Ontario's Highlands

Winter’s hanging on… but it’s losing. Across Ontario’s Highlands, lakes like Lake Dore are starting to shift — with ice breaking up and open water beginning to appear. It’s one of the best times to get outside and take in the seasonal change. 📸 @sanera_nr 📍 Lake Dore #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #OttawaValley #RenfrewCounty #LakeDore #ExploreOntario #GetOutside #Cobden

Spring is loading 📸 @f_hogue 📍Lanark #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #LanarkCounty #LanarkTourism #LanarkHighlands #Nature #Spring #FirstDayOfSpring

"Are we there yet?" The road to spring isn't always clear, but we will get there eventually. Just keep driving! 📸 @sanera_nr 📍Lake Dore #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #LakeDore #RoadToSpring #SpringIsComing #Cobden #OttawaValley #RenfrewCounty

Sometimes you just have to step behind the ice curtain. At Blue Spruce Resort, the adventure doesn’t stop at the trail — it’s what you find just off it. 📸 @bluespruceresort 📍Oxtongue Lake, Haliburton Highlands #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #HaliburtonHighlands #MyHaliburton #MyHaliburtonHighlands #Haliburton #OxtongueLake #BlueSpruceResort

History isn't always found in museums. Across Ontario’s Highlands, old farmhouses and weathered barns still stand along backroads, reminders of the settlers who cleared these fields and built lives here in the 1800s. Places like the Jamieson Estate offer a glimpse into that history. 📸 @cozy.valley 📍Jamieson Estate #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #History #RenfrewCounty #FarmingCommunities #OntariosHighlandsHistory #OttawaValley #Jamieson Estate

A little lavender now.... fields of it later. From handmade goods to fresh bundles straight from the field, lavender season in Ontario’s Highlands is one of those simple summer rituals worth waiting for. 📸 @thecottagecup 📍Golden Lake #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #Lavender #LavenderFields #GoldenLake #OttawaValley #RenfrewCounty

When coffee is done right, its worth lingering over. Pull up a chair and stay awhile. Mallard’s Milk Bar pours smooth, rich espresso drinks with perfectly textured milk and serves them in handcrafted ceramics that make every sip feel intentional. It’s a small ritual that turns an ordinary stop into a highlight of the day. 📸 @mallardsmilkbar 📍Arnprior #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #Arnprior #MallardsMilkBar #OttawaValley #RenfrewCounty #Coffee #CoffeeTime #CoffeeDoneRight #Winter

Evening commute in Ontario’s Highlands: deer have the right of way. If you’re not from Ontario, your passenger calmly saying “deer” might not mean much. But here, everyone knows that’s your cue to ease off the gas — they’re about to cross (whether you are ready for it or not!) 🦌 📸 @woodsmokeandlore 📍Haliburton #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #Deer #EveningCommute #CountryLiving #HaliburtonHighlands #MyHaliburtonHighlands #MyHaliburton #Haliburton #Country

Longer days are finally here, and evenings like this make it worth staying outside a little later. Late-winter sunsets in Ontario’s Highlands bring that deep golden glow and quiet calm before spring fully arrives. Take it in while the season shifts. 📸 @morggphotography 📍Gull Lake, Minden #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #GullLake #Minden #Haliburton #HaliburtonHighlands #MyHaliburtonHighlands #MyHaliburton #LateWinterSunsets #Winter #Sunsets #WinterSunsets

Ready for a sweet break? Some stops in Ontario's Highlands are worth slowing down for. These sourdough treats from Sour Jo’s are made in small batches, from flaky chocolate-drizzled scones to soft sandwich cookies layered with rich chocolate ganache — all crafted with the same slow-fermented care that makes their bread a local favourite. 📸 @sourjo_s 📍Cobden, Ontario #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #RenfrewCounty #OttawaValley #SourdoughBakery #Sourdough #SourJos

With spring just around the corner, we’re enjoying the last little pieces of winter while we can. Snowy trails, fireside evenings, and pastel sunsets at Silent Lake Provincial Park in Ontario’s Highlands - a peaceful four-season escape where you can camp year-round and explore by snowshoe, ski, hike, or paddle depending on the season. 📸 @Ti_Ze 📍Silent Lake Provincial Park #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #SilentLake #SilentLakeProvincial Park #Winter #Snowshoeing #SoakingUpWinter #Spring #ProvincialParks #Haliburton #HaliburtonHighlands #MyHaliburton #MyHaliburtonHighlands

