As anyone who lives in Ontario can tell you, winters in our great province can be long and seasonal depression can get very real. Luckily, there are dozens of fantastic winter hikes in Ontario to escape these seasonal blues.
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What’s more, the winter is actually one of the best times of year to experience Ontario’s best hiking trails. For starters, they are much less busy than during peak season, and winter trekkers often have popular paths all to themselves.Â
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On top of this, the fresh snowfalls of the winter actually elevate our province’s natural beauty, with blankets of white perfectly accentuating the verdant landscapes of our abundant forests.
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So, whether you are an experienced hiker looking for a fun challenge or someone looking for an easy way to escape the seasonal blues, these are the 13 best winter hikes in Ontario you absolutely have to try.
A Quick Look At The 13 Best Winter Hikes In Ontario
- Pretty River Valley Provincial Park – The Bruce Trail Loop
- Vista Adventure Trail To Rattlesnake Point
- Mount Nemo Conservation Area
- Crawford Lake Boardwalk Loop
- Rouge River Valley Loop
- Sleeping Giant Provincial Park – Sea Lion Trail
- Killarney Provincial Park – The Crack Trail
- Arrowhead Provincial Park – Stubb’s Falls Loop
- Tiffany Falls Conservation Area
- Dundas Peak Via Bruce Trail
- Poplar Point Trail – Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
- Little Falls Trail – Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
- Darlington Provincial Park Loop – Bruce Trail
The 13 Best Winter Hikes in Ontario
1. Pretty River Valley Provincial Park – The Bruce Trail Loop
Set within the higher altitudes of the Niagara escarpment, the Pretty River Valley Provincial Park is open year-round but is at its most beautiful in the winter months, following a fresh snowfall for a white overcoat over its natural environments.
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The park boasts plenty of hiking trails and routes, but for the best experience for first-time visitors, I suggest sticking to the main trail. The park’s Bruce Trail Loop is a 9.2-kilometre hike and snowshoeing path that guides visitors through the park’s highlights, including along the eponymous river, through the Branch Forest, and along the hilltop ridges.
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The hike takes about 3 hours to complete in the summer months, so trekkers plan on at least an extra hour to complete the journey along a winter hike.
Brief Pretty River Valley Provincial Park Hiking Guide
Location: Blue Mountains
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Park Entrance
Length of Hike: 9.2 km loop trail
Elevation Gain: 392 metres
Estimated Duration: 4 hours
2. Vista Adventure Trail To Rattlesnake Point
The Vista Adventure Trail to Rattlesnake Point is a perfect introductory winter hike in Ontario and offers trekkers an easy-to-follow route through the Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area to some of the best overlook points with scenic views of Milton and the surrounding Halton Region.
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Located directly in the GTA, the trailhead to this hike is less than an hour’s drive from downtown Toronto, is perfect for beginner hikers and families alike, and can typically be completed in a half hour to 45 minutes.
Brief Rattlesnake Vista Adventure Trail Hiking Guide
Location: Milton
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area
Length of Hike: 1.8 km loop trail
Elevation Gain: 30 metres
Estimated Duration: 30 minutes
3. Mount Nemo Conservation Area
Another great winter trail located just under an hour from downtown Toronto, the Mount Nemo Conservation Area promises a few different hiking routes perfect for slightly more experienced trekkers.
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While there are shorter paths through the park, the Mount Nemo Conservation Loop leads across 8.7 km of trails through the park and promises some of the best scenic lookout points with the conservation area while passing caves and an old quarry.
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This moderately challenging hike follows a rocky route along the edge of the plateau and can become slippery in conditions of light snow. As a result, trekkers should be prepared when visiting and plan accordingly.
Brief Mount Nemo Hiking Guide
Location: Burlington
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Mount Nemo Conservation Area
Length of Hike: 8.7 km loop trail
Elevation Gain: 122 metres
Estimated Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
4. Crawford Lake Boardwalk Loop
The Crawford Lake Conservation Area is another great park in Milton, with fantastic hiking trails open throughout the winter months. While there are a few different routes weaving their way through the protected area, the best winter hike through the park is the Crawford Lake Boardwalk Loop.
