You can hike through caves over 20 metres below ground level at this Ontario park
Are you thinking of squeezing through ancient rock formations and wandering through hidden passageways below the earth's surface? Cave hiking may be a niche adventure, but if you're screaming "yes!" then there's a park in Ontario worth your attention.
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures is home to a large network of natural caves and caverns that visitors can explore on foot, including a massive crevasse that takes hikers roughly 21 metres (70 feet) below ground level. The attraction has become one of the park's biggest draws and is the very feature that first put Scenic Caves on the map.
The self-guided trail winds through 17 unique geological formations carved by glacial ice millions of years ago. Along the route, hikers will also descend into a maze of caves hidden beneath the surface.
But that's not the only thing that makes the site unique.
Located in the Blue Mountains region, about a two-hour drive from downtown Toronto, the park has a rich history of its own. The caves were once home to the Petun First Nations people, an Indigenous community settled in Southern Ontario, and the property sits on the Niagara Escarpment, which is one of Canada's UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves.
While the underground experience is the primary reason why many visitors flock to Scenic Caves Nature Adventures year-round, the thrill doesn't stop there.
The trail also leads visitors to panoramic lookouts over Georgian Bay and limestone cliff edges, offering picturesque views of the area.
The one thing to note is that patrons should be prepared for uneven terrain, rocky surfaces, narrow passages, and steep stairways. For that reason, hiking or running shoes are mandatory and large hiking backpacks are discouraged. The attraction recommends allowing at least two hours to complete the self-guided hike.
Aside from the cave hike, the attraction is also home to southern Ontario's longest suspension bridge, hanging 82 feet above ground level and measuring 420 metres long, offering sprawling views of 320 acres of natural landscape.
Visitors are asked to allow at least 45 minutes to hike to the bridge and back through the trails.
General admission to the Scenic Caves Nature Adventures starts at $35 plus applicable taxes and goes up to $44 depending on the expeirence you choose.
Access to the caves and caverns, as well as the suspension bridge, is included with general park admission, making it an easy addition to a summer road trip to the Blue Mountains.
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and is located at 260 Scenic Caves Rd., in Blue Mountains, Ont.
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures
