National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Orange Shirt Day.

The Parkbus office is situated on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.

You can read the Truth and Reconciliation Report Here

Parkbus operates our trips on indigenous lands across the country. We invite all of our Parkbus community to think about how they can engage in reconciliation through reflection and education, such as reading the TRC report, and thank the indigenous communities that have been taking care of the land since time immemorial.

You can also view the ReconciliACTION reports here

Check out the Links below to learn who the lands the trips you have taken belong to.

British Columbia

Visit this interactive map to see what lands Joffre Lakes, Garibaldi and Golden Ears Provincial Parks lay on.

https://maps.fpcc.ca/

Joffre Lakes is located in the Lil’wat Nation
Garibaldi is located in the Squamish Nation
Golden Ears is located in the Katzie and Kwantlen Nations

Alberta

Elk Island National Park

The land in and around Elk Island National Park is located within the Treaty 6 Territory, the ancestral and traditional territories of the Niitsítpiis-stahkoii ᖹᐟᒧᐧᐨᑯᐧ ᓴᐦᖾᐟ (Blackfoot / Niitsítapi ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ), ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᐊᐢᑭᕀ Nêhiyaw-Askiy (Plains Cree), Michif Piyii (Métis), Cree people.

Visit this interactive map to learn more about the lands you live on everyday.

Ontario

Bruce Peninsula National Park and Tobermory

Belongs to the Territory of the Anishinabek Nation: The People of the Three Fires known as Ojibway, Odawa, and Pottawatomie Nations. And further, the Chippewas of Saugeen, and the Chippewas of Nawash, known collectively as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.
Source

Algonquin Provincial Park
Is located on the traditional lands of the diverse Algonquin nations.
Source

Rouge National Urban Park
Belongs to the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, (Haudenosaunee), Wendake-Nionwentsïo, in the Mississauga Territory.
Source - Native-Land map.

Elora
(Centre Wellington)
The Township of Centre Wellington has been home to people for more than 13,000 years. In particular, the land on which the Township is located was negotiated as part of Treaty 3 (1784) and Treaty 19 (1818), signed by the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Additionally, most of the Township is within lands originally set aside for the people of the Six Nations of the Grand River under the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784. The Township of Centre Wellington is within the traditional lands of the Attawandaron (or Neutral Nation), the Huron-Wendat Nation, and the Grand River Métis Council.
Source

Albion Hills and Glen Haffy
Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Hosted on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat. This land remains home to many First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples from across Turtle Island.
Source

Rattlesnake Point and Crawford Lake
The Treaty Lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation as well as the Traditional Territory of the Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat and Anishinabek.
Source

Bruce Peninsula National Park with Parkbus

We all know that Bruce Peninsula National Park is a hotspot for the Grotto and its crystal clear waters, but next time you hop on Parkbus, stretch your legs on a trail before joining the crowd. Check out these two trail options for an afternoon of hiking AND swimming at Bruce Peninsula National Park.

Parkbus drops you off at Cyprus Lake Campground. This is the perfect opportunity to take a hike on the loop around Cyprus Lake itself. It’s a 5.5km trail, thats moderate difficulty. It takes around 1.5 hour to complete and has stunning lake views and is a birders delight. Check out the route on AllTrails here.

Of course if you want to head to the Grotto only, thats okay! Get there direct through the Georgian Bay Trail or take a longer route and get there on the Marr Lake Trail via the Bruce Trail! The best of both worlds for a day by the water with a little forest fix on the way.

Book your seat today!

5 Ideas for a Day Trip to Algonquin

Couldn’t find a campsite? Take a day trip to Algonquin instead! Parkbus drops off and picks up from 7 locations at Algonquin Provincial Park. Check out these 5 trip ideas for the best day outdoors.

Don’t Forget: When you take a day trip to Algonquin you save! Use Code ALGDAYTRP22 to save 25% on your trip!

Algonquin Outfitters Lake of Two Rivers Store
This store will give you the most to do and see. This location offers a restaurant for all your snacking needs, bike rentals for the whole family (kids included, just rent a buggy for them to enjoy the scenes from) and walking distance to multiple trails.

