Hiking The Crack in Killarney Provincial Park

If there's one day hike in Ontario that consistently tops every "must-do" list, it's The Crack in Killarney Provincial Park. This short but intense trail delivers a genuine mountain scramble through a dramatic quartzite crevasse, panoramic views of turquoise lakes framed by the white La Cloche Mountains, and the feeling of standing on top of the world — all in a single day. It's often called one of the most beautiful, and most challenging, day hikes in the province, and it lives up to the hype.

At a glance, The Crack runs roughly 6 to 8 kilometres round trip as an out-and-back trail, climbing about 245 to 270 metres to a summit elevation near 355 metres. Ontario Parks rates it difficult, and most hikers take 4 to 5 hours to complete it — experienced hikers closer to 4. The route is marked in red; a portion overlaps with the 80-kilometre La Cloche Silhouette Trail, marked in blue, so it's worth paying attention to which markers you're following, especially on the way down.

The dedicated parking lot for The Crack sits on Highway 637, about 7 kilometres east of the George Lake park office and main entrance. Parking here requires a specific Daily Vehicle Permit for The Crack, which can and should be reserved online up to five days in advance through the Ontario Parks reservation system at reservations.ontarioparks.ca. The lot fills up on weekends and holidays during peak season, and arriving without a valid permit means you won't be able to park at the trailhead at all. If you're already camping in the park, check with the George Lake office about your parking options.

The first 1.5 to 2 kilometres follow an old logging road and relatively flat forest trail — pleasant and scenic, if buggy in early summer. After crossing a bridge near Kakakise Lake, the climbing gets serious. The final kilometre or so is a scramble over large quartzite boulders, exposed roots, and loose rock, often requiring the use of your hands. The Crack itself is a narrow, steep-sided passage packed with tumbled boulders, essentially a natural staircase of rock — demanding on the way up, and requiring even more care on the way down, especially when wet. At the top, the reward is immediate: an open ridge with expansive views across the classic Killarney landscape that inspired the Group of Seven, over Killarney Lake, OSA Lake, and on clear days, Georgian Bay itself. Many hikers linger here for lunch and photos — just leave enough daylight for the way back down.

This isn't a beginner hike. The combination of steep elevation, technical scrambling and uneven terrain makes it unsuitable for young children (generally not recommended under age 7 to 10) or anyone uncomfortable on rocky, exposed ground. Good balance, reasonable fitness, and some experience on rugged trails matter here — hiking poles help on the descent, and dogs can struggle with the boulder sections.

Late spring through mid-fall is ideal, and dry weather matters more than almost anything else — wet rock gets extremely slippery and the risk of a fall climbs fast. Avoid hiking during or right after heavy rain, and never attempt it with thunderstorms forecast, since the summit is fully exposed. Summer gives you long daylight hours (start no later than 5pm in peak season); fall brings spectacular colour but shorter days, so start earlier. Bugs can be intense in the lower forest sections from late May through July, though a breeze higher up usually keeps them at bay. Winter is possible for experienced hikers with the right gear, but it's a significantly harder undertaking.

Bring at least 2 litres of water per person — there's no reliable water source on the upper trail — plus high-energy snacks, sturdy hiking boots with real tread (running shoes aren't enough), weather-appropriate layers, a rain jacket, sun protection, insect repellent, a physical map (available at the George Lake office) with a GPS or offline map as backup, a first-aid kit, and a headlamp just in case. Cell service is limited to nonexistent along much of the trail.

Start early enough to be back at the trailhead at least one full hour before dark, and follow the red markers carefully on the way down — continuing on the blue markers puts you onto the long-distance Silhouette Trail instead. The descent is usually harder than the climb, so take your time on the boulders, stay on the marked trail, and pack out everything you bring in — no camping or fires are permitted on The Crack itself.

Few day hikes in Ontario pack in this much forest, lake, pure Canadian Shield scrambling and reward into one outing — it's Killarney distilled into a single trail. If you're staying with us at Hartley Bay Cottages, The Crack makes for a full, memorable day out before you're back on your own dock by evening. Book that parking permit early, lace up proper boots, and get ready to scramble.

Photo: Jason Wong, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).