Restoule Fire Tower Trail Guided Hike
Rock, Bog, and a Hundred-Metre View
Restoule's Fire Tower Trail starts near Grawbarger's Rapids and climbs through a red pine plantation planted in ruler-straight rows — genuinely photogenic — before the terrain turns rocky and steep on the way up to a fire tower and a view from the hundred-metre Stormy Lake Bluff. Four kilometres, a real climb, and a payoff most people only ever see in the park's own trail photos — because Restoule sits three and a half hours north of Toronto, past where a lot of weekend trips turn around.
Guided, Start to Finish
This one's an ActiveDays trip, which means it's guided the whole way. A Parkbus guide rides up with the group, leads the hike, and knows the difference between the plantation section and the granite scramble before the lookout — where to slow down, where the bugs get worse, which rock at the top has the best view for lunch. You don't need hiking experience. You don't need to have researched the trail. You need to show up at the bus.
Come Alone. Come With Someone. Both Work.
ActiveDays trips are, not incidentally, one of the easier ways to meet people who like doing this specific weird thing — getting up early on a Saturday to disappear into the bush for a day. Come by yourself, or drag a friend who only agreed because there's a lake to swim in after (there is). Everyone on the bus is headed the same direction for the same reason, and that tends to break the ice faster than you'd expect.
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The Day
- 7:00 AM: Board the coach
- 10:30–11:00 AM: Arrive at Restoule Provincial Park
- 11:00 AM: Guided hike: Fire Tower Trail
- ~1:00 PM: Free time at Restoule Lake — lunch, swim, dock time
- 7:00 PM Depart park
- ~ 8:30 PM: Back in the city
Trail Snapshot: Fire Tower Trail
- Distance: 4.1 km loop
- Time: ~1.5–2 hours at a group pace
- Difficulty: Moderate to difficult — mostly rocky terrain, steep in sections
- The payoff: A historic fire tower and a view from atop the 100-metre Stormy Lake Bluff, with a rest stop at Amber Lake along the way
- More detail: Trail reviews, photos, and recent conditions on AllTrails
$130 / Adult Includes
- Return coach transportation
- A guided hike led by a Parkbus guide
- Free time at Restoule Lake to swim and eat
- Park admission included
Pickup Locations
Is this trip okay if I've never really hiked before? Yes. The Fire Tower Trail is rated moderate — mostly steady walking through forest and boardwalk, with one real climb over granite near the top. Your guide sets a pace the group can hold, and nobody's racing the clock.
How hard is the Fire Tower Trail, actually? 4.1 km, loop, roughly 1.5–2 hours at a group pace. Expect forest trail, a boardwalk section, and a rocky, occasionally steep climb up to the old fire tower and the lookout over Stormy Lake Bluff. Hiking shoes or trail runners recommended — the granite near the top is rough on sandals.
What should I bring? Lunch or snacks (not provided), a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, a light layer, and a swimsuit if you want to cool off at the lake afterward. Sturdy footwear isn't optional on the rocky sections.
Is lunch included? No — pack your own. You'll have downtime at Restoule Lake after the hike to eat, with picnic space near the day-use beach.
Where does the bus leave from, and what time should I be there? 34 Asquith Ave — just north of Yonge & Bloor subway station. Departure is 7:00 AM sharp; plan to arrive with a few minutes to spare.
Is this a good trip to do solo? It's pretty much built for it. You're guided the whole way, the group hikes together, and a good number of people book ActiveDays trips specifically to meet others who like getting outside. You won't be standing around wondering what to do or where to go.
What if it rains? Parkbus trips run rain or shine. Forecasts — including air quality forecasts — aren't reliable enough this far out to plan around, so a forecast turning out worse than expected isn't grounds for cancelling the trip or issuing a refund. Any cancellation decision is made within 48 hours of departure, based on confirmed conditions at that point rather than a forecast. Parkbus will only cancel if, by then, the park is closed or has asked us to stand down, an evacuation order or alert is in effect, the highway to get there is closed, or the bus operator determines it isn't safe to travel. If the trip runs as scheduled, the standard refund policy applies, even if the forecast looked rough going in.
What's the cancellation and refund policy? Cancel more than 14 days before departure and you'll get a 90% refund (a 10% processing fee is withheld). Inside 14 days, tickets aren't refundable except for a genuine last-minute medical emergency — a doctor's note submitted within 14 days of the missed trip can qualify you for a 50% refund. Full details are on the Parkbus Terms of Service page.
Can I give my seat to someone else if I can't make it?Y es. Tickets are transferable — you can change the passenger name on your booking up to 48 hours before departure.