1) Rent a Bike

Lake of Two Rivers Store connects you right to a 16km railway trail (dotted line)! Take this trail along the Lake of Two Rivers for some lakeside bliss, or head down to Pog Lake Campground, and spend the day at the campground beach! If you’re feeling ambitious you can head all the way to the Track and Tower trail by bike.

2) Hike

If biking isn’t your thing don’t worry! You can hike the railway trail, and it meets up with the highland trail (19km) where you can pick a direction to do a shorter out-and-back on. To head to Two Rivers trail, you can walk approximately 0.4 kms along Highway 60 (which can be busy, so use caution), or you can walk the railway trail to the road crossing at Two River Trail (a road), head up to Highway 60 and only walk about 100 m to the trail start, this route keeps you off Highway 60 longer! If you want to keep going to the Bat Lake Trail, it is a 1.4km walk along Highway 60, or using the same method as reaching the Two Rivers Trail, walk along the railway trail to Two River Trail crossing (a road) and only walk 500m along Highway 60.

3) Swim!

Hop off the bus and spend the day at the beach at Pog Lake Campground for some relaxing fun in the sun and picnicking.

4) Visit a Waterfall!

A short walk from Wolf Den Bunk house will bring you to the entrance for Ragged Falls. Check out waterfalls and spend the day swimming. If you are an experienced paddler, you can even rent a canoe or kayak from the Oxtongue Lake-Algonquin Outfitters and paddle over! Call ahead to get the details on how long this route may take and water conditions.

5) Water Activities

Last but not least, spend your day on the water, get off at the Canoe Lake/ Portage Store and rent a canoe, kayak, stand up paddle board or hang by the docks. The Canoe Store has multiple shops and a restaurant with outdoor and indoor seating. Spend some time on the lake and head back for a meal before hopping back on the bus at the end of the day!

You can also get off at Algonquin Outfitters Oxtongue Lake, or Lake Opeongo for rentals.

Happy Planning!

Take a Day Trip to Algonquin Provincial Park

Want to visit Algonquin Park this summer? We have trips running on Fridays, Sundays and long weekends! If you can’t find camping, be sure to check out Ontario Parks last-minute notification system (See blog post here) and if that doesn’t work out, plan a day trip with the info below!

Don’t forget if you want to take a day trip this summer you can save with Parkbus! Use discount code ALGDAYTRP22 to save 20% when you book a day trip.


Parkbus stops at 7 locations in Algonquin Park, each with something different to offer!

Hop off at Oxtongue Lake - Algonquin Outfitters and start your day with a paddle, Algonquin Outfitters offers guided and self-guided day trips from the store. You can book online in advance for a guided excursion, or walk-in for day-of self-guided rentals. 

The Portage Store/Canoe Lake is another stop to get you out into the water. Located on Canoe Lake the Portage Store has everything you need, including permits, to spend the day outside. It’s also located across from Smoke Lake, but this does require crossing highway 60. 

Lake of Two Rivers Store Stop is the place to hop off if you want to hike or bike for the day. The store is located across from the Two Rivers hiking trail, an easy day-trip hike. It’s also the access point to the Old Railway Bike Trail, which leads to multiple spots in the park. The Lake of Two Rivers Stores offers Day-use bike rentals, where you can pick between biking over to the Track and Tower Trail, down to Pog Lake or Whitefish Lake! The Bike trail also leads you to the top of the Highland hiking trail, a short walk to meet the start of the trail head. 


Lake Opeongo is another spot you can hop into a canoe for the day and paddle off to island campgrounds, or sandy beaches! Rent a canoe at the Lake Opeongo-Algonquin outfitters store, and get exploring! Please note, on windy days this lake is not recommended for novice or beginner paddlers.

Grab a friend, hit the trails or the water on a day trip to Algonquin!

Cultural Attractions at Crawford Lake Conservation Area

Our Parkbus route to Rattlesnake Point and Crawford Lake never disappoints! Between the scenic lookouts at both parks, numerous hiking trails, and opportunities to learn about Indigenous Culture you’re in for a day of adventure. Remember, with Parkbus you do not need to get a day-pass, it’s included with your trip.

