Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve is a unique wilderness park with 100,000 acres and 100 lakes. We feel it’s one of Ontario’s hidden treasures, so we’re focusing on it here. Well away from major highways, it may not be easily discovered, but it’s worth the trip to this amazing place! The park is privately-owned, combining a sanctuary for wildlife with sustainable forestry operations and amazing recreational options, providing a unique experience for anyone visiting.
You can even stay in the park if you wish! Camping is available, as well as your choice of two cabins. For even more comfortable accommodations, some of our Haliburton waterfront rental cottages are within easy driving distance. Our summary of this great park follows, but for more in depth information be sure to visit their website.
History of Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve
Like much of the land in Ontario’s cottage country, the park is in the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, who used the land for traditional hunting, fishing and foraging. During the 1800’s up to the 1960’s, the park was used for timber operations in a non-sustainable way, and most of its marketable timber was depleted.
In the early 1960’s Haliburton Forest was purchased by the Schleifenbaum Family, which had a very different vision of what the property should be. They felt the land should be managed in its natural state, and not simply exploited for its timber products. Haliburton Forest doubled in land area and expanded to offer many recreational activities, while still maintaining sustainable forestry operations, and it gained recognition as the first sustainable forest in Canada. Now under new ownership, the mandate remains to conduct sustainable forest management and educate the public.
Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve Activities | Year-Round | Spring/Summer/Fall | Winter
Year-Round Activities
Experiences
Yours Outdoors partners with Haliburton Forest, offering a wide variety of “Experiences”. Try your hand at one of many offerings, which includes everything from rock hounding, pasta-making workshops, Medieval combat experience, and fly fishing. “Beat the Bugs” sounds like a great idea, especially in the spring! Options are endless, with something truly available there for everyone.
The Wolf Centre
The highlight of Haliburton Forest is undoubtedly the Wolf Centre, a 7-acre sanctuary that provides an opportunity to observe the resident wolf pack in their natural habitat.
Observatory
The observation centre is a 5,000 square foot indoor building that’s fully wheelchair accessible. The observation window has one-way glass, which allows visitors a good view, but doesn’t disturb the wolves. Since they are free to roam throughout their enclosure, sightings of the wolves is not guaranteed. The building is full of exhibits that are very interesting, and provide more information on wolves, conservation efforts, and their important role in the ecosystem.
Feeding Time
The wolves are fed between 5-10 days apart, approximating the feeding patterns they would have if they truly lived in the wild. These feedings are generally not announced ahead of time, but if you’re lucky, you might be able to witness one. Their meal consists of 15-20 pounds of meat each. Don’t worry, since it wouldn’t be humane to serve up live animals, the meat is already dead when given to the wolves. Their diet typically consists of a mix of beaver, deer and moose.
Wolf Howl
If you’re able to visit on a Thursday evening in July or August, you might choose to attend one of the Public Wolf Howls. This program includes a presentation about wolves, a short hike and an attempt to get the resident wolf pack to howl back. The event lasts for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Doors open at 7:30 pm and the program begins at 8:00 pm. No reservations are required and admission is by donation.
A variety of other special wolf experiences are available, including Dinner with Wolves and Painting with Wolves, and you can even book private admission and events there.
Spring/Summer/Fall Activities | Astronomy | Camping | Hiking | Mountain Biking
Astronomy
Unfortunately the observatory building was damaged and is not repairable at this time, but Astronomer Brian Mould offers an excellent presentation to avid astronomers during July and August. The park is a great place to view the night skies, since it overlooks 100,000 acres of undeveloped land that is void of light pollution.
Camping
Haliburton Forest has an extensive network of semi-wilderness campsites on 17 lakes within the park. While there are trailer sites, those are rented for the season. The park has set aside a number of short-term use sites to choose from too. Most of the campsites are directly on the shores of a lake, with good privacy because they’re spaced apart. No hookups or services are provided, but each site has a fire pit and an outhouse.
Hiking
With over 400 kilometers of trails, there’s a trail for people of all ages and abilities, ranging from easy to challenging. Free, easy-rated trails are located near the Base Camp, and they’re ideal for beginners or families interested in a short walk. Bike are not permitted on those trails. The remainder of the trails in the park require a day pass. Interactive trail maps are available online.
Mountain Biking
The rugged terrain of Haliburton Forest is ideal for mountain biking. Their trail system consists of 300 km of biking trails catered to all skill levels. Rentals are available if you lack your own.
Canopy Tour
The Haliburton Forest Canopy Tour treetop walk is a highlight for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike. Suspended high above the forest floor, the walkways offer a unique perspective of the forest canopy. With over half a kilometre of walkways, it’s the longest canopy boardwalk of its kind in the world. Tours include a drive through the forest, a paddle across a wilderness lake, followed by a guided tour along the Pelaw River rapids. The tours take between 3.5 and 4 hours, and should be booked well in advance to avoid disappointment. We recommend having a reasonable level of fitness to participate, and a love (or not a fear, at least) of heights!
Winter Activities | Winter Experiences | Snowmobiling | Snowshoeing
Winter Experiences
Yours Outdoors also offers a number of experiences to try in the winter too, including ice climbing, guided ice fishing, holiday ornament making, hot tent winter camping, igloo building, or skijoring (skiing with dogs). Why not try a new sport or activity this winter!
Snowmobiling
Haliburton Forest is one of the top 10 snowmobiling destinations in North America, and it’s certainly one of Ontario’s best places to go. There are over 400 kilometers of groomed snowmobiling trails, which attracts snowmobiling enthusiasts from all over. For those new to the sport, rentals and even guided tours are available.
Why Haliburton Forest Should Top Your Bucket List
Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve is a unique destination that is arguably Haliburton’s major attraction. The Wolf Centre is world-renowned, attracting visitors from all over. With its array of diverse activities and experiences, stunning landscapes, and commitment to sustainability, you won’t be disappointed with your visit there. Book your waterfront cottage rental with CottageLINK Rental Management today and start planning your visit there!
