12 Amazing Scenic Lookouts in Ontario – Summer Roadtrips Continued!

Whoa! You don’t see that everyday…From fire towers to panoramic mega-decks to extreme boardwalks, Ontario has its share of scenic lookouts. Check out some amazing ones you may not have been to yet…

Maple Mountain (Temagami)

At more than 1,000 feet, Ontario’s tallest point above the surrounding terrain is one of the only places in the province where you can stand on top of a mountain peak and actually feel like you’ve scaled something truly great. A fire tower marks the actual peak, where local First Nations say souls ascend to the heavens.
Map:http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ei=0FE5SsbhK6a0NfuyzJkN&q=maple+mountain+ontario&ie=UTF8&z=8&iwloc=A

Blue Mountain suspension bridge

The longest suspension bridge in Ontario dares you to walk its 378-foot length, with nothing but 2½ inches of wood between you and the river almost 80 feet below. The entire structure rises almost 1,000 feet above the surrounding Georgian Bay terrain. On a clear day, you can see 10,000 square kilometres.
More: http://www.sceniccaves.com/green/suspension-bridge.htm

Any hotel room above the 10th floor facing Niagara Falls

Gorgeous views of The Falls are becoming a rarity due to the build-up of large hotels and casinos, which are trapping mist before it can blow away. Ironically, one of the coolest ways to see Niagara Falls these days is from one of these new hotels, soaring hundreds of feet above the gorge below.
More: http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/

Tobermory lookout tower

Almost as good as an airplane tour, climb up on a hill and then another 70 feet up Parks Canada’s scenic lookout. Then, catch your breath and see where the Straight of Georgian Bay meets up with Lake Huron.
Map: http://www.visitgeorgianbay.com/scenic-vistas.cfm?action=1&things_to_doid=1&category=0

Centre Island (Toronto) facing north

Millions of people live in the Greater Toronto Area, but some spend their whole lives having never gone to the Islands. Don’t be one of those people! From across the harbour, Toronto looks like a model diorama version of itself: The din of the city, the skyline, even the CN Tower is reduced to a distant, charming postcard.
More: http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/

Dorset scenic lookout (Halliburton County)

Feel like walking 100 feet into the open air with almost no barriers? How about 365 feet above the surrounding terrain? If nothing else, the amazing new fire tower is reason enough to visit this sleepy Halliburton town as usually only birds can.
Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=dorset+ontario&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&hl=en&z=15&iwloc=A

Mount Mckay (Thunder Bay)

The Ayers Rock of Northern Ontario soars hundreds of feet above the shores of lake Superior, offering spectacular views of Thunder Bay and the “sleeping giant” island chain.
Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Mount+Mckay+ontario&sll=-9.066667,147.233333&sspn=13.229506,15.117188&ie=UTF8&z=13&iwloc=A

Parry Sound fire tower

Fancy a death-defying view over the Muskokas on your next trip to cottage country? The detour off Highway 224 is more than just for the only Starbucks in 200 km: It’s one of Ontario’s neatest and easiest-to-get-to scenic lookout towers.
More: http://www.parrysound.com/fun/explore/72/

Algonquin Visitor Centre lookout

In addition to having a moving collection of Group of Seven paintings, this museum features the actual terrain painted by those famed artists. Walk all the way through the building to the back and onto this deck for a grand view of the legendary landscapes. Truly one of Canada’s finest scenic lookouts.
More: http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/mustrails/museums.html

Point Pelee boardwalk

Farther south than a decent chunk of the populated United States, Point Pelee is the southernmost tip of Canada. It’s also a great place to take in North America’s largest collection of migratory birds against the backdrop of two expansive scenes: the southernmost Canadian shore of Lake Ontario and sprawling wetlands via a series of boardwalks and lookout towers.
More: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/on/pelee/index_E.asp

Kakabeka Falls (Thunder Bay)

Ontario’s other falls are well worth a trip to behold them. More than 120 feet from top to rapids below, a boardwalk and network of wooden stairs let you get up-close to the water’s roar and examine some of the world’s oldest fossils.
More: http://www.ontarioparks.com/English/kaka.html

Terry Fox memorial

Though technically, the view from this monument is billed as one of the surrounding landscape of Thunder Bay and Lake Superior, the truly inspiring sight at this roadside stop is the tribute to the person some call the “greatest Canadian.”
Map:http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=terry+fox+memorial&ie=UTF8&ll=62.021528,-93.867187&spn=25.669806,60.46875&z=4&iwloc=B

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