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This easy-to-navigate 1.8 km trail features minimal elevation gain and provides for an easy winter walk the whole family can enjoy in a half hour to an hour. Most of the route follows the park’s boardwalks, offering a controlled setting for admiring the snow-covered terrains of the area’s natural environments.
Brief Crawford Lake Hiking Guide
Location: Milton
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Crawford Lake Conservation Area
Length of Hike: 1.8 km loop trail
Elevation Gain: 18 metres
Estimated Duration: 30 minutes
5. Rouge River Valley Loop
Located just a half-hour from downtown Toronto in Pickering, the Rouge National Urban Park is a beautiful conservation area with plenty of pristine winter hiking trails just a short drive from the big city.
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While there are several shorter walks along easier trails through the park, the Rouge River Valley Loop is the best winter hiking trail for hitting all of the region’s most beautiful highlights, including the park’s snow-covered foliage and winter river.
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Open to trekkers throughout the year, this hiking path can become slippery in the winter months, and crampons are a necessity for enjoying a safe excursion. During less demanding times of the year, the hike takes about 2.5 hours to complete, so trekkers should plan for a slightly longer excursion in the winter.
Brief Rouge River Valley Hiking Guide
Location: Pickering
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Rouge Valley Conservation Centre
Length of Hike: 8.5 km loop trail
Elevation Gain: 156 km
Estimated Duration: 3 hours
6. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park – Sea Lion Trail
Boasting over 100 kilometres of trails, the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is home to some of the best hiking trails in Ontario. While many of these routes are too long or slippery for a comfortable winter hike, the Sea Lion Trail is a great place for enjoying the picturesque frozen landscapes of the park along an easy-to-follow hike.
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One of the shortest and easiest hikes in the park, the Sea Lion Trail is a 2.6 km out-and-back hike with an elevation gain of 47 metres for a minimal degree of difficulty well suited for experience levels.
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The hike follows a dirt path through the forests of northwestern Ontario before giving out to the lake with great views of the frozen water and the famous stone arch.
Brief Sleeping Giant Provincial Park Hiking Guide
Location: Silver Islet
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Length of Hike: 2.6 km out-and-back trail
Elevation Gain: 47 metres
Estimated Duration: 45 minutes
7. Killarney Provincial Park – The Crack Trail
Protecting a sprawling area of over 485 square kilometres along the northern shores of Lake Huron, Killarney Provincial Park becomes a genuine winter wonderland between November and March as the region’s abundant snowfalls make for picturesque vistas along the park’s frozen natural landscapes.
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While there are several trails weaving their way through the park, the best winter hike within the protected complex, and the most popular throughout the year, is the Crack Trail.
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This 7.6 km out-and-back trail leads visitors to some of the park’s most exceptional lookout points while passing through a breathtaking boreal forest landscape. However, the path is rated as a moderate challenge, made slightly more difficult in the winter months and is better suited for experienced winter trekkers.
Brief Killarney Provincial Park Hiking Guide
Location: Killarney
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: The Crack Trail Parking Lot
Length of Hike: 7.6 km out-and-back trail
Elevation Gain: 232 metres
Estimated Duration: 2.5 hours
8. Arrowhead Provincial Park – Stubb’s Falls Loop
Speaking of winter wonderlands, Arrowhead Provincial Park is teeming with outdoor adventures throughout snowy months and is a great spot for family-friendly activities, including cross-country skiing, ice skating, tubing, and snowshoeing.
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It is only natural that this winter haven also promises some of the best winter hikes in Ontario, with its most enticing winter trekking route being the Stubb’s Falls Loop. Starting from the trailhead, this hike follows a 2.6 km loop trail through the park’s frozen landscapers to a beautiful waterfall made even more majestic in the winter months.
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While there are other great winter trails through the park, only a small selection are open to snowshoeing and walking, such as the Mayflower Lake Trail. Meanwhile, the park’s other trails are reserved for those with cross-country skis.
