accompany it. However, instead of hiding away within the comforts of your home, one of the best ways to maintain spirits throughout the colder months is to plan a series of Ontario winter activities perfect for celebrating the winter season.
Luckily, Ontario has no shortage of amazing activities and festivals throughout the winter months. From outdoor adventures to seasonal markets, Ontario offers a massive selection of things to do that the whole family can enjoy.
Whether planning a weekend holiday or looking for a quick activity for escaping the confines of your house, these are the 15 best things to do and Ontario winter activities for relieving seasonal stresses.
A Quick Look At The 15 Best Ontario Winter Activities
- Attend The Winter Festival Of Lights at Niagara Falls
- Skate The Ice Trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park
- Snowshoe Through Algonquin Provincial Park
- Go Cross Country Skiing
- Enjoy Downhill Skiing At Blue Mountain
- Winter Hike Through Ontario’s Provincial Parks
- Go Ice Fishing
- Visit Ontario’s Christmas Markets
- Go Ice Skating On The Rideau Canal Skateway
- Visit One of Ontario’s Winter Festivals
- Check Out The Northern Lights At Point Pelee National Park
- Go Snow Tubing
- Go On A Romantic Sleigh Ride
- Go Dog Sledding
- Take Advantage Of The Off Season At A Popular Ontario Attraction
The 15 Best Ontario Winter Activities
1. Attend The Winter Festival Of Lights at Niagara Falls
While Niagara Falls is a great place to visit regardless of the time of year, the winter months bring an elevated charm to the internationally celebrated tourist destination. For starters, during stretches of consistent days of sub-zero temperatures, the falls are known to freeze over, forming truly magical ice formations within the horseshoe landscape.
And while the sites themselves are worth a visit during the winter, the Niagara community itself leans into the festive season with its famous Winter Festival of Lights. From mid-November to February, Niagara is transformed into a colourful show of light displays, art installations, and picturesque lanterns in what has become the biggest light festival in Canada.
What’s more, the light show is entirely free to experience and includes various themed areas ranging from the Zimmerman fountain to a series of displays downtown, along the Niagara Parkway, across the Dufferin Islands, and within the tourist areas of Lundy’s Lane and Fallsview Boulevard.
2. Skate The Ice Trail At Arrowhead Provincial Park
Known for its hiking trails through the summer, Arrowhead Provincial Park is a full-blown winter wonderland between December and January, with a massive selection of outdoor activities and even a 1.3 km skating trail through its frozen environments.
While the park is open throughout the year, the winter festivities begin to kick off around mid-December, at which point the preservation opens up a collection of snowshoe trails and cross-country skiing routes. Meanwhile, the park’s ice trail typically opens for skating in January.
Along with skating and cross-country skiing, other winter activities in Ontario’s Arrowhead National Park include tubing, snowshoeing, and winter hiking, making it one of the best destinations for outdoor adventures in the Muskoka area during the winter months.
3. Snowshoe Through Algonquin Provincial Park
Of Ontario’s many snowshoe trails, none quite compare to the trekking routes through the beautiful snow-covered landscapes of Algonquin Park.
The Track and Tower Trail is one of the most popular snowshoe trails in Algonquin and leads hikers through an 8 km loop through the park’s snow-covered forests. Meanwhile, those looking for a slightly more difficult route can try their hand at the Centennial Ridges Trail, a 12.2 km loop that features an elevation gain of 438 meters.
At Algonquin Provincial Park, visitors can combine their snowshoe hike with a complete winter getaway with several other outdoor activities, including skating on an outdoor ice rink, cross-country skiing, and winter camping.
4. Go Cross Country Skiing
As mentioned a couple of times on this list already, cross-country skiing is one of the best Ontario winter activities for the festive season. And while the province’s many parks promise superb cross-country skiing trails for all experience levels, the following are some of the best areas to partake in the winter sport.
- Thunder Bay: The cross-country skiing capital of Ontario, Thunder Bay is at the heart of the province’s best cross-country skiing region, with several trails and routes, all being within a short drive of the city.
- Stokely Creek Lodge: Set just a short drive from Sault Ste. Marie, Stokely Creek Lodge boasts over 100 km of ski trails perfect for families, beginners, and experienced cross-country skiers alike.
- Hiawatha Highlands: Also set just a short distance from Sault Ste. Marie, the Hiawatha Highlands has over 40 km of groomed trails perfect for winter hiking, skating, or cross-country skiing.
