Spring Awakening: Your Essential Guide to Early-Season Outdoor Adventures
As we emerge from the grip of winter, the shoulder season is upon us! This is your guide to embracing the wild wonders of nature during these transitional months, packed with exciting activities to keep you outdoors and loving every muddy minute of it.
EXPLORE OUTDOORS
Early Spring hiking offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature as we transition into a season of renewal.
Our Guide to the Best Hiking Trails will help you plan your route.
From there, enhance your outdoor adventure by including a scavenger hunt, perfect for families and solo hikers alike. Enjoy observing the emergence of new plant life and listening to the melodies of the forest. Kids will love playing “Eye Spy”, discovering the sights and sounds of the wilderness. While adults may enjoy a slower pace, turning their hike into a mindful meditation surrounded by the tranquility of the forest.
Don’t forget to gear up the muddy, wet and occasionally icy terrain with waterproof boots!
Jumping in puddles is optional (but definitely encouraged!)
TRY COLD PLUNGING
As the lakes begin their spring thaw, consider adding cold plunging to your outdoor activity list.
Beyond the exhilarating rush, cold plunging offers numerous benefits for both physical and mental health, such as improved circulation, heightened alertness, enhanced mood and lower anxiety levels.
Our waterfront cabins are the perfect location to practice plunging, with the lake just steps from your door.
Be sure to exercise caution whenever cold plunging and always go with a buddy!
ENJOY MAPLE SYRUP SEASON
March & Early April is Maple Season in Ontario. Celebrate the sweetest season of all with a visit to the Sugar Shack to check out how sap is collected and produced into the sticky, sweet deliciousness we all know and love. With all four of our regions featuring nearby Maple activities, this is one experience you won’t want to miss out on.
For more inspiration be sure to check out our detailed Maple Season Guide.
LOOK UP AT THE STARS
With temperatures becoming less frigid, early Spring is an excellent time to bundle up and head outside gaze up at the stars. With several celestial events on the horizon this season you won’t want to miss out on the awe-inducing beauty of staring up at the night sky!
Get out of the city and head to one of our remote cabin locations which provide the perfect, unobstructed backdrop for viewing the stars and constellations.
Upcoming celestial events include:
- Full Worm Moon on March 25th with Penumbral Eclipse
- On April 8, a Total Solar Eclipse will occur and it is the last opportunity for Canadians to view one until Aug. 23, 2044 — 20 years from now!
- Lyrids Meteor Shower from April 15th – 29th: Peaking on the night of April 22nd and morning of the 23rd
For more details check out our Guide to Star Gazing in Ontario
CREATE A CABIN CRAFT
Let nature spark your creativity! When weather conditions aren’t ideal consider an indoor craft inspired by the great outdoors.
Cabin crafts are for adventurers of all ages and can include:
- Colouring, drawing & sketching
- Fibre arts such as knitting and crochet
- Needlepoint & embroidery
- Painting
Kids (and kids at heart) will love creating a Leaf Collage. During a hike collect fallen leaves of varying kinds and bring them back to the cabin. Spend time arranging the leaves into a collage and use a glue stick to stick them to your paper of choice. The perfect souvenir to take home from your trip!
EXPLORE LOCAL-WONDERS
Early spring is a great time to explore the local wonders of the region, visit small towns, farms, provinicial parks and partake in unique activities.
Fan Favourite:
The Wolf Centre in Haliburton Forest. This self-guided experience offers educational exhibits on wolf behaviour and ecology. Be sure to visit the observatory where you may even catch an exciting glimpse of the forest’s Wolf Pack!
Local tourism sites are a great resource when planning the perfect, early-spring getaway. Each of our four regions, Lanark, Calabogie, Haliburton and Kawartha offer a wide range of local experiences and activities for you to enjoy.
Grab your boots and your sense of adventure, because the shoulder season is calling! Embrace the mud, the challenges and most importantly embrace the beauty of early spring in all it’s untamed glory.
Ready to turn your early spring daydreams into reality? Our cozy cabins offer the perfect sanctuary to reconnect with the great outdoors. Reserve your time in nature and let the rejuvenating magic of early spring unfold around you.
Blog by: Rachel Naish & Photo Credits: Zach Washburn, Sarah Vander Zaag, Vanessa Moniz
