Spring Wildflower Glory

Where are the best places to find the showy displays?

There is a small window of wildflower glory each spring in Ontario. The time of year when wildflowers take centre stage before the leaves of the forest canopy cast their shadows. Here is an ideal tour route to help you take advantage of this window and experience the showy displays of Ontario’s wildflowers.

Bruce Peninsula – Home of the annual spring Orchid Festival and 44 species of orchids, it is no wonder the Bruce Peninsula is a magnet for botanists. Sauble Falls Provincial Park provides the perfect base camp for exploring the Bruce. The park provides easy access to discover the ancient cedars that cling to the cliffs of the Bruce Trail, the carnivorous plants found in the fens of Lake Huron and the delicate orchids, which are scattered throughout the varying landscapes of the peninsula.

Bronte Creek Provincial Park – Bronte Creek is a great first stop on any spring wildflower tour. Not only is it an accessible urban park, it boosts one of the best spots to view thick carpets of blooming trilliums. Appropriately named, the Trillium Trail is an easy 45 minute hike through an abundance of wildflowers, including an array of Ontario’s provincial flower.

Along the way … heading north from Bronte Creek, be sure to stop by one of the several farmers’ markets in the towns along the way to the Hills of Headwaters region.

The Hills of Headwaters – Famous for spring rainbow trout runs up the Boyne and Credit Rivers, The Hills of Headwaters region is also a great place for wildflower spotting. Stops at either Forks of the Credit, Mono Cliffs or Earl Rowe Provincial Park will reveal forested trails, open fields and cliff faces brimming with a variety of wildflowers.

Along the way … continuing north towards the Bruce Peninsula some fun places to stop include Collingwood’s Scenic Caves, the quaint village of Thornbury and the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound.

About Trish Manning

Trish Manning is an adventure travel writer and the content coordinator for Ontario Outdoor Adventures. She is an avid outdoor person who loves to hike, paddle, SUP, snowshoe, cross-country ski and explore Ontario's great outdoors with her golden retriever, Daisy.

Recommended Articles

11 Jaw-Droppingly Beautiful Landscapes

Don't miss the splendours of Northern Ontario

Natural Highs

7 magnificent mountains in Ontario to climb, hike, ride, ski and more.

Crown Land Camping

What it is and where you can camp in Ontario.

Hike The Best Trails

Discover your next great adventure.

2024 Triathalons

Swim, cycle and run your way to triathlete status at these Ontario events.

Explore Ontario’s Hidden Gems

18 destinations you need to visit.

Ontario Trail Races

Find out where to test your limits and get out in the woods.

The Best Camping In Ontario

Discover the best car-camping and backcountry locations.

Attention Detroit

A short drive gets you a lot of vacation fun in Ontario, Canada

Backpacking Trails in Ontario

7 multi-day hiking trips to the province’s most beautiful places.

Beach Camping in Ontario

14 sandy places to pitch your tent and swim to your heart’s content.

6 Best Places To Camp On Manitoulin

Book a campsite as your base to roam this chill oasis.

Ontario's Best Family Resorts

Your trip planning starts here.

Activities in Muskoka

Your ultimate guide for things to do year-round.

Best Winter Getaways in Ontario

Make the most of the snow in these stunning locales.

Ontario’s National Parks

Protected for posterity. And deservedly so.

Go Foraging in Ontario

Learn the basics of how to harvest wild edibles found across the province.

Ontario's Best Scuba Diving & Snorkelling

Explore beneath the waves at these incredible destinations.

Dog-Friendly Campgrounds in Ontario

11 places where Fido can join in the fun.

Best Waterfalls in Ontario

Discover where they are and how to get there.