Words by William Ennis
One of the most annoying phrases I hear when I pull into Arizona in the winter is, "You must be so glad to be here from Canada." It's usually uttered as I'm still scraping off the ice encountered in New Mexico. It's a phrase that also overlooks the many ways we can enjoy winter in Canada.
Ontario Provincial Parks are among the most forward-looking government organizations when it comes to making the most of the facilities they own.
Ontario Parks has a myriad of activities for those who don't mind dressing for the weather. Ontario Provincial Parks are established in a wide variety of locations, each suiting some feature the authorities deemed important to save by purchasing the land and protecting it with a park. This also means that there will be quite a wide assortment of fun sports available. Nineteen parks offer cross-country skiing for a total of more than 450 km of trails. Let's look at what's available in just a few of Ontario's Parks.
Killarney Provincial Park
Killarney PP is southwest of Sudbury on the northern shores of Georgian Bay. It was the stark beauty of the hilly landscape that attracted the Group of Seven artists to paint there, and it was artist A.Y. Jackson who urged the government to protect the land.
There are possibilities here for some winter camping. It's walk-in, but there are six heated yurts as well as two cabins. Killarney has many miles of trails for cross-country skiing, and the potential for snowshoeing.
Arrowhead Provincial Park
Arrowhead PP is just off Hwy 11, and west of Algonquin PP. If you've never jumped onto a rubber tube and zoomed downhill following a groomed park road, then this is the place to try it. The colourful tubes are provided by the park and they take advantage of the abundant snows they receive in that area. Adults and children will love it, except for the walk back up to the top, but then, it's great exercise. At the top of the hill, you will find two warming shelters and a nice warming fire.
Another different, and exciting thing would be the 1.3 km ice skating trail twisting through the forest. If you don't have your skates, you can rent them. Imagine the mood of skating at night along an ice trail lit with torches, even nicer under a full moon.
Have you tried skijoring? It's where your dogs pull you on your skis. You can rent, or purchase a harness for your dog.
You can also use some of the 33 km of cross-country skiing trails. Skis and snowshoes are available for rent. There is a trail rating system ranging from beginner to expert. The Arrowhead Visitor Centre has rental skis, snowshoes, and skates. Best of all there is a great room, fireplace, and tables. It's a fine place to eat lunch.
They have built several nice overnight cabins that sleep five, have a refrigerator, and a barbeque outside.
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Jeff Speed
Zamboni, Arrowhead, 2013
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Evan Holt
Arrowhead Provincial Park Photographer: Evan Holt
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Evan Holt
Arrowhead Provincial Park Photographer: Evan Holt
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Evan Holt
Ice skating trail sign, Arrowhead Photographer: Evan Holt
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Evan Holt
Snowshoe Trail, Arrowhead Photographer: Evan Holt
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Evan Holt
Winter Snowshoers, Arrowhead Photographer: Evan Holt
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Jeff Speed
Families skating on the skating ring in Arrowhead, 2013
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Maiku Wong
Sunrise over Big Bend Lookout at Arrowhead in winter, 2018 Photographer: Maiku Wong
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Evan Holt
Arrowhead Provincial Park Photographer: Evan Holt
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Maiku Wong
Woman snowshoes on Stubbs Falls trail, 2018 Photographer: Maiku Wong
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Jeff Speed
XC Skiiers, Arrowhead, 2013
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Jeff Speed
A group skiing in the winter forest, 2013
Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin PP is huge. If you are interested in snowshoeing the whole park is your playground as long as you stay off the cross-country ski trails. Of course, long trips require serious preparation and knowledge of the routes and how to look after yourself in freezing weather. Hwy 60 crosses the park in the southern part and is winter maintained.
About midway across Hwy-60 is the Mew Lake Campground which keeps the parking lot and roads into campsites 1 through 76 plowed. The campsites may be cleared of snow if there is time. A heated building provides drinking water, toilets, showers, and laundry. There is a self-service booth to purchase your permit. Skating facilities area is available on Mew Lake. You can stay here in the winter in one of the eight-sided yurts. Yurts are placed on a wooden floor and use electrical heat.
Starting at the west gate on Hwy-60 you will find ski trails at Fen Lake that wind through the trees with four loops ranging from 1.25 km to 13 km and there are some difficult areas to provide challenges for the more expert skier.
Minnesing Trail is only 23 km away from the West Gate. Four loops range from 4.7 km to 23 km. These are backcountry ski trails and not groomed. They recommend that if snow conditions are soft and deep you should use wide skis and large basket web poles.
