Run Wild: 5 Epic Trail Runs in Ontario's Backcountry

From little-known mountains with stunning views, to lakeside loops with ample spots to dip a toe (or cannonball in!), the trails of Ontario’s highlands never disappoint. With varying terrain, length, and elevation gain, there’s something for everyone to be found off the beaten path. 

Lace up those trail runners and dig in!

Blueberry Mountain - Lanark Highlands

Distance: 5.0km | Vertical gain: 153m | Type: Out-and-back

Starting things off, we have the easiest trail on the list: Blueberry Mountain in Lanark Highlands. Don’t let the relatively low elevation gain fool you though; at the summit, you’ll be treated to an open view across the lush forests of the Highlands, and hitting this trail in the fall will give a stunning view of the changing leaves.

Circuit of 5 Viewpoints - Haliburton Highlands

Distance: 5.3km | Vertical gain: 240m | Type: Loop

Rocks and roots oh my! Circuit of 5 Viewpoints is a technical little loop in Haliburton Highlands. At 45 meters of vertical gain per kilometer, this trail is perfect for working up a sweat, and quick. The views are worth it though, and with five of them on the loop you’ll have ample excuses to wait up and cool off.

Silent Lake Provincial Park Shoreline Loop - Haliburton Highlands

Distance: 14km | Vertical gain: 403m | Type: Loop

Don’t worry if you get too hot on this stunning loop around Haliburton Highlands’ picturesque Silent Lake - there’s plenty of spots on the trail to take a dip! The trail is well marked and maintained by the park, and full of views of the lake. Carrying sufficient water is crucial, since there is no opportunity to fill up on the far side of the lake.

Manitou Mountain Trail – Ottawa Valley

Distance: 13km | Vertical gain: 385m | Type: Loop

Calabogie isn’t just for carving the slopes in the winter: the mountain makes for a fantastic trail-running challenge when there’s no snow to slide on. Park at the Barrett Chute trailhead, and follow the Manitou Mountain Trail to Eagles Nest Lookout, catching Red Arrow Rock and Manitou Mountain Lookouts along the way. Heading back you can take Indian Pass Trail to catch one more lookout on Juniper Ridge before trotting back down to the parking lot.

Jameson Mountain – Ottawa Valley

Distance: 10km | Vertical gain: 359m | Type: Out-and-back

Not far from Calabogie, you’ll find a trail that lives up to its name. With 359m of climbing packed into about two kilometers in the middle of this out-and-back to the summit of Jameson Mountain, you’ll get a good mix of steep grades and runnable flat packed-earth doubletrack. With a nearly-bald peak, the views are well worth the climb.

BONUS: The Shield Trail - Lennox and Addington Highlands

Distance: 4.2km | Vertical gain: 109m | Type: Loop

For something a little shorter, but with big day-trip potential, check out Bon Echo Provincial Park in Lennox and Addington. You can follow the Shield Trail, a winding route through the prototypical Canadian Shield terrain, and take in its diverse ecosystems, including a beaver pond. Afterwards, be sure to check out the pictographs on nearby Mazinaw Rock. These images could be as old as 1000 years and were created by ancestors of the Anishinaabe, who included the Algonquin people.