Outdoors

Cottage country is stunning from the ground, but it’s even more breathtaking from above

Published: July 9, 2018 Updated: June 7, 2022
Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
The rugged, rocky shore of Georgian Bay is even more striking viewed from above, where the different layers of rock can be easily seen leading down to the aquamarine water.
Georgian Bay, Lake Huron

Cove Island Lighthouse Bruce Peninsula
Canadian lighthouses are so iconic that we recently did a whole gallery of them, but seeing them in context of a larger landscape — like the Cove Island Lighthouse at Gig Point in Fathom Five National Marine Park seen here — gives us a whole new appreciation for these historical structures.
Cove Island Lighthouse, Bruce Peninsula

Pukaskwa National Park
A ragged shoreline on a map doesn't look like much, but seen in person (or, for those of us without pilots' licenses, in photographs), it's an incredible sight. Pukaskwa National park is on Lake Superior's northeastern shore, and even from the air, views like this one stretch as far as the eye can see.
Pukaskwa National Park

Lake Simcoe
From above, the waters of Lake Simcoe are particularly inviting. The fall colours of the trees on this small island stand out beautifully against their watery surroundings.
Lake Simcoe

Niagara Falls
Niagara fall is a sight people travel from all across the country to see. From above, the sheer mass of the water that tumbles over its edge every day is even more striking.
Niagara Falls

Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park
A 150-metre-wide and 100-foot-tall gorge cuts into the forest landscape in Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park. It's stunning, from above and below.
Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park

Lake Huron
Another view of Lake Huron highlights the sparse forest that has managed to thrive on the rocky, windswept shore.
Lake Huron

Sandbanks Provincial Park
The sandy beaches of Sandbanks Provincial Park in Prince Edward, Ontario, interspersed with patches of trees and surrounded by water, create a beautiful palette of colours.
Sandbanks Provincial Park

The Thousand Islands Archipelago
The Thousand Islands are made up of over 1,800 islands in the St. Lawrence River leading into Lake Ontario, many of them dotted with quaint boathouses. Helicopter tours are offered of the area because it's the best way to take in the massive scope of this archipelago.
The Thousand Islands Archipelago

Pukaskwa Park
The Georgian Bay also manages to combine all our favourite landscapes into one: green forests, rocky shores, and deep blue waters. Seen from above, it's a breathtaking view of some of Canada's best cottage country.
Georgian Bay

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Cottage country is stunning from the ground, but it’s even more breathtaking from above

Before airplanes and fancy cameras, only birds and mountain climbers knew how truly stunning our planet looks from far above. But these days, thanks to satellites, drones, and aerial photographers, we can all see incredibly crisp and detailed images of our world from high up in the air.

The forests, lakes, and mountains of Canada are stunning from the ground, but to see them from above is transcendent. Even someone who has been visiting cottage country for their whole lives will be stunned by how beautiful it appears from above. Aerial photography gives us a whole new perspective on the wild areas we already love.

Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. Having the power to zoom out from our favourite lakes and rivers ultimately reminds us that they exist in a wider landscape, and that it is our duty to protect them. So check out this gallery to see a rare view of some of your favourite cottaging spots. It will remind you how precious they really are.

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