Trade the screen time for ski and drink time! This caesar from Sir Sam's Ski and Ride is a whole meal in itself, perfect for a little afternoon pick-me-up after a day at the slopes! 📸 @sirsamsskiride 📍Haliburton #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #Haliburton #HaliburtonHighlands #MyHaliburton #MyHaliburtonHighlands #Skiing #Snowboarding #SkiTime #Ski #Snowboard #DayAtTheSlopes #SirSams #SirSamsSkiAndRide

Obsessed with this photo of a rare 22° Halo! These bright rings form when sunlight passes through ice crystals high in the atmosphere, and it often signals that a change in the weather (like snow or rain) could be coming! A beautiful reminder that winter always has one more surprise to share. 📸 @2huskiesandagirl 📍Carson Lake, Barry's Bay #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #CarsonLake #BarrysBay #22Halo #Rare #Winter #WinterSeason #OttawaValley #RenfrewCounty

Ice fishing is one of the best way to enjoy the last bit of winter! Whether you’re trying it for the first time or chasing that perfect catch, local guides like Yours Outdoors at Haliburton Forest offer guided ice fishing experiences with expert instruction and all the gear you need — making it easy to get out on the ice and reel in a memory before the season melts away. 📸 by @daniellemeredithphoto of @haliburtonhuskies team! 📍Haliburton Highlands #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #Haliburton #HaliburtonHighlands #MyHaliburton #MyHaliburtonHighlands #Icefishing #Winter #CanadianWinter

Starting the week off right—at the ski hill 🎿 Time to make the most of winter while it’s still here. Mount Pakenham is one of three places to hit the slopes in Ontario’s Highlands, alongside Sir Sam’s Ski & Ride (@sirsamsskiride) and Calabogie Peaks Resort (@calabogiepeaks). 📸 @mountpakenham 📍Mount Pakenham #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #MountPakenham #Skiing #MississippiMills #Pakenham #LanarkCounty #HitTheSlopes #MakeTheMostOfWinter #DownhillSkiing #Snowboarding #Ski #Snowboard

The signs of spring don’t always arrive all at once 🧊 As temperatures begin to rise across Ontario’s Highlands, lakes and rivers slowly start to thaw—forming drifting ice and ever-changing patterns along the shoreline. This freeze–thaw cycle is one of the first natural signs that spring is on its way. 📸 @colour_me_loved_photography 📍Almonte #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #Almonte #MississippiMills #LanarkCounty

On top of the world! There’s no better feeling than standing at the top, knowing you can take on whatever comes next. Hiking might not be the first activity that comes to your mind in winter, but Ontario’s Highlands has so many incredible trails that are even more magical when explored in the snow! 📸 @gardenartbysandy 📍Eagle's Nest, Calabogie #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #Winter #WinterHiking #Hiking #Calabogie #EaglesNest #OttawaValley #RenfrewCounty

Maple taffy on snow = instant childhood 🤤 Maple syrup season has officially begun in Ontario’s Highlands! As daytime temperatures rise above freezing and nights dip below, sap begins to flow—marking the start of one of the sweetest times of year. It’s the best time of year to visit a local sugarbush, learn how syrup is made, and taste the season for yourself. 📸 @ontariomaplesyrup

Even Dr. James Naismith is bundling up to escape the cold today 🥶 Born and raised in Almonte, Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, is honoured with a life-sized bronze statue in Centennial Square. 📸 @colour_me_loved_photography 📍Almonte #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #Almonte #MississippiMills #LanarkCounty #Lanark #JamesNaismith #Basketball #InventorOfBasketball

Eagle’s Nest’s beauty continues to inspire incredible artwork! Named by one of Bancroft’s early citizens after a pair of eagles that once nested nearby. The birds may be gone but the name lives on! 📸 @abigailcookartist 📍Eagle's Nest, Bancroft #ComeWander #OntariosHighlands #Bancroft #EaglesNest #OttawaValley #RenfrewCounty #ArtistsOfOttawaValley #Artists #Art #OntariosHighlandsArt