Grab Your Skis and Glide Through The Trees This Winter!

Five Beautiful Places to Nordic Ski in Northeastern Ontario

Nordic skiing, also known as cross country skiing, is a wonderful winter activity. It’s a great way to keep yourself moving through the cold snowy months, and allows you to explore some beautiful places that might not be accessible by foot during winter. It’s excellent exercise–and fun for the whole family!

The Northeastern Ontario landscape offers a truly magical experience on skis. When the land is covered with snow, there are hundreds of kilometres of groomed trails for those who treasure their time spent outdoors. These five destinations in Northeastern Ontario offer easy access from a community, and some even offer overnight accommodations right on the trails. 

Wasi Cross Country Ski Club – Astorville, 25km from North Bay

The Wasi Cross Country Ski Club is a small club, home to 43 km of ski trails that wind their way through a mix of hardwood and conifers. The trails are classically groomed and track set, with 7.5km of double track so you may ski alongside a friend! The club is open 24/7 through the season so skiers can enjoy night skiing as well, but the trails are not lit so remember to bring a headlamp. Wasi also offers 8km of snowshoe trails. The welcoming and cozy feel of this little club is lovely–and when the chalet is open, volunteers stock the shelves with free hot chocolate and drinks for skiers to enjoy right beside the woodstove. 

Winter Multi Use Trails – Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, 15km from Mattawa, 50km from North Bay

I love skiing along the snow-covered roads through the campgrounds and past scenic rivers and lakes on multi-use trails at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. They were first opened in winter in early 2021, when the park partnered with the Canadian Ecology Centre to create the trail system as a pilot project. Although this trail system is not track set, a wide groomed trail allows skiers to ski classic or skate style. The park is very beautiful during the winter months, and quiet. It is common to spend a few hours along the trails and see no one else. Lots of wildlife can be viewed in the park during the winter too, such as deer, birds, otters, and even wolves! Along with nordic skiing, the trails are also open to snowshoers, hikers, and even fatbikers. And as a getaway bonus, the Canadian Ecology Centre offers winter cabin rentals, if you’d like to spend more than just the day there.

Onaping Falls Nordics Ski Club – Windy Lake Provincial Park, 45km from Sudbury

The Onaping Falls Nordics Ski Club offers over 15km of exceptional cross country skiing for both classic and skate skiers, through pine forests, within Windy Lake Provincial Park. At almost 1300ft above sea-level, this club usually has the longest running skiing season in the region. World champion cross country skier and Canadian Winter Olympian Devon Kershaw first learned to ski and spent much of his youth skiing at Onaping Falls. The club has since named some of the trails after him! If you want to spend more time exploring the Onaping Falls ski trails, Windy Lake Provincial Park offers yurt rentals during the winter season, right beside the ski trails! The yurts can be booked through the Ontario Parks website.

Temiskaming Nordic Ski Club – Temiskaming Shores, 18km from New Liskeard

Located in a once-glaciated area, the terrain at Temiskaming Nordic Ski Club rolls over ancient esker ridges. The unique trail system design offers 20km of groomed and track set skate and classic ski trails. Three beautiful trails feature varying levels of difficulty and length, making them enjoyable to all levels of skiers. Add to that their reputation for excellent grooming, and it’s a skiing experience to remember!

Cochrane Cross Country Ski Club – Cochrane, central

The Cochrane Cross Country Ski Club first started in the mid 1970s when one of the sons of the Johnson family, who owned the property, and his friends decided to cut out trails and develop a place for skiing. Over time these trails evolved to become the local ski club. Since 1974, the club has offered skiers young and old the opportunity to discover the excitement and benefit of being out on the trails, along with enjoying the natural beauty of the outdoors! The club offers snowshoe trails as well.

There is a whole new world to explore when there’s snow on the ground, and all you need is a set of skis. See you out on the trails this winter!

Header photo credit: Josie Dinsmore