mono Cliffs Provincial Park next door to the east. Ruffed grouse and white-tailed deer call the woods home, and as you explore, you’ll be sharing the trails with mountain bikers, so keep an eye out for others while you’re here. Dogs are welcome, but be sure to keep your pup on a leash or under control.

Middle Loop winds through the heart of the Mono Tract, connecting with the North and South loops on either side, as well as several others throughout the tract. It twists and turns more than the wider logging roads around it, making for a slower, more sheltered walk through the trees. You can take it as a short route or fold it into a longer loop to explore deeper into the tract, where planted conifers gradually give way to a mix of hardwood trees.

The Kilgorie Side Trail is a blue-blazed connector within the Dufferin Hi-Land section of the Bruce Trail, linking back to the main white-blazed trail at both ends. This makes it a popular choice for forming loop hikes rather than simple out-and-back walks. Expect hilly terrain and sometimes uneven footing along the way.

The trail’s elevation changes provide excellent vantage points, allowing visitors to appreciate the winding course of the river and the surrounding countryside.The area is also rich in wildlife and plant diversity.

Visitors may spot brook trout habitats, wetlands, ponds, and wildlife along the river corridor, making the view both visually appealing and ecologically significant. The combination of rolling hills, forested slopes, and the gently flowing Pine River creates one of the most beautiful natural scenes along the trail.

This lookout sits high on a hill in Boyne Valley Provincial Park, where you’ll be treated to stunning, unobstructed views of the rolling farmland, wooded valleys, and moraine ridges in the distance. From this elevated spot, you can see the landscape drop away into a patchwork of fields and trees stretching all the way to the horizon, making it one of the most breathtaking places in the park.

Primrose Loop is a lovely path that meanders through the rolling forested hills of Boyne Valley Provincial Park. The route passes through a mix of mature woodland and reforested areas, with gentle elevation changes and occasional views across the beautiful surrounding countryside. It’s a peaceful setting, and along the way, you’re likely to spot white-tailed deer, plenty of birds, and other wildlife that thrive in this valley.