10 Amazing Places to Snowshoe in Ontario

Winter in Ontario is full of magical places to explore. And one of my favourite ways to get out and enjoy winter is by snowshoeing. There are so many great places to snowshoe in Ontario, from popular parks to hidden gems forests.

So, I’ve rounded up my favourite places to go snowshoeing that include parks like Algonquin and the Bruce Peninsula National Park. Plus, I’m sharing some hidden gems that you should totally check out too like Haliburton Forest and more.

Bundle up, grab your snowshoes and let’s hit the trails!

Algonquin Provincial Park

One of the best places to go snowshoeing in Ontario is Algonquin Park!

It’s one of my favourite places to visit in the winter for numerous reasons; it’s magical with snow covered trees and the park is much quieter than in the busy season. I’ve often had the entire trail to myself in the winter.

A couple of my favourite trails in Algonquin Park to snowshoe:

• Spruce Bog Boardwalk Trail – a 1.5 km loop that’s easy and great for spotting birds
• Two Rivers Trail – a 2.3 km loop that’s moderate to challenging in the winter but worth it for the epic views

There are a few things to remember when visiting Algonquin Provincial Park in the winter. You still need to book a day use pass. Weather can cause numerous challenges when travelling to and from the park. So, please check weather and road conditions before heading out.

Kivi Park

One of my favourite things to do in winter in Sudbury is visit Kivi Park!

This incredible park is a perfect place to visit all year round but is magical in the winter. And there’s 18 km of trails to snowshoe.

I love snowshoeing a combination of the yellow and orange trail. It’s the perfect distance if you’re looking for a solid snowshoe that’s not too short or too long. Plus, it passes by the iconic wishing tree in the park.

But if you’re looking for a short snowshoe trail, you can stick with the yellow loop, which is an easy 1 km. And don’t worry if you don’t own snowshoes, they have rentals available.

Kivi Park is an ideal spot to spend the day in the winter. There are so many fun things to do beyond snowshoeing. You can go fat biking, grab a warm drink at their café, warm up at their outdoor firepit, or enjoy one of the best ice skate trails in Ontario.

Arrowhead Provincial Park

A popular spot to go snowshoeing is Arrowhead Provincial Park. As one of the best places to visit in winter in Muskoka, it’s home to over 8 km of snowshoe trails.

My favourite trail to snowshoe in Arrowhead is the Stubb’s Falls Trail. This 2 km trail includes scenic views of the park’s awesome waterfall.

An alternative is the Mayflower Lake Trail. This trail is also 2 km, but is rated moderate and takes you through scenic woodlands.

Plus, don’t miss the Big Bend Lookout! The trail is incredibly short from the parking lot.

Bruce Peninsula National Park

One of the coolest places to snowshoe in Ontario is in the Bruce Peninsula National Park. Here you can experience the park’s biggest attraction without the summer crowds – The Grotto!

To hike to the Grotto in the winter, first start by parking at the Cyprus Lake Campground Parking lot 1. For the shortest route to the Grotto take the Georgian Bay Trail out to the Bruce Trail. This will take you along Indian Head Cove and to the Grotto.

It’ll likely take you no more than 1 to 2 hours, depending how long you stay at the Grotto or how many photos you take. You can go out and back the same way or you can return via the Marr Lake Trail if you want to extend the hike.

There are a few things to know before you go to the Grotto in the winter. You don’t need a reservation, as from November 1 to April 30 it’s considered off season. But parking fees still apply.

The trails are not maintained in the winter. So, while Georgian Bay Trail is relatively flat and hard packed with snow, snowshoes are great. However, I highly recommend ice cleats for around the shoreline and near the Grotto. It’s incredibly icy through there.

Wye Marsh

When it comes to the best places to snowshoe in Ontario for beginners, I always recommend the Wye Marsh.

I’ve been visiting Wye Marsh for decades and it’s my favourite place to go snowshoeing near me! Located in Midland, the park is home to over 25 km of trails to explore year-round.

With relatively flat terrain and snowshoe rentals, the Wye Marsh is the perfect spot to snowshoe if you’ve never tried it before.

Plus, it’s a great spot for families, with easy trails and a small museum inside. They also run a number of snowshoe tours in the winter, like Marsh by Moonlight.

Nottawasaga Bluffs

If you’re are looking for a unique snowshoe trail in Ontario, one of my favourites is in Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area.         

The park is located 25 minutes south of Collingwood and home to a number of trails, including the Bruce Trail. But my favourite trail in the park is the Keyhole Side Trail.

Take the Bruce Trail from the parking lot and further down you’ll find the side trail. The Keyhole Side Trail takes you through crevices and caves that make up the Niagara Escarpment. And it’s so cool to experience in the winter.

Hoggs Falls to Eugenia Falls

A great time to experience Grey County’s waterfalls is in the winter. And you can enjoy two in one hike.

Let me just warn you that this is not a beginner friendly snowshoe. But snowshoeing the Bruce Trail between Hoggs Falls and Eugenia Falls is an awesome experience. The distance between the two is just over 12 km.

One thing to note is that the Eugenia Falls Conservation Area parking lot is not open in the winter, so you’ll have to find alternative parking.

Hidden Gem Spots for Snowshoeing in Ontario

Haliburton Forest

One of my favourite places to visit in Haliburton is the Haliburton Forest! This massive property is full of fun things to do throughout the year.

In the winter, snowshoeing in Haliburton Forest is magical and you’ll often have the trails to yourself. Snowshoe trails range between 1 and 5 km. Plus, they have rentals available if you don’t own a pair.

Two trails I enjoy are the Forestry Walk and John’s trail, which are around 1 km and start near the main hub. But don’t miss one of Ontario’s hidden gems while you’re there, the Haliburton Wolf Centre!

Stratford Perth Museum

If you’re looking for the best places to snowshoe in Ontario for families, then I highly recommend visiting the Stratford Perth Museum.

The museum is one of my favourite places to visit in Stratford, with a great mix of permanent and temporary exhibits. There’s plenty of interactive displays for kids.

Plus, behind the museum is a scenic trail that many miss. Every time I go, I have it to myself. And the museum has snowshoes you can borrow for free.

Brown Hill Tract

If you’re looking for a place to go snowshoeing near Toronto then head north to East Gwillimbury. Here you’ll find one of the many York Region Forest tracts, Brown Hill Tract.

Brown Hill Tract, off of Ravenshoe Road, has a parking lot and is free to snowshoe. There are a number of winding trails throughout the park.

I love the fun names of some of the trails, like Stinky and Stumpy. You can easily spend a couple of hours snowshoeing Brown Hill Tract.

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