sandylaneresort, Author at Sandy Lane Resort

Backcountry Horseback Trail Riding in Ontario

Backcountry Horseback Trail Riding in Ontario

The lush, tranquil Southern Ontario wilderness is calling. And the preferred method of exploration for many Canadians is horseback riding. After all, there’s nothing quite like galloping through dense forestry, swaying wheat fields, and colourful wildflower meadows atop a majestic, well-training horse. Horseback trail riding in Ontario continues to rise in popularity, especially during a period when city folks are rediscovering the allure of outdoor recreation.

Southern Ontario Cycling Expeditions: Discover the Highlands

Southern Ontario Cycling Expeditions: Discover the Highlands

You won’t find a more suitable destination to wholly regenerate than the azure blue water, emerald woodland, and fine sand found on this restful estate. However, it’s essential to leave room for adventure, primarily because Sandy Lane offers so many complimentary activity rentals, such as bicycles, canoes, and water skis. And some of the most breathtaking Southern Ontario cycling routes can be picked up near the resort.

Complete Seclusion at a Classic Haliburton Cottage Resort

Complete Seclusion at a Classic Haliburton Cottage Resort

Summer’s arrival is so achingly close that we can practically feel those glorious rays from above, smell the pleasant florescence, and see the Highlands’ many woodland critters reemerge. As millions of Ontarians line up their summer plans, Sandy Lane Resort gleefully continues to prepare for an influx of adventurous travellers looking for nothing but seclusion, tranquillity, and a healthy dose of outdoor exploration. Our four-season cottage resort remains one of the most desirable remote vacation spots in the province, thanks to our widespread cottages, swift access to a seemingly endless wilderness, and, of course, over 1,300 acres of glorious Halls Lake aqua.

Backcountry Haliburton ATV Trails near Halls Lake

Backcountry Haliburton ATV Trails near Halls Lake

For those who are aching to escape the grips of the Greater Toronto Area this summer, there may not be a more enticing backcountry destination than the Haliburton Highlands, most notably Halls Lake’s Sandy Lane Resort. Sandy Lane provides the perfect combination of solitude, outdoor excitement, and true rejuvenation amid towering sugar maples and cottonwoods. Some of the most common mid-summer activities here in the Highlands include fishing, bicycling, boating, and, of course, ATVing. In fact, there are kilometres upon kilometres of prime Haliburton ATV trails at arm’s length when you choose our peaceful lakeside respite.

Outdoorsy Corporate Retreat Venues: Sandy Lane Resort

Outdoorsy Corporate Retreat Venues: Sandy Lane Resort

We’re on the heels of the most popular season for an off-site corporate retreat: spring. After a lengthy, frosty winter, many corporations choose to take a well-deserved, albeit brief, break from the office. Many of the most desirable corporate retreat venues near Toronto lie in the Haliburton Highlands, straight east of Muskoka and south of Algonquin Provincial Park. This serene, secluded region is close enough to the office parks in and near Toronto but also far enough off the beaten to provide relief from busy schedules, log-jammed traffic, and high-stress situations. Here at Sandy Lane Resort, we specialize in off-site meetings, retreats, and corporate team-building.

Ice Climbing in Ontario: An Uplifting Experience

Ice Climbing in Ontario: An Uplifting Experience

We have a spectacular relationship with Lorne Foisy, the owner and operator of Elements Guiding (formerly known as Base Camp 35). Elements Guiding provides the very best ice climbing in Ontario, perhaps North America. Foisy and his team lead a variety of ice climbing trips during the frostiest of seasons, as well as rock climbing in the summertime. As of mid-January, the Greater Toronto Area remains green, while Haliburton County is pleasingly covered in fresh snow. Despite being just a two-hour drive from the city center, it’s a totally different experience here at Sandy Lane!

Dog Sledding in Ontario, A Haliburton Rite of Passage

Dog Sledding in Ontario, A Haliburton Rite of Passage

While our sandy beach is smothered by sugar-white snow from December through March, guests never lose the satisfying feeling of escapism at our invigorating and utterly secluded respite. Typically, families choose Sandy Lane Resort for its nearby backcountry snowmobiling, Nordic ski trails, outdoor hot tubs, and, of course, those cozy wood-burning fireplaces (the only ones in Haliburton). But don’t forget that both Algonquin Park and the Haliburton Highlands are home to some of the premier dog sledding in Ontario.

Cross-Country Skiing in Ontario: A Rejuvenating Experience

Cross-Country Skiing in Ontario: A Rejuvenating Experience

There’s truly something magical about a wintertime escape to Sandy Lane Resort amid falling snow, ceaseless snow-covered forestry, and curious wildlife. Families, couples, and groups choose our peaceful respite time and time again, primarily because of our countless on-site activities, wood-burning fireplaces, and unmatched hospitality. Most folks trek to our serene Halls Lake resort to partake in some of the premier snowmobiling, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing in Ontario. Luckily for you and your family, each of our secluded cottages is just steps from hundreds of kilometres of backcountry trails and wilderness.

Haliburton Highlands Brewery Guide

Haliburton Highlands Brewery Guide

Over the past decade, many beer drinkers have replaced timeless domestic lagers with hazy, dark, or sour ales. Craft brew palettes, even for self-proclaimed beer aficionados, continuously evolve—that’s what makes the “hunt” for the tastiest ales so uniquely intoxicating (in more ways than one). Luckily for you and your group, Sandy Lane Resort is just a short drive from three spectacular breweries. Each Haliburton Highlands brewery has a diverse, always-changing tap list, distinctive decor, and a team of highly-skilled brewers.

Visit Central Ontario in the Fall

Visit Central Ontario in the Fall

With summer officially in the rearview mirror, we’ve eagerly turned our attention to autumn’s peak here in the lush Haliburton Highlands. Sandy Lane Resort is one of the only year-round Haliburton resorts on Halls Lake, and autumn is among our most popular seasons, thanks to the surrounding forestry’s transformation from hunter green to crimson, amber, marigold, and emerald. A visit to Central Ontario in the fall is a wise choice, especially for couples, “leaf-peepers,” and nature enthusiasts.

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