What do vacationers look for when searching for a resort deal Ontario travel option? According to the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, hiking was the most popular outdoor activity for Canadian pleasure travelers looking for a same day excursion. Over the past two years, over 25 percent of adult Canadians went hiking, climbing and/or paddling while on an out-of-town, overnight trip of one or more nights. Clearly, the Mattawa River Resort is a family vacation idea well situated to appeal to travelers looking for spectacular hiking, climbing, and paddling.
EXPERIENCE A HIKER’S PARADISE
Our waterfront resort sits on 147 acres of pristine, rugged Canadian shield blanketed in verdant forest, a mixture of northern and southern plants typical of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Region of which the area is a part. For wildlife watchers, there’s always a chance you might catch an unexpected glimpse of moose, black bear, timber wolf, white-tailed deer, more than 200 bird species including eagles, towering red and white pine, and a large diversity of flora indigenous to the Mattawa Valley area. This is a naturalist’s dream and a hiker’s paradise, a cottage resort Ontario nestled tightly along the shoreline of the protected Mattawa River corridor.
EXPLORE YOUR HIKING OPTIONS
It’s said a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, but where do you begin when there are so many options? Whether you’re setting out on foot or clipped into your cross-country skis or snowshoes, there is lots of land to cover regardless of the season you decide to book your stay in our pet-friendly resort. Taking the road less travelled is absolutely an option no matter in which direction you decide to head. Look east, and the Mattawa River Resort offers you a direct connection to the A1 Trans Canada Trail system (https://discoveryroutes.ca/trans-canada-trail/). Look west, and you could hike all the way to Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park (https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/samueldechamplain), a spectacular destination equally woven with a tapestry of hiking trails perfectly suited for your level of experience.
TURN YOUR HIKE INTO A SCIENTIFIC ADVENTURE
Here’s another suggestion for hiker’s with a sense of purpose and a passion for environmental stewardship. Before you set out on your hike, download the free iNaturalist Canada app found at https://inaturalist.ca/. Use the app to upload photos of all the flora and fauna you see as you hike through the valley along the Mattawa. The app includes species recognition software that instantly offers you information on the species you’re seeing. Every observation you make contributes to an international database of biodiversity. It’s a great way to turn a casual hike into a real “citizen science” activity you can do alone or with the entire family. Now your hike is more than just good exercise – you’re actually contributing to scientific research. All you need is a camera or a smart phone and you’re all set.
BOOK YOUR NEXT HIKING TRIP ALONG THE MATTAWA
There’s no reason to limit yourself to hiking at the Mattawa River Resort. Take a day to explore Mattawa River Provincial Park (http://www.ontarioparks.com/park/mattawariver), traverse the Etienne Trail System https://discoveryroutes.ca/mattawa/etienne/, or set out on a hiking trip to Paresseux Falls. The entire Mattawa region is abundant with trails for both novice and experienced hikers.
When you’re considering family vacation ideas in a post-pandemic world, targeting a destination that allows you to connect with the great outdoors through hiking is a great option. For both physical and mental health benefits, you can’t beat a great hike through the forest at the Mattawa River Resort!
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