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County in Ontario, Canada
Photo: P199, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Haliburton Highlands, also known as Haliburton County, is a municipality of about 21,000 people (2021) in Central Ontario. It offers more than 600 pristine lakes, and thousands of hectares of virgin forest and wilderness on one of the highest parts of the Canadian Shield. The county includes Algonquin Provincial Park's "panhandle" in its north east corner.
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Minden's public art gallery, featuring works by local artists.
The main museum and its galleries are wheelchair accessible. Accessible washrooms are available on the second floor.
Haliburton Gold Lake Trout is a genetically unique species of fish only found in some of the lakes of the Haliburton Highlands, descending from a trout population that became isolated from other trout when glaciers retreated thousands of years ago. Volunteers at the hatchery raise tens of thousands of fish for 18 months before releasing them into local lakes in support of the local fishing industry. The hatchery runs tours on some Saturdays, and holds other events throughout the year.
A unique outdoor collection of sculptures by Canadian and international artists. Free tour every Tuesday at 10AM and Wednesday at 12:10PM in July and August.
6 historic buildings preserved from throughout the region demonstrate what life was like in the late 1800s, including a school house, log cabin, and bank.
A 5 km look over mixed terrain, providing several (but fewer than 5) different viewpoints.
A 6 km hiking trail with cliff-top views
Accessed by a gentle slope, or a quick, steep hike.
Picnic site and lookout above the town of Minden, accessible by car.
A small park overlooking Haliburton and Head Lake. Accessible by car.
Specializes in local pioneer history and is home to the historic Hawk Lake Log Chute. Hawk Lake Log Chute is the only remaining log chute of its kind in Ontario. The log chute has been painstakingly repaired and reconstructed. There is an expansive view of Maple, Beech, Boshkung, and 12 Mile Lake from the Stanhope Lookout, beside the Stanhope museum.
Viewing platform 142 m) above Lake of Bays. Facilities include picnic sites, restrooms, a tourist information kiosk, a gift shop and a hiking trail.
It is a research facility, an education centre, and a sustainably managed forest. It is operated by a private company with two businesses: tourism & recreation, and forest products. Activities year-round: hiking, canopy tours, lake trout fishing, ice-fishing and dog-sledding in winter. There is a resident wolf pack and a wolf education centre. Camping and cottage rentals are available.
Provides guided wilderness tours to see wildlife, plants, or to demonstrate other activities in the forest, such as climbing, stargazing, or fire building. Also operates the canopy tour in the forest, 500 m long tree-top boardwalk, up to 20 m off the ground.
Backcountry camping, canoeing and portaging through of provincial and municipal public lands comprised of countless lakes, rivers, trails, conservation areas and continuous forest. Canoe rentals are available. A wide range of itineraries can be planned, from 1-2 night weekend trips for beginners or families, to longer adventures that require more skill. Routes are organized into two areas: Frost Centre and Poker Lakes. Reservations are required. Although most trips will only take you a few days from the highway, all campsites are back country; there are no facilities or services inside the park.
The larger area, with 171 campsites accessed from the water, and 11 choices of access point. A small number of sites are accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles.
Offers fewer campsites, but a quieter and more private experience one you've paddled away from the access point- some lakes and bays have only one campsite. Base camping is popular on Big East Lake.
3 ski areas with 36 km of ski trails, and another 16 km of trails at YMCA Wanakita. Permits are required.
36 km multi-use trail for bicycling, walking, snowmobiling between Kinmount and Haliburton. Trail surface: Gravel and cinders. Washrooms at Donald and Kinmount. Ritchie Falls is midway along the trail, along with a long trestle bridge appreciated by railway heritage enthusiasts. Only snowmobiling is allowed Dec-Mar (with a permit).
In the southeast corner of the county, Silent Lake focuses on outdoor sports and recreation in addition to car camping. The park is open year-round, with some headed cabin-style lodging, or winter tent camping for the seasoned adventurer. In summer, mountain biking trails are available (a moderately difficult 11 km loop, and a difficult 17 km loop), hiking trails range from short leisurely strolls, to a 15 km rugged trek through meadows, swamps and forest up to a scenic lookout. Canoes and kayaks can be rented from the park office, and launched from several points along the lake. Two sandy beaches provide swimming and picnic areas. In winter, several trails are groomed for cross-country skiing; the longest trail is 16.5 km, and rated difficult. Snowshoes are permitted on some of the shorter trails and can be rented on-site. Warming huts and washrooms are available.
A natural canoeing and kayaking slalom facility in Minden that was used for the 2015 Pan American Games canoe slalom events. A 100-acre park with trails adjacent to whitewater rapids for kayaking and canoeing. 30 campsites with picnic tables and fire pits.
Kozy's
Since 1935. Good food at good prices.
Known for their Mill burger and prime rib, homemade pies and tarts and breakfasts served late.
An authentic thin crust Italian pizza baked in a traditional wood-fired brick oven while you watch. One can eat in a small, but beautiful garden. Seasonal.
Upscale casual dining in cottage country on the shores of Mirror Lake. Boshkung Brewing onsite.
A tiny pastry shop in the town of Donald offering baked goods from "Ooey Gooey Butter Tarts" to Thanksgiving pumpkin pies. All of the baking is by hand, from scratch, on site.
A timber-framed barn selling foods and preserves produced on site. View the maple syrup operation through the glass wall of the La Sucrerie Restaurant which has a French Canadian menu inside a restored timber-framed barn. Offers tours of the sugar bush, and taffy-on-snow. Opens for various other weekends throughout the year for seasonal products and BBQs.
Small brewery, with tasting room, growlers, and mini-kegs. Pizza and sharing plates.
They also operate a pub with a large patio.
Nine draught taps, featuring local craft beer, an ample selection of wines and spirits, plus fresh-ingredient cocktails.
Small hotel with a few rooms above a bar and restaurant. Free Wi-Fi.
Lodge with 10 rooms on a large property with recreation and BBQ areas.
14 guest rooms. Licensed dining room. Free wireless internet. Direct access to trails. Heated outdoor pool & hot tubs. Outdoor patio space & BBQs. Horseshoe pits.
101 rooms, suites, villas and chalets; the Wind in the Willows Spa, and 18 holes of championship-level golf at Pinestone Golf Course.
Air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi, some rooms with lake views.
Dorset General Store
Includes a Home Hardware, Foodland Supermarket, the Drygoods gift shop, and the Red Onion boutique. The footwear section specializes in moccasins.
At its widest and tallest, Haliburton County is about 70 km by 70 km, and the distance from Cardiff in the south east to Oxtongue Lake in the north west is about 130 km.
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