HIKING THE HALIBURTON HIGHLANDS

Admiring sculptures, Inuksuks and a view of the falls is all part of the allure of this area

- Lauren Bauman

Cottage life isn’t merely about beaches, boating or campfires, which are all wonderful past times. For diversion, I often take my guests on local excursions—all in close proximity by car from our cottage in the Haliburton Highlands region of northern Ontario.

The most popular jaunt is the Haliburton Sculpture Forest: a unique outdoor collection of sculptures by Canadian and international artists in a park shared with the Haliburton School of Art and Design. Positioned along sun-dappled forest paths and next to Head Lake, the sculptures are made from a variety of mediums, including granite, bronze, steel, wood, and cement. More than thirty figures and shapes depict such Canadian icons as a beaver, moose, blue heron, bear, and canoe, along with such stylized creations as Curled Figures, which are mounted on a large, weathered boulder.