5. Enjoy Downhill Skiing At Blue Mountain
Those looking for a more traditional downhill skiing or snowboarding experience should head over to the Blue Mountains. Along with boasting some of the best ski slopes in southern Ontario, Blue Mountains features a selection of cozy ski lodges, a quaint mountain village, and a myriad of outdoor activities exploring this genuine winter wonderland.
Beyond its world-class slopes, visitors to the Blue Mountains can soak at a hot spring spa, hike snowy trails through the Kolapore Forest, or cross-country ski over to the 450 million-year-old scenic caves.
6. Winter Hike Through Ontario's Provincial Parks
One of the best ways to get out and escape the onset of seasonal depression is by trekking along one of the many winter hiking trails in Ontario’s provincial parks. With dozens of fantastic parks to choose from, Ontario has winter trails for all experience levels, with the following being some of my favourite winter hiking destinations.
- Pretty Valley Provincial Park: Located in the higher altitudes of the Niagara escarpments, the Pretty Valley Provincial Park is one of the most beautiful winter wonderlands for a winter hike in Ontario, complete with picturesque frozen waterfalls. The park features several hiking trails, with my favourite being the Bruce Trail Loop.
- Killarney Provincial Park: Covering an expansive 485 square kilometres, Killarney Provincial Park promises an intricate and comprehensive network of hiking trails through its beautiful terrains, with The Crack Trail being its most popular and breathtaking.
- Bruce Peninsula National Park: Known as one of Ontario’s top summer destinations, the Bruce Peninsula National Park is even more beautiful in the winter. With many hiking trails to choose from, the Georgian Bay Via Marr Lake promises plenty of picturesque scenery and a relatively easy hike for beginners.
7. Go Ice Fishing
Another great way to get out of the house and cure your seasonal depression is by going on an ice fishing trip in Ontario. Famous for its abundant lakes and fisheries, Ontario promises dozens of ice fishing destinations for a relaxing getaway angling the province’s frozen waters, with the following being some of the best ice fishing hot spots.
- Lake Simcoe: Considered the ice fishing capital of North America, Lake Simcoe offers the quintessential ice fishing trip destination in Ontario, complete with fish-filled waters and a healthy selection of local outfitters and ice cabin rentals.
- Lake Nipissing: Another internationally recognized ice fishing haven, Lake Nipissing promises a variety of ice hut rentals and outfitters while hosting fewer anglers than Lake Simcoe.
- Lake of the Woods: Located near Kenora in northwestern Ontario, Lake of the Woods promises a quiet setting for immersing in the winter sport while angling for a diverse selection of fish species in its world-renowned waters.
- The Great Lakes: Due to their massive size, Ontario’s Great Lakes don’t completely freeze over. Still, there are several bays and shallow waters across Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Ontario where winter anglers can cast their lines into their abundant waters.
8. Visit Ontario's Christmas Markets
There is no better way to leave the winter blues behind than partaking in the holiday festivities at a local Christmas market. While these holiday pop-ups can be found in nearly every little town and big city in Ontario, these are some of the best Christmas markets the province has to offer;
- Distillery Winter Village: A Toronto Christmas market, the Distillery Winter Village illuminates Ontario’s capital city from mid-November to January each year within its historic Distillery District. The village features carolers, local shops, restaurants, cafes, and pop-up vendors of local craftspeople.
- Christkindle Market: Held over four days at the beginning of December, the Christkindle Market is one of the biggest Christmas markets in southern Ontario and brings German-inspired festivities to the quiet streets of Kitchener each year. The market includes wooden stalls of baked goods, handcrafted gifts, and decoration ornaments.
- The Burlington Holiday Market: Another of Ontario’s best Christmas markets, The Burlington Holiday Market runs over four days at the beginning of December and features holiday decor, local shops, and a Christmas concert with live music and a traditional choir.
9. Go Ice Skating On The Rideau Canal Skateway
Ottawa makes for a fantastic winter holiday destination. After all, there are plenty of things to see and do in Canada’s capital city, including holiday markets, the Winterlude festival, winter light displays, and crowd-free sightseeing.
However, the biggest draw to Ottawa in the winter is the opportunity to skate along the Rideau Canal. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the canal is the largest skating rink in the world and is one of the best Ontario winter activities for locals and tourists alike.
The canal spans 7.8 km across the city and is well maintained for skaters of all experience levels, with several shops and huts selling snacks along its banks.
