If nature could speak, what would she say? Maybe she’d ask us to explore with care, to tread lightly on her trails, protect her waters, and savour her gifts responsibly. As explorers, we have the power to listen, not just with our ears, but through the choices we make. 

From kayaking through protected waters to dining at farm-to-table venues, there are countless ways to travel in harmony with nature. These experiences will help you connect with the land, water, and wildlife in ways that honor and protect them. 

Nature is calling to us...are you ready to listen?

Mother Nature Would Say...Honour the Earth

Truly immersing oneself in nature brings so many benefits – like improving mental health, cognition and memory. It’s a win-win for your body and your soul. Experience the peace and tranquility nature brings with a guided backcountry hiking trip or forest therapy/bathing walks with Finding Your Way Adventures in a variety of locations across Ontario’s Highlands. Learn about the land through the eyes of those who have protected it for centuries with an Indigenous-led medicine walk with Tim Yearington. 

Sustainable Tip:

Plan a camping adventure to the 100-square-kilometre wilderness property, Land’escapes in Hastings County, and stay at low-impact campsites that follow sustainability practices. The folks at Land’escapes will also provide you with all the gear you need for your trip, from tent to cooking gear.

Mother Nature Would Say...Protect My Waters

There’s something deeply grounding about being on the water, and the journey to protecting our waterways begins by experiencing them. Book a wilderness paddling trip with Deep Roots Adventure, where every stroke of the paddle reminds you why keeping these waters clean matters. Challenge yourself to learn more about the path of the paddle with a whitewater paddling course at Madawaska Kanu Centre, and deepen your understanding of how water moves, flows, and sustains life. 

Sustainable Tip:

Fly fishing is slow, intentional, and deeply tied to the health of the water. Learn the art of this low-equipment and low-impact sport with a guided outing with Algonquin Fly Fishing, where sustainability is an integral part of the experience. 

Mother Nature Would Say...Take Awe in my Beauty

Connecting with nature from above offers a fresh perspective, one that reminds us how vast, beautiful, and worth protecting our landscapes truly are. Hike to panoramic lookouts like Skyline Park in Haliburton or the iconic Eagles Nest Park Lookout in Bancroft, or walk among the treetops on the Haliburton Forest Canopy Tour, and experience the landscape without disturbing the fragile ground below. 

Sustainable Tip:

Light pollution not only disrupts eco-systems and human health and wellbeing, it also disconnects us from nature by obscuring the starry skies. In Ontario’s Highlands you can look up and marvel at a sky full of stars at the North Frontenac Astronomy Park or the Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area, where the brilliance above is protected from light pollution.

Mother Nature Would Say...Savour My Bounty

In Ontario’s Highlands, food is more than a meal — it’s an experience. Indulge in farm-to-table dining at places that specialize in the experience like Black Tartan Kitchen, Haliburton Post House, and Belong Sharbot Lake, where local ingredients are transformed into unforgettable meals that reflect the landscape itself. Take your connection to the land even further with a foraging workshop from Yours Outdoors, where you’ll learn to identify and harvest wild edibles in a respectful, sustainable way. 

Sustainable Tip:

When you choose food and drink crafted with sustainability in mind, you’re not just feeding your body — you’re honouring the land that provides. Raise a glass at Dairy Distillery in Almonte, where unused dairy permeate is transformed into Vodkow — a smooth, eco-conscious spirit that tastes as good as it is thoughtful.

Fishing
Paddling
Hiking
Bicycling