By Emily Stonehouse

Hike Haliburton 2023 has officially hit the ground running. 

With registration opening on August 10 for the four day hiking festival in September, there are over 30 hikes offered, with the majority of them nearly full. 

“The Federal Tourism Growth Strategy identifies that adventure tourism is on the rise and in demand,” said Tracie Bertrand, the manager of tourism for Haliburton County. “It also commits to focusing efforts on rural Canada.”

Bertrand noted that in early spring of this year, Hike Haliburton was named as one of the top 100 festivals in the province by Festival and Events Ontario. 

The Hike Haliburton Festival isn’t just a smattering of standard hikes; each hike is led by a knowledgeable guide, who will showcase a property not often available to the public eye. “When you combine outdoor adventure with compelling storytelling, you create a formula for success,” said Bertrand. 

While the festival may seemingly be smaller from its pre-covid days of boasting over 100 hikes around the region, the county has taken the lead on offering additional experiences to compliment the hiking-heavy weekend. 

Some of these experiences include a Hawk Walk, guided mushroom foraging, and scenic chairlift rides. 

The county also encourages visitors to explore the other goings-on of the community that are coinciding with the weekend, such as live music and Bookapalooza. 

“So much gratitude goes out to the dedicated and passionate volunteers who develop, lead, and guide the exciting hikes in Haliburton Highlands during the festival,” said Bertrand. 

Hike Haliburton takes place September 21 to 24. For more information or to register for hikes, visit www.hikehaliburton.ca