Hiking Mono Cliffs Provincial Park: One of the Best Hikes in Orangeville
I continue to be marvelled by Ontario parks. So many are filled with incredible beauty, fantastic trails, and enchanting treasures. Mono Cliffs Provincial Park was just one of these amazing parks. Located in Dufferin County’s Mono Centre, 20 minutes north of Orangeville, Mono Cliffs Provincial Park contains some of the oldest, intact old growth white cedar forests in eastern North America. And at over 700 hectares its massive size offers a multitude of landscapes, including the Niagara Escapement, wildlife and stunning cliffs. Hiking Mono Cliffs Provincial Park is full of trail opportunities with over half a dozen trails. And if you’re looking for a perfect Bruce Trail day hike this is a great one!
Hiking Mono Cliffs’ Trails
Our hike started out mid-morning on another hot, humid, yet beautiful blue sky kind of day. The initial trail from the parking lot is the Carriage Trail. This trail gives access to many of the park’s other trails. The trail takes you past old forest on one side and on the other, a sweeping field with a stunning hillside off in the distance. The forest was alive with screaming cicadas, who provided the soundtrack to our hike. We took the trail to a flight of wooden stairs, taking us up the cliff face and passed some pretty ferns growing from it.
From the top of the staircase you’ll find the Cliff Top Trail. This trail takes you along the top of the 30 metre tall cliff and to the first lookout. There before you is a lush green landscape. After soaking in its rich beauty we continued on through the forested trail that offered a slight breeze and much appreciated break from the heat and sun.
Hiking the Lookout Trail at Mono Cliffs
The next trail is the Lookout Trail which takes you up and up and to an open field where you’ll find a fork in the trail. With seemingly no markers we steered left and thankfully chose right! There before us was another view, this one a jaw-dropping vista over the area and even all the way to a wee CN Tower in the distance. I couldn’t believe it! One of the best views I’ve found on a hike in Ontario! And there in the wide open, at 1650 feet above sea level, sits a large rock that is absolutely perfect to sit on, enjoy the epic view, and thank the trail Gods.
After tearing ourselves away we made our way to yet another trail, the McCarston’s Lake Trail. This one took us around part of McCarston’s Lake. And every so often there was a little trail leading down to the lake’s edge. It was so picturesque and secluded. Except for the killdeer strutting along the shore.
Hiking Spillway Trail
McCarston’s Lake Trail turns into a loop trail and brings you back around to the Cliff Top Trail. Here we took the Spillway Trail that is a must – even though it’s only just over a kilometre in length and a dead end. This is one of the best Ontario boardwalk trails and takes you down a short flight of metal stairs and turns into a trail that leads you through a canyon. Right between two massive cliff faces, it’s as though we were suddenly in the pages of Alice in Wonderland. Shrunken and in an enchanted scene. It was dark, damp, and at least ten degrees cooler. At the dead end lies a lone wooden bench, the perfect spot to soak in the tranquil moment.
Back up at the Cliff Top Trail we headed back the way we began. Down the wooden staircase, pass the screaming cicadas and monarchs on the hunt for wild flowers. We were nearly to the end of the trail when my friend caught sight of a wee baby snake on the trail. Barely filling the palm of your hand, it was a baby red bellied snake. After taking a flurry of photos and being totally in awe we gently ushered it off the trail, in hopes it made it to adulthood.
Mono Cliffs Provincial Park is one of my favourite Ontario hikes and I’ve been back numerous times since the first visit. It has epic views, magical scenery, and so many trails to explore. Another highlight of the park is the incredible amount of plaques throughout the park that are full of information about the park’s history, geology, environment, as well as the flora and fauna. There are also plenty of maps, with ‘you are here’, throughout and all the trails are very well marked.
Tips for Hiking Mono Cliffs
Parking Lot
The Parking lot for Mono Cliffs Provincial Park can be found at 795122 3rd Line E in Orangeville. The parking lot is large and can accommodate plenty of vehicles. But this is an operational Provincial Park with facilities like trash bins and bathrooms, so there is a fee to park. Last time I visited it was approximate $15 for the day.
Trails
There are a bunch of trails in Mono Cliffs Provincial Park and all with varying lengths. Trails include; Bruce Trail (6km), Carriage Trail (1.3km), Spillway Trail (1.3km), Cliff Top Trail (2.8km), Walter Tovell Trail (4.8km), McCarston’s Lake Trail (3.6km), South Outlier Trail (3.5km), Lookout Trail (600m), and Link Trail (600m).
Share the Trail
Some of the trails in Mono Cliffs Provincial Park allow horses, so be sure to be mindful and share the trail.
When to Visit
Mono Cliffs was once a hidden gem of a park but has been recently brought to the masses via a popular website – not this one lol. So, be prepared for busier trails, especially on the weekends and during the summer. The park is open year round and is perfect to visit any time of year. Fall is a great time to visit as you’ll catch the beautiful fall foliage from all the viewpoints. Winter is nice as it isn’t as busy.
Difficulty
Many of the Mono Cliffs trails are easy to moderate in difficulty. But there are also a fair amount of stairs, which are well maintained.
Where to Eat Nearby
You’ll be hungry after hiking Mono Cliffs Provincial Park! So, where should you eat nearby? You can go into Orangeville, which is convenient if you are heading back south. There are a bunch of options in Orangeville like Mochaberry Coffee & Co if you’re looking for something light or The Foal Village Pub for a hearty meal. Or, if you’re heading north, pop into Champ Burger at the corner of Highway 89 and 10, they have the best burgers and shakes.
Nearby Hiking Trails
Hockley Valley Provincial Nature Reserve
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