Mono Cliffs Provincial Park is a rugged, scenic day-use park in the rolling countryside of Mono, Ontario, north of Orangeville — a spectacular stretch of the Niagara Escarpment laced with hiking trails, dramatic cliffs, and fascinating geology. Part of the Bruce Trail and the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve, it's one of southern Ontario's most rewarding hikes.

The park's defining features are its towering cliffs and the deep rock crevices carved into the escarpment. A highlight for many visitors is descending Jacob's Ladder into a narrow crevice, where a boardwalk winds between sheer 30-metre limestone walls draped in moss and fern — an unforgettable, almost cathedral-like passage. Above, an upland limestone plain and talus slopes add to the varied terrain, and several trails (ranging from about 1 to 12 kilometres) link together for short strolls or longer loops with grand lookouts over the countryside.

A couple of important notes before you go. Mono Cliffs is a hiking park: caving, rock climbing, bouldering, and scrambling are not permitted anywhere in the park — the crevices are explored via the established boardwalks and trails only. Access is also controlled by automatic gates, so you'll need to reserve a parking spot in advance and scan your barcode to enter; the main entrance off the 3rd Line E.H.S. has a pay parking lot with washrooms.

Spring through fall is the prime hiking season, with autumn colours a particular highlight. Wear sturdy footwear for the rocky, root-laced trails and stairs, bring water, stay on the marked routes, and pack out what you bring in. For a dramatic walk through Niagara Escarpment scenery, Mono Cliffs is a southern Ontario must.