Make the best of the chilly temperatures and glide through winter at these five Ontario Provincial Parks. Before you hit the ice, check out the Ontario Parks Snow Reports for the latest skating conditions.
Cool tip: Buy a daily vehicle permit to guarantee entrance, up to five days in advance.
Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
Experience winter skating fun at Katabeka Falls Provincial Park’s newest skating trail. Skate the 160-metre loop daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. under the stars or in the sunshine. Check winter birding off your seasonal bucket list by spotting local wildlife such as woodpeckers, pine grosbeaks, and even a bald eagle.
Buy a two-, four-, or full-day car permit ahead of your trip to guarantee a parking spot. The loop trail is accessible by Luckens Road with parking right nearby.
Arrowhead Provincial Park
Ontario’s famous 1.3 km loop is open for another season at Arrowhead Provincial Park! Skate through snow-covered evergreens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday to Monday or stop by Fire and Ice nights, happening Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. These nights fill up fast, so reserve your permits ahead with the “Day Use + Fire and Ice Evening Skate” option, up to five days in advance.
Rent skates or helmets on a first-come, first-served basis at the Visitor Centre. Parents can use strollers with rubber wheels but must leave their fur babies off the skating trail.
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MacGregor Point Provincial Park
Head to Port Elgin and glide along MacGregor Point’s 400-metre skating trail. Skate under the stars every night until 10 p.m., then cozy up in one of their cabins or yurts. Parking permits are $18, and the lots fill up quickly, so try visiting outside their busy hours on weekdays. Don’t forget your skates; this park doesn’t offer rentals.
Keep an eye out for black-capped chickadees, nuthatches, and the black-crowned night herons—all are often spotted hanging out in this part of Lake Huron. Hockey fans can hit the large ice pad for a pick-up game, and evening enthusiasts should try out Fire and Ice Nights every Friday and Saturday.
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Visit Sleeping Giant Provincial Park’s 400-metre skating trail within the Marie Louise Lake Campground, near campsites 85-96. There isn’t a set skating time, but campground gates are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Since cell reception in the park can be iffy, buy your daily vehicle permit online, or book a cabin stay.
Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin’s Mew Lake Campground flooded their parking lot for another year so that you can try out a more traditional skating experience. Located off the Highway 60 Corridor, this rink has a fully winterized comfort station, equipped with flush toilets, laundry, and showers. You can borrow their sticks, pucks, and nets for an impromptu game of shinny.
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