Start your day at Rattlesnake Point and Hike the Bruce Trail over to Crawford Lake (see map here).

Boardwalk on Crawford Lake Trail

Hiking and the Visitors Centre

If you don’t want to traverse the Bruce, you can start and spend your whole day at Crawford Lake with lots to choose from. Check out the Halton Conservation Park Map to get an idea of the trails available. The Crawford Lake trail around Crawford Lake is accessible and gives you stunning views of this meromictic lake. Signage along the way will help you learn about all the neat ecological features of the park, like the meromictic lake itself. The visitors centre is also a great resource to learn (and grab snacks). Make sure to note what time the centre closes and grab any snacks or souvenirs at the start of your day! 

Indigenous History

Crawford Lake is also home to a reconstructed 15th Century Village. The remains of this village were found thanks to analysis of the sediment at the bottom of the meromictic lake! Meromictic lakes are lakes that are deeper than the width of their surface area, this means that this lake is very deep, and typically that means that there is not a lot of oxygen or life at the bottom of it. Since there isn’t a lot moving around down there, it’s the perfect place to find history preserved in the dirt. Foods and pollen from hundreds of years ago were found while doing sediment analysis which led to the discovery of the Longhouse village. In 1973, for over a decade, scientists and archaeologists excavated 11 longhouses and discovered thousands of artifacts from the Iroquoian people. This project led to the reconstruction of the village available to visit today!


Find out more about the experiences you can plan while you visit Crawford Lake here.

Plan a Day Trip at Elora Gorge and the Town of Elora

Our Parkbus route to Elora Gorge and the Town of Elora lets you explore Nature, Arts and Food in one day. Elora Gorge Conservation Area has many fun activities to take part in from hiking and checking out views of the gorge, tubing, to picnicking and splash pads. Spend some time hiking and then head over to Town! 

Elora Gorge

To get to town walking you must leave through the front entrance of the park and walk along Wellington County Road 21. It is approximately a 30-minute walk. Please note you cannot leave through the park boundaries to get to town, this is trespassing and you will be fined. Wellington County Road is busy, use caution walking or grab a taxi or Uber for a 5 minute ride to town.

Grab a table at Elora Mill

In Town there are many stores to shop and places to eat! Check out the Elora BIA page for places to eat. Popular places include Elora Mill or Elora Brewery. Make a reservation ahead of time for Elora Mill by booking online on Open Table or calling 519 846 8464. Elora Brewery doesn’t take reservations and can get busy. Pop in before you start exploring Town and put your name on the waitlist, they’ll call or text you when a table is ready! 

Visit the website here

Looking for more to do? Visit the Elora Fergus Tourism website here. 

Plan an afternoon in Elora and let Parkbus take you there!

Be the First to Grab a Last-Minute Campsite at Ontario Parks

Looking for campsites at Ontario Provincial Parks, but seeing that it’s all booked up? New for this season Ontario Parks Reservation System has added a feature to alert you of last-minute cancellations!


Each Campground has a “Notfiy Me” button in the right-hand corner, so you can be the first to know about cancellations! Make sure you’re signed up with the reservation system and signed-in first. Then click notify me! A pop-up box will appear where you can save the date range you’d like to camp in.

Don’t worry about not having transportation, you can book a Parkbus trip right up til the bus leaves as long as there is still space on it! You can still get to your campsite last minute, and don’t forget, if you can’t find camping we still offer day trips to locations like Algonquin. Hop on the bus and enjoy the park for a day!

Visiting BC Parks with Parkbus? Your Day-Use Pass is *Included* with your Trip!

BC Parks is re-introducing a free Day-Use Pass Program for the 2022 Summer Season. Day passes are free but required to visit Joffre Lakes, Garibaldi and Golden Ears Provincial Parks. While passes are only available to start booking at 7 am two days in advance of a planned visit for the general public, Parkbus riders are exempt! 

