Lost in the Muskokas: Three fun winter activities to help beat the winter blues
If you asked me what I thought about winter several years ago, my answer would have been short and not so sweet: I despised winter. I despised the unbearable cold. The extra layers of clothing. The delayed traffic on my commutes to work. The grey skies that sometimes left me feeling sad and depressed.
Leading up to December, winter isn’t so bad and sets the mood for the holiday season. It marks the beginning of hibernation season, granting me permission to spend more time at home without the guilt (Hello UberEats, binging on Netflix and cozying up next to a fireplace). However, once February comes around to remind us that we are nowhere close to being done, winter can be a drag.
A couple of years ago, I decided to step up to winter. Instead of hating it and adding fuel to that negativity, I decided to find activities that would help me enjoy it.
I decided to make winter my bitch.
I have to say that my feelings towards winter have shifted in the last few years. Don’t get me wrong, I will always be a sucker for warm weather. With that being said, embracing my reality and making the most of it has helped me overcome my battle with winter.
The name ‘Muskoka’ comes from the name of a Ojibwe tribe chief named ‘Musquakie’ which means "not easily turned back in the day of battle". Perfectly fitting. Winter can sometimes feel like a battle, and the Muskokas are the perfect battle ground for fighting back those winter blues.
Here are three fun activities (only a couple of hours from Toronto) to help you beat the winter blues. After all, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!
Snow Shoeing
Snow shoeing has been around forever and while I don’t do it often, whenever I do, I am reminded how much I love it. It’s a low impact exercise perfect for all ages and ability levels and it allows you to really get lost in nature and get off the beaten path. There are many trails in the Muskokas, but I opted for Arrowhead Provincial Park. I wanted to experience a few of the activities offered at the park, including their famous skating trail which is next on the list.
Cost: $17 per vehicle on weekdays | $20 per vehicle on weekends. This fee gives you access to the park and all of its amenities.
Know before you go: Bring water and snacks as there are no concession stands at the park.
Snow Shoe Rentals: Algonquin Outfitters $20 for adults for a full day, $15 for a half day. I kept it old school with my vintage pair (that I borrowed) pictured below.
Ice Skating at Arrowhead Provincial Park
The skating trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park has become one of the most popular winter attractions in Ontario. Imagine skating through a 1.3 kilometer trail with the dense Canadian forest as your backdrop. It’s beautiful. Parts of the trail are slightly uphill and there’s a portion of the trail that goes downhill which is super fun. On certain nights of the year, they have the ‘fire & ice’ nights which is a skate night where the trail is lit up with torches. The day I went, it was -25 degrees, and that didn’t stop me from having fun. Before I knew it, two hours had gone by and it had only felt like 20 minutes.
Cost: $17 per vehicle on weekdays | $20 per vehicle on weekends. This fee gives you access to the park and all of its amenities. Skate rentals are available on site for $10 for 3 hours.
Best time to visit: I went on a Saturday which also happens to be the busiest day of the week. While it wasn’t too bad, next time I would be more inclined to go during the week to beat the crowds.
Tip: Hand Warmers are lifesavers, especially on a really cold day.
Know before you go: The trail is weather dependent so before making a day of it, be sure to visit the park’s trail conditions to ensure that it is open.
Fire & Ice Night - Photo c/o Discover Muskoka
Fat Biking at Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve
The words ‘biking’ and ‘snow’ are two words I wouldn’t normally associate together, but fat biking has become an increasingly popular sport and a fun way to get outside during the winter months. The large, oversized tires are designed to ride on unstable terrain such as snow, making it the perfect winter activity. There are many great trails in the Muskokas, but I opted for Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve for the nicely groomed trails and beautiful winter scenery.
Fat Bike Rentals: Algonquin Outfitters
Cost: $49.98 per bike, $14.98 for a rack to transport up to 3 bikes. The employees at the store will assist with mounting the racks and bikes to your vehicle.
