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Turquoise alpine lake surrounded by coniferous forest and snow-capped mountains under cloudy sky

Practical Tips for Exploring Canada

Park passes, road rules, seasonal updates, and things we figured out the hard way. Practical stuff that's hard to find in one place

Forested shoreline with tall evergreen and deciduous trees framing a view of calm water visible through the canopy, fallen logs in the foreground, and cloudy sky above

Can You Have a Campfire During an Ontario Restricted Fire Zone? What We Learned After the Trip

A gas-station employee told us campfires were banned. Our accommodation owner told us one was allowed. We checked Ontario Regulation 43/26 afterward, and the real answer was more complicated than either sentence.
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Straight road cutting through a rocky canyon with steep grey stone cliffs on both sides, coniferous forest, and clear blue sky

Ontario Parks Permits, Camping, Outdoors Cards and Fishing Licences

A step-by-step guide to Ontario Parks day-use permits, campsite booking, Outdoors Cards and fishing licences, including our upcoming Zone 5 trip.
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Sunset over a flat agricultural field with green crops in the foreground, power lines crossing the horizon, and clouds illuminated in shades of pink and gold against a blue sky

Manitoba Provincial Parks: Permits, Camping and Fishing Licences

A practical Manitoba guide to park vehicle permits, campground reservations and fishing licences, written by people who live in the province.
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Provincial Park Passes, Camping and Fishing in Canada

Canada has no single system for provincial parks. This guide shows where to check day-use permits, reserve campsites and buy fishing licences in every province and territory.
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A calm lake surrounded by boreal forest, with coniferous and deciduous trees lining the shoreline, rocky outcrops in the foreground, and a clear blue sky with scattered clouds

Bear Safety in Banff and the Rockies: How to Read the Reports and Stay Safe

A trail can close overnight because a grizzly moved in. Here's how to read Banff's bear reports, what gear to carry, how to hike safely with a dog, and what to do in an encounter.
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