Leaf Lake Trail is at the east side of the park, just off Hwy-60, and 1 km from the East Gate. You have choices of trail lengths from 5 km to 51 km. These trails pass through some of the most scenic parts of the Park providing some exciting, difficult parts to ski through. The Pinetree loop is described as vigorous uphill climbs combined with exhilarating downhill runs. These trails are groomed and toilets or privies are available at several locations, as are cabins. Some loops are used for ice skating trails.
As you use the trails, or at your campsite, winter is a great time to observe the Canada Jay. They are sociable birds and may come to share your food. Perhaps unbelievably, these birds are nesting - hatching eggs in the cold of winter. For food, apart from what they poach from visitors, they eat from hoards of food they put away in the fall. They may have stored berries, and bugs, and anything edible into secret stashes that they must remember where they are hidden.
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Evan Holt
Photographer: Evan Holt (M&M shoot 2017) Highlands Backpacking Trail
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William Ennis
Algonquin Park
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William Ennis
Algonquin Park
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William Ennis
Male Purple Finch Algonquin Park, Winter 2016 Photographer: Andrea Coulter
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William Ennis
Warm up hut along Fen Lake Ski Trail West Gate Algonquin
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Jeff Speed
Winter in the Wild event, 2013
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Jeff Speed
Winter in the Wild event, 2013
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Andrea Coulter
Ice formations along Hwy 60 near Tea Lake campground Photographer: Andrea Coulter March, 2018
MacGregor Point Provincial Park
MacGregor Point PP is along the Lake Huron shores. This is a good place to take the kids to the 400 metre ice skating trail winding through the trees. There are trail lights to extend your fun under the stars, or maybe a full moon. Also available is snowshoeing, and camping. There are 16 yurts for your pleasant stay or you can bring your travel trailer. You can find the Old Shore Road area may have large snow drifts to test your skill in snowshoeing. If you are cross-country skiing, the Deer Run trail is 8 km long and is suited for beginners.
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Anne MacLachlan
Looking out at the lake, MacGregor Point, 2017 Photographer: Anne MacLachlan
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Wayne Eardley
Snowshoeing MacGregor Point
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Anne MacLachlan
Looking out at the lake, MacGregor Point, 2017 Photographer: Anne MacLachlan
Frontenac Provincial Park
Frontenac PP is located about an hour north of Kingston and its rugged Canadian Shield terrain provides fine scenery on 11 km of cross-country ski trails. You can also spend a night winter camping at one of the backcountry campsites. There is also a lot of room to practise snowshoeing.
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Rob Stimpson
Frontenac Photographer: Rob Stimpson
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Evan Holt
Winter Camping Course, Frontenac 2017 Photographer: Evan Holt
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Rob Stimpson
Frontenac Photographer: Rob Stimpson
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Rob Stimpson
Frontenac Photographer: Rob Stimpson
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Evan Holt
Winter camping Course, Frontenac 2017 Photographer: Evan Holt
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Evan Holt
Frontenac Photographer: Evan Holt
Pinery Provincial Park
Pinery PP is on the shores of Lake Huron, close to Grand Bend, and is one of western Ontario's best cross-country ski areas. Several loops comprise the 38 km of trails. If you wish to stay an extra day, you might book a stay in a yurt. Later, as winter wanes (around the end of March), 70,000 or so Tundra swans will stop here on their way north. These birds are big, with over a four-foot wingspan and bird watchers arrive with the whole family to take in the spectacle. Dress warmly, unless you too have 28,000 feathers to keep you warm.
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Jeff Speed
Tobogganing Pinery
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Nichole Schwartzentruber
Pinery Photographer: Nichole Schwartzentruber
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Jeff Speed
Snowshoeing Pinery
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Jeff Speed
Snowshoeing Pinery
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Jeff Speed
Campfire Pinery
Additional Information:
- Yurt camping is a nice way to stay in the wilderness in the winter. A yurt can hold up to 6 people, and have two sets of bunk beds, with a futon mattress. They have electric heat and lights, a table and chairs. There may be cooking utensils. Outside is a fire pit. You need to take your sleeping bag and pillow, clothing suitable for the weather, and your food. You should have a cook stove which is to be used outside only.
- Winter conditions vary, so you should check ahead for snow conditions.
- Ice can have treacherous cracks, and open water below a fine looking cover of snow. You are asked to stay on land trails, and avoid lakes and streams.
- Provincial Parks require valid permits when you are using the facilities.
- If you decide to rent a cabin or yurt, check to see what supplies you need to bring.
If you are looking for healthy exercise and you like winter sports, Ontario has a lot going for it. Skiing, tobogganing, tube riding, skating, or snowshoeing, it's all here in the winter.