There’s no time like present to stuff a joint or a vape with your favourite strain and head into nature. Ontario is blessed with gorgeous scenery, but these spots are especially breathtaking.Join the Leafly Canada Community
Lake Huron’s Eastern Shore
The eastern shores of Lake Huron, aka “Ontario’s West Coast” stretch over 300 kilometres from Sarnia to Tobermory, offering—truly—some of the world’s most spectacular sunsets, plus a wealth of private spots from which to enjoy them.
From the dunes at Lambton Shores, Pinery Provincial Park, Grand Bend, and Sauble Beach, to the harbours and restaurant patios of Goderich, Kincardine, and Port Elgin, there’s a perfect perch for every sunset lover. Spark up, inhale, and enjoy the show.
The Grotto, Tobermory
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The entire Bruce Peninsula is stunning, from the sunset dunes of Sauble Beach on its southwest corner, to the escarpment views at Neyaashiinigmiing and Lion’s Head in its mideastern section, to the curious rock formations of Flower Pot Island, just off its northern tip.
So, it means something to say that The Grotto, a shoreline cave accessed by trail through Bruce Peninsula National Park, is particularly exquisite. Enjoy its crystalline waters, but don’t be fooled by their tropical hue—they’re cold, and a dip here will be brisk at best.
Leave no trace and respect other daytrippers, but breathe easy—smoking cannabis is permitted in the park’s backcountry, trails, and public use areas.
The Giant Trail, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
The view from the top of the Giant Trail is renowned as one of Ontario’s best, presenting a stunning sheer drop of rock and a sweeping vista of Lake Superior.
It’s a long hike—over 22 kilometres from the trail head to the top of the cliffs and back, much of it a difficult uphill trek—so leave yourself enough daylight to return, pack plenty of water, and know your tolerance if you’re going to consume on the way.
Agawa Canyon, by train from Sault St. Marie
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Although famed for its fiery autumnal displays, the train ride through Agawa Canyon is still gorgeous in summertime. Starting at Sault Ste. Marie, the canyon tour takes you over trestle bridges and past pristine lakes and waterfalls, with Boreal forest rising on either side.
It’s 366 kilometres round trip, leaving early in the morning and returning by dinnertime, with an hour-and-a-half stop in Agawa Park on the way.
We contacted Agawa Canyon Tour Train for their cannabis policy, but didn’t receive an answer by press time, although they did tell us that smoking is only allowed at designated spots in the park, and not on the train.
Until we hear back about cannabis specifically, plan to wake and bake, or remember that guests may bring their own food, so packing discreet DIY edibles should be feasible.
Long Point Provincial Park
Located in a Unesco World Biosphere Reserve, Long Point Provincial Park provides a mix of woodlands, marshes, and meadows to explore, plus a pristine stretch of lakeshore.
Budding ornithologists take note: the area is home to 370 species of birds. Climb atop one of its soft, sandy dunes to get literally high, then enhance the view as you’d like.
As with all provincial parks in Ontario, smoking cannabis is allowed, as long as you’re at least 20 metres away from enclosed public spaces, children’s playgrounds, sporting, swimming, and spectator areas.
Cheltenham Badlands, Caledon
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Mars and Arizona are pretty far for the average Ontario daytripper, but you can find red rocks and geological oddities at the Cheltenham Badlands, just an hour northwest of Toronto.
An exposed area of iron-rich shale, the badlands are accessed through Caledon’s Credit Valley Conservation Area. Like alcohol, cannabis is unwelcome in the conservation area, so designate a driver and plan to consume before you get there.
Mazinaw Rock, Bon Echo Provincial Park
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Mazinaw Rock is a stunning natural formation with a cultural treat: it’s covered in pictographs, rock art painted by the Algonquin people who have lived in the area for thousands of years. The 260 paintings are best accessed by canoe or kayak.
Impaired paddling can get you charged in Ontario, and so can carrying cannabis on a boat, so it’s best wait until you’re back to shore before sparking up—the view of Mazinaw Rock is still lovely.
