Route 1 Route 2 Algonquin Provincial Park Route 2
Limberlost Wilderness Reserve (near Huntsville, Ont.)
“Limberlost Wilderness Reserve is a magnificent place with endless trails,” says Pierre Mikhail, a sports medicine doctor and runner with the Muskoka Algonquin Runners. The reserve boasts 10,000 acres of wilderness and 20 lakes near Huntsville, and is packed with more than 70 kilometres of trail for runners of all abilities and woodland roads to provide all the marathon-training miles you could possibly want.
The 13-kilometre Solitaire Trail winds its way around the largest lake on the reserve, Lake Solitaire, with a path that’s suited to a speedier run, rather than a technical jog or speed hike. With the exception of the out-and-back scramble to Echo Rock Lookout, one of the four lookouts in the reserve, there’s minimal elevation gain. To make it a long run, extend it by adding the connecting 11-kilometre Kalonga Wetland Trail – but skip this one in wet weather, since it’s home to 12 beaver dam crossings.
Ontario runner Emily Prashaw loves exploring in Limberlost, and often loops a few of the lakes together for a longer run. Combining park roads and the trails that circumnavigate Turtle and Clear Lakes before heading back to loop Bucks Lake will offer 11 kilometres of beautiful open roads, some twisting singletrack, wooden bridges and amazing views – with under 300 metres of climbing and no steep sections. Prashaw recommends slowing down at the west edge of Bucks Lake to take in the views from the singletrack as you run between a rock wall and the lake.
Ontario-based ultrarunner and current Bruce Trail women’s fkt- holder Chantal Demers says that the Algonquin Westerns Uplands trails nestled in Algonquin Provincial Park are amazing – and the park itself provides the perfect base, whether you’re planning a day trip for your long run or hoping to spend a couple of rustic days in the woods. “There are lots of camping options if you want to do an extended trip, but it’s worth a shorter outand-back or doing the small loop for a long run,” she says. “It’s absolutely stunning and secluded.”
Route 1
There are three loops to choose from on the Algonquin Westerns Uplands trails totaling 32, 56 and 72 kilometres and arranged in a snowman shape, so they’re all connected. “I would suggest some backcountry experience when heading out on these long excursions,” Demers warns. “The trail is hilly, rocky and rooty, so a good pair of trail-running shoes or hiking boots is a must. Every runner should also bring a map and a headlamp.” The trails are well marked, but be careful if you’re opting for the short loop that you’re regularly spotting signs for it – you don’t want to be on the 72-kilometre trail by accident.
At 16 kilometres long and pancake-flat, the Old Railway Bike Trail in the park is an easy out-and-back option if you’re looking for a very flat long run. The decommissioned railway bed runs from Rock Lake Campground almost to Cache Lake, so even though it’s not technically challenging, the views make it an amazing journey.
Lake Bernard (near Sundridge, Ont.)
Toronto’s Dave Emilio, a runner for 15 years, has been vacationing at his family’s cottage on Lake Bernard, north of Huntsville, Ont., since he was a child. The road traces a 24k loop around the lake, which he and his siblings used to walk, for fun. “It would take us all day,” Emilio says. “We would stop and dawdle, and that would be our one event that we would do. Now I run it every time I’m up there.”
The lake, whose claim to fame is that it is the largest freshwater lake in the world with no islands, is seven kilometres long and three kilometres wide. The mostly gravel road is called South Bernard Lake Road on most of the east side. Much of it is shaded by a canopy of trees and its rolling hills provide an exceptional workout.
Emilio’s cottage is just down the road from the village of Sundridge (population 961), so jogging into town for a newspaper provides a nice little out-and-back for 5k, with the option to do farther out-and-backs in either direction, or the entire loop for 24k. “Sometimes I take the dog and we hop in the lake,” Emilio says.
Cape Mabou, Cape Breton Island
Denise Robson holds the Canadian masters marathon record for women aged 50 to 54 at 2:49:05. When she’s on vacation, Robson, who lives in Chester Basin, N.S., loves to visit the spectacular Cape Mabou Highlands on Cape Breton Island. “There is a 30-kilometre network of singletrack trails with amazing scenery and some challenging climbs and descents,” says Robson. Last year, these trails were the site of Atlantic Canada’s first 100-mile ultra-trail race, the Capes 100.
Here are two 8k to 10k routes favoured by Capes 100 race director Jodi Isenor.
Route 1
From the Mabou Mines Trailhead, follow the Fair Alistairs Trail to the Beaton Trail. Finish the loop on the Beyond the Mountain Trail.
Route 2
From the Sight Point Trailhead, follow MacKinnon’s Brook Trail along the coast, then head up the Steep Mountain Trail. Come down the mountain via the Oak Ridge Trail or the Enchanted Valley Trail, then back to the trailhead on MacKinnon’s Brook Trail.
Grey Owl’s Trail, Prince Albert National Park
This beautiful 40-kilometre out-and-back trail run takes you along the shores of Kingsmere L ake and t hrough t he boreal forest to t he historic Grey Owl ’s cabin, where t he writer and wildlife conservationist lived in the 1930s wit h his wife, and t wo beavers. (Grey Owl port rayed himself as having Indigenous herit age, but after his deat h it was revealed t hat he was born in England. His real name was Archie Belaney.)
The trail includes forest paths, boardwalks and sandy beaches. Along the way there are campsites for people who choose to hike or canoe in instead of run.
“It’s always fun to run through camp to see people wide-eyed asking you if you are really going to run in a few hours what they are doing on a multi-day trip,” says Saskatoon runner Rilla Johnson.
The campsites have outhouses and picnic tables, making them ideal pit stops. There are no branching paths, so it’s impossible to get lost, and the trail is relatively f lat, with a few rolling sections. “It’s still a good leg workout though, as some sections have fallen branches and trees that you have to climb over,” Johnson says. “It’s the perfect activity to do while your husband does 18 holes at the nearby Waskesiu Golf Course.”
People who run Grey Owl’s should consider bringing bear bells and bear spray, as Prince Albert National Park is in black bear territory.
Many Albertans have cabins in recreational areas, and many others enjoy spending the summer holidays in an RV, either driving between their favourite spots or camped at one destination. Venturing beyond the most popular spots (Banff, Canmore, Jasper and Kananaskis), various provincial and national parks offer an extensive playground of trails and country roads.
Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreational Area (50 kilometres east of Edmonton, bordering on Elk Island National Park)
“Created by an Ice-Age glacial moraine, the terrain consists of 100 square kilometres of rolling forested hills dotted by scores of small lakes and wetlands,” reports Edmonton runner David Checkel, who has a cabin on the south side of Islet Lake, just outside the park. “More than 80 kilometres of twin-track grassy trails wind through the forest, giving runners an opportunity for a near-infinite variety of running paths with forest and wetland views.” For a descriptive brochure and trail map go to albertaparks.ca/media/123487/blackfoot-summer-web.pdf.
Checkel goes on: “I love just running and exploring the trails, choosing my next trail on a whim at each junction. There are trail maps at most trail junctions, so even after I’m completely turned around by running twisty trails through the forest, I can work my way back. I normally start from Islet Lake staging area at the south edge, because it rewards runners with immediate lakeside viewpoints and a mix of terrain.”
Route 1, 5K or 9K
The POSH trail (Port Outbound, Starboard Homebound). This is an easy out-and-back with very simple directions: stay left at every trail junction on the way out and right at every trail junction on the way back. It takes you along Islet Lake, using Lost Lake and Push Lake trails to a viewpoint with a shelter and toilet at the end of Islet Lake. Turning back at this point gives a roughly 5K jaunt with relatively low hills and several views of the forested islands for which Islet Lake is named. For the 9K option, keep going past the shelter. Remembering to turn left at each trail junction, you will soon be on Siksika Trail. About 4.6 kilometres from the staging area, you’ll find another shelter with picnic bench and toilet at Farley’s Outlook. Turning back here makes a 9K run (or for 10K, keep going until your watch indicates 5K before turning back).
Route 2, 16K
Starting from Islet Lake staging area, go right at the first trail junction onto the Highline trail. Turn right onto Lost Lake Trail. About 4.3K in, you can turn right on Porcupine for 500m, and right again, which puts you back on Lost Lake trail. A little further on, there’s a 200m out-and-back side trail, if you want to see Lost Lake. Then continue on Lost Lake Trail until you get to Hare, where you’ll turn left, then left again onto Siksika. At about 12K in, you’ll pass the shelter at Farley’s Outlook (see Route 1 above). A series of right turns will take you onto Push Lake and Lost Lake trails. This takes you back to the staging area with several spots to view the islands in Islet Lake.
Powderface Creek Trail (about 50 kilometres southwest of Calgary)
A great option for southern Albertans is the Powderface Creek and Prairie Creek trails. It’s a 12k loop that features a mix of terrain – long climbs, short steep climbs, windy trails through the forest, f lat and fast sections alongside a river and through meadows, with some stunning views. Want to work a little harder? Add in Prairie Mountain, a 3.3k climb for 700m of elevation and amazing 360-degree views at the top. Run like the wind down the backside (called Kneesaver). At the bottom of Kneesaver, hang a right at Powderface and carry on the 8k back to the parking lot for a 15k run. The trail also links to Powderface Mountain, Station Flats and other trails, for ever longer and more challenging outings.