10. Visit One of Ontario's Winter Festivals
Speaking of Canada’s capital city, nothing quite transforms Ontario’s municipal communities into verifiable winter wonderlands than the series of winter festivals that pop up across nearly every township and city of our great province. Of the hundreds of winter festivals in Ontario, these are just some of the best you should plan to visit this year.
- Winterlude: If you are planning a trip to Ottawa’s Rideau Canal, you should plan to coincide it with the city’s Winterlude Festival. Running for three weeks in February, the festival features learn-to-skate clinics, a winter triathlon, culinary and wine events, an ice sculpture competition, and plenty of kid-friendly entertainment.
- Niagara Icewine Festival: Just another reason to visit Niagara in the winter, the Niagara Icewine Festival runs over three weekends in January and celebrates the region’s local vineyards with wines and food pairings from over 40 of the province’s top wineries.
- Fire and Ice Winter Festival: Held annually at the end of January at the Alton Mill Arts Center in Caledon, the Fire and Ice Winter Festival is one of Ontario’s biggest winter celebrations, complete with ice sculptors, live music, pond hockey, art workshops, and food and wine vendors.
11. Check Out The Northern Lights At Point Pelee National Park
You wouldn’t expect the northern lights to be observable in southern Ontario, but as a designated Dark-Sky Preserve, Point Pelee National Park provides the perfect setting and optimal conditions for witnessing the natural phenomenon throughout the winter months.
Despite being the most southern point in Canada, Point Pelee National Park provides front-row seats to the spectacle of the Aurora Borealis on specified Dark-Sky Nights. During these appointed evenings, the park features extended hours and lets keen astronomers and visitors into the park at night to observe the light show.
12. Go Snow Tubing or Tobogganing
This probably goes without saying, but one of the most quintessential Ontario winter activities for escaping the seasonal blues is to go snow tubing. The best part is nearly all Ontario municipalities have a popular tobogganing hill. And if yours doesn’t, I’m sure there is one not too far away.
While your local hills are bound to promise adrenaline-pumping experiences, those looking for added thrills can find world-class snow tubing at Mount Jamieson Resort’s snow tubing park in Timmins or Ontario’s longest snow tubing hill at Barrie’s Horseshoe Resort.
13. Go On A Romantic Sleigh Ride
Offering a slower, more intimate experience, a romantic sleigh ride is one of the best Ontario winter activities for your seasonal date night.
Sitting back and relaxing within the comforts of a horse-drawn carriage while admiring the snow-covered trees of Ontario’s winter environments is a great way to take in the natural splendour of the province’s cold months without having to engage in winter hikes or physical activity.
What’s more, farms and other outfitters providing sleigh rides can be found throughout the province. Still, for one of the best sleigh rides in the province, you should head over to the Back of Beyond Equine Centre for a romantic excursion through the winter wilderness of the Muskoka area.
14. Go Dog Sledding
If you are looking for a unique and exciting thrill during the cold months, dog sledding offers one of the most adventurous Ontario winter activities full of adrenaline-pumping thrills and picturesque scenery.
While the activity isn’t widespread across the province, several sled tours can be found across Ontario, particularly in its northern regions.
- Winterdance Dogsled Tours: Located in the Haliburton Highlands, Winterdance Dogsled Tours offers dog sledding adventures through the region’s breathtaking wildernesses along two-hour, half-day, moonlit, or multi-day excursions.
- Snow Forest Adventures: A more extensive excursion, Snow Forest Adventures is led by professional guides and offers two to nine-day dog sledding expeditions through the forests and mountain ranges around Algonquin Park.
- Borealis Sled Dog Adventures: Operating out of Vermilion Bay, Borealis Sled Dog Adventures offers day trips, overnight trips, and three to ten-day expeditions through the breathtaking snow-covered wilderness of northern Ontario
15. Take Advantage Of The Off Season At A Popular Ontario Attraction
With fewer people flocking to summertime travel destinations, winter is a great time to hit those popular attractions that would otherwise be swarmed by tourist crowds at other times of the year.
From Toronto’s CN Tower, Casa Loma, and Royal Ontario Museum to Ottawa’s Canadian Museum of History, Parliament Hill, and National Gallery, one of the best Ontario winter activities is to check off all of those bucket-list destinations in the province better experienced without the crowds.
So fuel up, grab your jacket, and head out on an Ontario road trip to all of your favourite hot spots.
