Where to Snowshoe in Ontario
With 266 million acres of beautiful, sprawling snowy land, you’ll find no shortages of opportunities to snowshoe your way through Ontario’s powdery perfection this winter. Check out these primo trails. They’re everywhere, so chances are, they’re not far from home.
Hailed as the longest and oldest marked trail system in Canada, the Bruce Trail runs from the Niagara Escarpment to Tobermory. Featuring almost 900 kms of primary trail and 400 km of associated paths, this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve offers public access to spectacular scenery all the way to Tobermory.
Drawing people to the Wasaga Beach area even in the chilly months, the Blueberry Plains Trail is part of the truly unique Blueberry Plains Nature Reserve. This singular ecosystem spans dunes and pine savannah – and is also ideally situated close to the accommodations and amenities of Wasaga. Snowshoe rentals are available at the trailhead Pavilion, making this a choice spot for people who don’t have their own gear.
This network of trails is perfect for you if you want to make a weekend out of your winter adventure. Conveniently located near Collingwood’s famous Blue Mountain Ski Resort, you can frolic in the snow over 90kms of trails and on the hills to your heart’s content. Resorts, accommodations, and restaurants abound, so bust out your long undies and get ready for an unforgettable weekend.
Barrie’s Hardwood Hills offer year round outdoor entertainment on over 80kms of single and double trails. The terrain runs through rolling pine and hardwood forests, giving snowshoers a memorable and challenging trek.
This hidden gem boasts some of the most scenic trails in the province. The variation between waterfront and ancient cedar forests to railway lines to horse and cow trails over 28 kms make the trek constantly enthralling. I recommend taking in a famous Kincardine sunset by shoeing along the waterfront to wind down your active day.
New to snowshoeing? Then the Orilla trail’s spacious paved recreational path is for you. Offering users an easy and enchanting trip from one end of the city to the other over a 12-foot wide span of maintained pathway. This option is unrivaled if you’re looking for an easy half-day trek.
Here’s a trail for city dweller’s, which also offers you a chance to look in on history at Black Creek Pioneer Village. While I don’t recommend you try snowshoeing the village itself, the 5km Black Creek Trail has been transformed back into a state of almost wilderness, largely due to the Black Creek Conservation Project, thereby giving citybound outdoor enthusiasts the chance to commune with nature without a long commute.
No winter would be complete without snowshoeing through the Trail Capital of Canada in Uxbridge, Ontario. Passing through 8,000 acres of trails in conservation lands, you can enjoy trekking Trans Canada Trails, town trails and trails that run throughout the beautiful Oak Ridges. Beautiful forests, well-maintained paths, animated wildlife, a commitment to conservation and small-town hospitality have earned this area it’s designation.