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park

Parkbus users do not need to book a day-use pass. Parkbus in collaboration with BC Parks has made sure that all Parkbus Trips have spots to the Parks included with our transportation. Plan your trip stress-free knowing you will have a guaranteed spot at Joffre Lakes, Garibaldi or Golden Ears Provincial Parks when you book with Parkbus - Even if you book your trip the day before!

Garibaldi Provincial Park

Grab your seat on Parkbus and Spot at Joffre Lakes Here, Garibaldi Here, and Golden Ears Here.

Golden Ears Provincial Park

Hike Two Parks in One Day on the Bruce Trail

Parkbus now offers a new route to Rattlesnake Point and Crawford Lake Conservation Areas. Book this trip and you can spend a whole day in one park, or visit both in one day by hiking the Bruce Trail.

Start your day off at Rattlesnake Point and enjoy the scenic views from the top of the escarpment on the Vista Adventure Trail (green). Here you will find cedar trees estimated to be over 800 years old! Visit the Buffalo Crag or Nassagaweya look-out points for panoramic views. The Vista Adventure Trail meets up with the top of the Nassagaweya Canyon Trail (red), which will take you down through the Nassagaweya Canyon, which cuts through the Niagara Escarpment, on the Bruce Trail (blue/purple/yellow).

The Canyon is full of natural wonders! Limestone cliff faces, caves, rare plants like the hackberry tree more ancient cedars, and lots of birding opportunities. Follow this trail all the way to Crawford Lake Conservation Area and end at the Iroquoian Village the famous meromictic lake. The trail is a 4.7 km trek one-way to travel between parks.

To hike it round-trip is almost 10km, which is estimated to take between 4-5 hours (but you can do just one-way)! The round-trip map is available on AllTrails App - highly recommended as you can track yourself in real time. Be sure to bring enough water and pack a lunch if you plan to hike between parks.

The Bruce trail is made up the main Bruce Trail (blue) and Side Trails (yellow and purple). Remember to follow the blazes! White markers indicate the main Bruce trail and blue markers indicate you are on a side trail. You can also download the Bruce Trail app to help guide the way. For safety and to make it easier to locate you if you become lost or hurt, having the what3words app on your phone can help emergency services find you faster.

Warning: occasionally sections of the trail between parks can close due to safety hazards (fallen trees after big storms). It is open as of May 27, 2022 (just reopened after May 2022 Derecho Storm), but it is wise to check with park staff on the day of arrival.

Four Apps to Help You be a Wildlife Expert Outdoors

Have you ever been out exploring, saw a neat bug, heard a cool bird song, or smelled a pretty flower, but you didn’t know what it was? Wonder no more! With these nature and wildlife apps at your fingertips you can become an expert Naturalist.

The following apps allow you to be a citizen scientist by helping you identify the world around you and you get to help the organizations and their scientists learn the location of the cool things you find. This data being uploaded across the globe by everyone outdoors helps conservation efforts everywhere!

1. eBird, from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, at Cornell University - https://ebird.org/home
This app helps you record the location of the birds you spot wherever you are, people around the world upload birds to the database daily. You can upload photos and comments about what, where and when you spotted birds. If you’re not quite sure what bird you are looking at or hearing, download Merlin Bird Id and use them at the same time!

2. Merlin Bird ID, from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University - https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
Merlin Bird ID allows you to download a huge database of birds based on your location, you can also load new databases onto your app when you travel to new countries! Using the app you can explore the bird databases for fun, identify birds by call using the Sound ID, upload a photo you took and let Photo ID find the bird for you, or you can Start a bird ID and tell the app what you’ve spotted from the size, colour and location of the bird and it will return a list of possible matches for you to pick from. 

3. iNaturalist https://www.inaturalist.org/ 
iNaturalist is a joint initiative between the California Academy of Science and National Geographic. Similar to eBird, iNaturalist helps people globally identify and record all of the natural life around them from insects and animals, to plants and fungi. iNaturalist makes it easy and fun for all ages to be naturalists, Seek is a kid-safe, family friend app created by iNaturalist.

4. Seek by iNaturalist https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app
Download Seek and explore as a family using your phone camera! Seek lets you scan the environment you are in, and gives you all the information you need to learn about the life around you. You can also complete challenges and earn badges for what you find.