By: Jim Bamboulis
If you want to take a break from the city for a day and experience some incredible nature, then Killbear Provincial Park is worth a visit. If you’re a camper and want the chance to see black bears and White-tailed deer while you experience the great outdoors, then Killbear is worth an extended stay.
This small park is about 2 1/2 hours north of Toronto (map). For those who have driven north of Toronto and have reached as far as Muskoka, you know all too well how beautiful the scenery gets. Highway 400 becomes a very small portion of the Trans Canada Highway and the landscape becomes more rugged, rocky and hilly. The air, fresher and cleaner.
Killbear offers 4 hiking trails that are easy to moderate in difficulty, including a 6km recreational trail that runs parallel to the main road. Besides hiking, you can bike, swim (in some picturesque beaches I might add), windsurf, sail, boat and canoe on one of the many spots within the park. After all, Killbear is located in the middle of the 30,000 islands. We hope that these pictures inspire you to experience a compact park that has everything that you will need to take a break from the big city.
For more information about Killbear Provincial Park, what to bring, what not to bring and fees, please refer to this website.  It has all the info that you need to enjoy your visit that much more.
Hungry?
We know you are after a day at the park. We were starving! On the way back, we stopped in Parry Sound and found a small Italian eatery called Maurizio’s Pizzeria. Easily one of the better places to eat in the area. And believe me, I’m skeptical when it comes to eating decent food outside of the city. I’ve had some pretty crappy food in small town Ontario and that includes something as simple as pizza.
But Maurizio and his Partner (who’s also his Mom, Sina), know what they’re doing here (map).
Maurizio is a Certified Pizza Maker and a volunteer fire fighter. He takes both very seriously. I have to be honest, I was really surprised that a small town Restaurateur would put in so much effort into making really great food, including pizza. He could easily get away with doing things sub-par but he chooses the higher road. He’s won several awards to prove it.
There’s no compromise on quality and flavour here. The flour and tomatoes are imported from Italy, the ingredients are fresh, the basil and rosemary are grown in-house and the pizza is ready to go in 4 minutes. It’s a local favourite and a recognized favourite from visitors as well, who usually hit it when they arrive at the start of the weekend and re-visit on their way out of town. Give it a try next time you’re passing through Parry Sound. It’s worth the detour.
There you have it y’all. Great day of hiking topped off with a great local food discovery. Can’t get much better than that.
Do you have a suggested location that we missed in this article? Know of another great place to hike and eat along Georgian Bay? Let us know about it. We’re always up for hearing from locals who know best.
Thanks everyone and happy travels!
About me
Hey y’all. I’m Jim. Cute pic, no? That kid went on to spend 16 years in the broadcast media world before starting up Travel Mammal, a site dedicated to travel, food and cultural experiences.
Travel Mammal isn’t about the selfie or checking things off a list. It’s about experiencing both the journey and the destination. To breathe, learn and really absorb what’s around you, in the moment and experiencing in a way that is both memorable and meaningful.
Happy travels, y’all.
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