Brief Arrowhead Provincial Park Hiking Guide
Location: Huntsville
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Stubb’s Falls Trailhead
Length of Hike: 2.6 km loop trail
Elevation Gain: 71 metres
Estimated Duration: 1 hour
9. Tiffany Falls Conservation Area
One of the best winter hikes in southern Ontario, the Tiffany Falls Conservation Area is located just outside of Hamilton in Ancaster and is an off-shoot of the Bruce Trail, so you can be guaranteed there is going to be some beautiful frozen scenery to be had along this route.
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The Tiffany Falls itself is less than 1 km from the parking lot. However, the best way to explore the region is by combining the Tiffany Falls path with a short trek along the Bruce Trail to Sherman Falls. In total, this hike is 4 kilometres and takes a little over an hour to complete.Â
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Still, this route provides a more thorough adventure through the region’s natural landscapes while rewarding breathtaking visits to two majestic frozen waterfalls.
Brief Tiffany Falls Hiking Guide
Location: Ancaster
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Tiffany Falls Conservation Area
Length of Hike: 3.9 km out-and-back hike
Elevation Gain: 106 metres
Estimated Duration: 1 hour
10. Dundas Peak Via Bruce Trail
Another beautiful trek along the Bruce Trail made even more breathtaking following a fresh snowfall during the winter months, Dundas Peak is a short but moderately challenging hike located just outside of Hamilton.
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Located in the Spencer Gorge Wilderness Area, the preservation boasts a network of winter trails that weave 2.9 km through the region’s frozen environments to an elevation of 73 metres, promising beautiful views of the park and surrounding neighbourhoods.
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Since Dundas Peak can often be very busy during the summer and fall months, winter is the best time of year to visit, as the cold months are free from the heavy crowding that can occur at other times of the year.
Brief Dundas Peak Hiking Guide
Location: Dundas
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Dundas Peak Trailhead
Length of Hike: 2.9 km loop trail
Elevation Gain: 73 metres
Estimated Duration: 1 hour
11. Poplar Point Trail – Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
Known as the Niagara Falls of the North, Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park features several winter trails weaving through its picturesque landscapes, but not quite compared to the picturesque splendour of Poplar Point Trail.
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Starting from the trailhead just a short drive from Thunder Bay, the Poplar Point Trail guides visitors along a 4.2 km loop hike through the park along an easy-to-navigate path, making it one of the best winter hikes in Ontario for trekkers of all experience levels and leads visitors through the park’s various winter ecosystems for a thorough exploration of the site.
Brief Poplar Point Hiking Guide
Location: Oliver Paipoonge
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
Length of Hike: 4.2 km loop trail
Elevation Gain: 28 metres
Estimated Duration: 1 hour
12. Little Falls Trail – Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
Another relatively easy hike through Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, the Little Falls Trail is a 3.1 km out-and-back trail that starts at Kakabeka Falls and follows the river downstream to the smaller but equally beautiful Little Falls.
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Trekkers should note that thanks to the hiker’s location along the river, the path can become frozen over and slippery throughout the winter months, and hikers should be prepared with crampons to ensure safety.
Brief Kakabeka Falls Hiking Guide
Location: Oliver Paipoonge
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park Visitor Centre
Length of Hike: 3.1 km out-and-back trail
Elevation Gain: 45 metres
Estimated Duration: 1 hour
13. Darlington Provincial Park Loop – Bruce Trail
An easy winter walk just an hour’s drive from Toronto, the Darlington Provincial Park Loop follows the Bruce Trail along a 5.5 km loop along the shores of Lake Ontario.
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Along the way, hikers will pass through a pioneer cemetery, the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Preserve, and several scenic vistas along the lakeshores.
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While not as extravagant as some other winter hikes in Ontario, this winter trail makes for a fantastic hiking route for those looking to escape the winter blues with an escape to the outdoors, with hiking trails perfect for all experience levels.
Brief Darlington Provincial Park Hiking Guide
Location: Claringtong
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Darlington Provincial Park Parking Lot
Length of Hike: 5.5 km loop trail
Elevation Gain: 63 metres
Estimated Duration: 1.5 hours
