Easy hikes and walks around Tiny

Spanning 8.5 square kilometres of marshes, open water, bogs, and upland forests, the Tiny Marsh Provincial Wildlife Area is Ontario’s inaugural provincially managed wetland and a recognized Important Bird Area (IBA) for birdwatching and nature photography. 250 species of birds have been recorded here, including nesting ospreys, 11 species of ducks, and provincially threatened species like the Least Bittern and Black Tern. The site is explorable though elevated dike trails above the water, along with boardwalks, observation towers and an interpretive centre designed for wildlife viewing and education.

A lot of the South Cell can be seen from a wide dirt road that traces the southern body of water's eastern edge. The road is built along a dike and is popular with bikers and hikers, with a flat, straight path to follow. There is little to no shade, so come prepared.

The North Cell is a small seasonal vernal pool surrounded by earthen dikes and wetlands. Tiny Marsh Provincial Wildlife Area does not have two formally named ponds. Instead, it is classified as a singular 600-hectare marsh complex feeding the headwaters of the Wye River.

Following the shoreline of Georgian Bay, the Beach Trail links all four of Awenda Provincial Park's mainland beaches on an easy 4-kilometre route. Along the way, you'll experience a striking transition from the dry oak and maple forest above the Nipissing Bluff to the cooler birch, cedar, and hemlock forest below, with regular views across the bay toward Giant's Tomb Island. It's one of the park's most scenic walks and an excellent way to explore its varied landscapes in a single outing.

Awenda Provincial Park protects more than 2,900 hectares of forest, wetlands, and Georgian Bay shoreline on the Penetanguishene Peninsula. With over 30 kilometres of hiking trails, four sandy beaches, old-growth forest, and excellent birdwatching opportunities, it's one of Ontario's most diverse provincial parks. The Beach Trail offers one of the best ways to experience the park, linking all four beaches while passing beneath the Nipissing Bluff and along the shores of Georgian Bay. A valid Ontario Parks day-use permit or camping reservation is required to enter the park.

4th Beach is the westernmost beach on the mainland section of Awenda Provincial Park and one of the quietest stretches of shoreline in the park. Reached via a scenic walk along the Beach Trail, it rewards the extra effort with wide views across Georgian Bay and beautiful sunsets. Keep an eye out for the young sand dune forming behind the beach—a rare and fragile landscape that's constantly being shaped by the wind and changing lake levels. Please stay on the beach itself and avoid walking on the dunes to help protect this delicate ecosystem.

The Pine Trail is a wide, mostly flat trail that cuts through the forests of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. While it's a multi-use trail for hikers and bikers during the summer, it winter it is closed for all by XC ski traffic in order to preserve the groomed tracks.

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park has 14 kilometers of beach and over 50 kilometers of trails for hiking and XC skiing. The Wasaga Beach Welcome Centre has great information about the natural and human history of the area including the HMS Nancy wreckage that was rediscovered in 1927 after being burnt by her crew during the War of 1812 to avoid the cargo being seized by the US.