Imagine this – you are scrolling through Instagram looking at beautiful locations to add to your bucket list. You send the ones that stand out to your friend. The next day, you go to one of the places you sent. Sounds cool, right?
That’s exactly what happened. My friend sent me a picture of the iconic Hardy Lake boardwalk where everyone takes their Instagram photos, and we went there the very next day!
I have driven by this place many times, but never stopped because the parking lot (and 500m down the road) was always too crowded. This time, there were still cars parked down the road, but when I got to the parking lot I noticed that a lot of people were parking on the road without even checking the parking lot, which had lots of space!
We were here at 2pm on a Sunday. Though we saw lots of cars on the road, we barely saw anyone on the trail. We started with the 8km trail and ran the 3km afterwards.
We did the 8km trail backwards accidentally. We didn’t even notice this until we were at the “Instagram spot” and couldn’t find it, until we turned around that is. How hilarious of a moment; looking for this spot, discussing our confusion with one another, turning our bodies a complete 180° and realizing…oops! We had a great laugh at ourselves.
No wonder everyone was walking the other direction on the trail!
Said both of us, realizing we had been walking the wrong direction for almost 5km already.
Hardy Lake is a small, non-operating provincial park. It’s very easy to cover most or all of the land in one visit, however I’d like to come back in the winter. I found the trails to be very easy, the only moderate parts were rerouting around muddy areas.
There are many beautiful spots to view the lake, rock formations and forests. This place can get quite busy it seems, so plan to go during off-season or early in the morning for a quieter trek. We hardly saw anyone, but I’m always so excited when I see kids hiking, and almost all the people on the trail were kids that day!
We stopped and took photos at many different locations, soaking in all the beauty. It’s extraordinary being able to see so many beautiful views on one hike. We also got to see a beaver when we were on the 3km loop!
I’ve recently started running, just as another way to stay healthy and stay in shape. It’s hard for me as I don’t enjoy to run as much as I do hiking, however if I trail run I feel so much more energized and motivated. This is the third place I tried trail running and this was my favourite so far, mainly because the 3km trail was so easy to navigate. The ground was in great condition and the markings were very clear.
Tips for this trail:
- Come early or in the off season for best parking
- Bring water & a snack
- Be careful on the “Instagram boardwalk” as it has no railings (the other bridges do)
- Wear waterproof footwear if you’re expecting wet, muddy ground (+ a change of shoes for driving)
- Bring a bathing suit if you’re coming in the Summer, you’re allowed to swim or canoe here!
This was a fun little trip and I can’t wait for the next adventure! Until next time,
Keep on trekking
Kate 🥾🌼
If you end up going to Hardy Lake, tag me in your photos! @yourmatiekatie #katieoutdoors
Save this blog on your Pinterest!
yourmatiekatie 