Whether you choose fat biking on historic trails in Atlantic Canada, ice fishing on a fjord in Quebec or snowshoeing and skiing on snowcapped peaks through forested glades in Alberta and British Columbia, these 10 standout winter sport experiences will inspire you to embrace the frozen beauty of the winter season.
TAKE THE FAMILY SKIING
SilverStar Mountain Resort in Vernon, British Columbia, offers a blizzard of family-friendly winter activities for kids of all ages. Practice ice skating and slapshots on a frozen pond, careen down snowtube runs and of course, enjoy steaming cups of hot chocolate in the rustic Paradise Camp after skiing SilverStar’s 132 runs and 12 gladed areas. The resort is also home to 105 kilometres of scenic Nordic trails that with Sovereign Lake form Canada’s largest daily groomed cross-country trail network.
GO ICE FISHING ON A FJORD
During the dark winter months, the ice of Quebec’s Saguenay Fjord in La Baie is brightened by hundreds of colourful ice fishing cabins. Fishers try their luck catching smelt, Arctic cod and turbot in the fjord’s deep salt water, all the while keeping cosy in cabins equipped with wood-burning stoves.
CAT SKI STEEPS AND DEEPS
Venture off-piste into 81 square kilometres of pristine terrain near Rossland in the Kootenay mountains of B.C.’s legendary Powder Highway. Home to 100+ skiing operations along its route, this is prime backcountry territory for cat skiing. You can experience Big Red Cats’ powerful snow machines as they ferry skiers up the slopes to carve first tracks through glades of feather-light, knee-deep champagne powder.
SKATE THROUGH A SNOW-COVERED FOREST
Lace up for a magical “fairy tale” skate through the snowy kingdom of Arrowhead Provincial Park. Located in Muskoka, Ontario’s fabled cottage country, the 1.3-kilometre Ice Skating Trail sparkles in the winter sun, and once the stars come out on a weekend’s Fire & Ice night, the groomed trail is illuminated by hundreds of glittering torches lighting the way through snow-covered evergreen trees.
KICK ALL THE WAY
Originating in Scandinavia, kicksledding is a fun and energetic way to glide along white powder trails. The sled has a chair for a passenger or to transport gear, two rails and is self-propelled by riding with one foot and kicking off with the other. Rent a sled and kick your way along scenic compact snow paths in Beaubassin-est in southeastern New Brunswick.
FAT BIKE ON HISTORIC TRAILS
Follow in the footsteps, or fat bike tracks, of Prohibition-era liquor smugglers on Nova Scotia’s South Shore Rum Runners Trail. The 119-kilometre former rail corridor between Halifax and Lunenburg can be tackled in sections by wide-tire fat bikes rented at local cycling shops. Bikers pass through several scenic coastal communities, ideal for stops to enjoy coffee and craft ales.
TAKE A HORSE-DRAWN SLEIGH RIDE
Jingle all the way through winter in the Canadian Rockies on a romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride in Banff National Park, Alberta. Take in the frosty mountain views in Banff or Lake Louise on a public tour, or snuggle under blankets on a private ride, accompanied by the enchanting rhythm of hooves padding on crisp snow.
ICE CLIMB A FROZEN WATERFALL
Winter transforms Newfoundland’s Gros Morne National Park into an adventure playground for advanced ice climbers. The remoteness and difficulty of the fjord’s frozen icy falls at Ten Mile Pond and Western Brook Pond challenge climbers as they stagger between sea and land, carefully anchoring axes and crampons into sky-high towers of ice.
MUSH YOUR WAY HOME
Get a mush on guiding a team of enthusiastic sled dogs across the frozen expanse of the Yukon. Explore the northern territory’s snowy surroundings in this old-fashioned way, on an unforgettable day trip or exciting multi-day winter adventure. Mush your own husky dog team and master the art of winter travel while learning how to care for the hard-working animals.
SUBLIME SNOWSHOEING
Blaze a snowshoe trail through a quiet winter forest or along a scenic lake in Saskatchewan’s Prince Albert National Park. Located two hours north of Saskatoon, the park is home to seven ungroomed trails criss-crossing an expansive snow-covered landscape. Pull on a warm hat and layers for a brisk walk along the shore of frozen Waskesiu Lake, or make snow tracks along the two-kilometre Mud Creek loop trail.
