Magical Combination of Art & Nature ~ Haliburton Sculpture Forest

Art lovers looking for an immersive experience can skip the gallery and head to the woods this summer.

The Haliburton Sculpture Forest is a magical combination of art and nature, with more than 30 art installations nestled amongst the trees in Glebe Park near the village of Haliburton.  Each piece is unique – some striking in colour, popping against the forest backdrop, and others softer in shape, melting into the forest backdrop. 

The trails take 1-2 hours to walk in entirety but visitors are encouraged to pick their own speed. The trails are open to cyclists, and in the winter, can be enjoyed with a pair of snowshoes.

The pieces have been constructed by both Canadian and international artists, each telling their own story. Around one trail corner, is “Beaver”, featuring the iconic Canadian animal staring up at a lamppost. The piece had artists working together with high school students to demonstrate nature taking back from the human race.  Another piece, “Atmo-Sphere”, is a large sphere built with layers of granite pieces. From the front, the simplicity of the piece is striking. But artist John McKinnon built in a hidden entrance to give visitors a chance to sit within the dome and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. McKinnon spent four weeks creating the piece in 2013.

In addition to various stones, the artists have used a variety of metals, wood and even glass to create intricate designs. One such installation is titled “Fire and and Ice: A Really Big Shoe”. The piece is a larger-than-life stiletto crafted out of stainless steel wire, fire polished glass beads and faceted crystal glass beads. 

The sculpture forest opened in 2001 and began with just three pieces. It has since grown to 34 pieces and also features six one-of-a-kind benches.

Admission to the forest is free, however donations are accepted. Free guided tours run each Tuesday beginning at 10 a.m. through July and August and last roughly 2 hours. Additionally, visitors can participate in Curator’s  Selection tours running each Wednesday beginning at 12:10 p.m. through July and August. This tour covers a few sculptures selected by the curator and lasts roughly 40 minutes.

For those who want to explore the forest on their own time, a self-guided tour is available through the PocketSights Tours app.

For more information on how to visit 

or to learn more about specific sculptures, 

visit www.haliburtonscultptureforest.ca