Though the snow-tipped evergreens of a Northern Ontario winter can be one of the most beautiful sights to see, it can often feel like they are inaccessible – you can see the exterior shot of the forest, but you take one step in, sink to your waist, and decide the rest of your party should just abandon you because you’ll never escape.
However, humans are smart creatures. We developed ways of staying on top of the surface of the snow, ways to venture over frozen lakes, clothing to keep us warm.
But we also invented the Tide Pod Challenge, so stay humble.
If you have wanted to get out and enjoy the frozen forests, but aren’t quite sure how to start, Sudbury and Northern Ontario have plenty of trails and inexpensive rental opportunities for anyone looking to snowshoe or cross-country ski.
You may want to start with the winner of the Sudbury.com Winter’s Best Cross-Country Ski Trail search, Walden Cross-Country and Fitness Club. Based in Naughton, the group has several impeccably groomed trails, with 23 kilometres of skate and classic ski trails, Para Nordic sit-ski trails, and an easy three-kilometre lighted trail for night skiing.
There are also more than 10 kilometres of maintained snowshoe trails, and equipment rentals as well. You can find rental and pass information here, and trail maps and specifics here.
You can also find an amazing network of trails throughout the city proper, starting with a look at the Rainbow Routes Trail Network, a city owned and operated system of urban trails. While these trails are not groomed by Rainbow Routes during the winter season, they are still accessible and many are easy to traverse with outdoor equipment.
Recommended by John Hall, the new president of Rainbow Routes, is the Kelly Lake Trail, part of the Trans Canada Trail, which has lovely terrain and scenery for snowshoeing. You can find more information about that trail here, and a list of all the routes available here.
Or look to the BioSki Cross-Country and Snowshoe Club, the volunteer group that has maintained trails in the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area since 1974, and with co-operation from South Shore Rim Trail System (that included Laurentian University and Laurentian Nordic Ski Club), they groom and maintain trails specifically for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
The trail system offers a great deal of flexibility and allows you to choose the length of your hike, as well as the difficulty – an especially nice choice when weather has left ice everywhere.
You can find trail maps here, as well as directions to the trail heads, and for weekend visitors the location of the heated ski cottage with washrooms, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is also the place for rentals, but be sure to call ahead to check availability. http://www.bioski.ca/trails.php
You can also find snowshoe rentals at one of 10 Greater Sudbury Public Library locations, a list of which is here. The lightweight and easy to use snowshoes are perfect for beginners and families, and allow you a five-day rental.
They are on a first-come, first-served basis though, so again, you would be best to check availability at your local branch before heading out.
Of course, if you want to leave the city limits, there are other well-developed trails all around.
Head to West Nipissing to explore trails offered by The West Nipissing Nordic Cross-Country Ski Club (a part of the Sturgeon Falls Rod and Gun Club) and The Sturgeon River House Museum.
They offer ski and snowshoe trails in the area, the Ski Club with its groomed and track-set 13.5 kilometres of skiing trails, 9.3 kilometres of snowshoe trails, as well as a heated chalet open to the public on weekends. You can find maps of each here, as well as information about equipment rentals and trail passes.
Or you can head to Blind River for a bit of history with your hiking, and explore The Boom Camp Trails. The Boom Camp Interpretive Park is part of the North Channel Historic Trails project and features 12 kilometers of trails at the mouth of the Mississagi River. Archaeological evidence and oral traditions of the Mississauga First Nation acknowledge it as a gathering place for some of the earliest First Nation communities.
Now featuring 70 interpretive and directional signs – each in English, French and Ojibwa — along the trail telling the story of the rich cultural and natural history of the area, the park is a jointly managed by Mississauga First Nation, Town of Blind River, and the Blind River Cross Country Ski Club as established in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2004. The trails are groomed for cross-country skiing in the winter, and both day passes and rentals are available at the trail heads. You can find more information and trail maps here.
Wherever you go, be sure to think of your safety on the trails. While any northern trek has some potential risk, winter can add so much more than just cold. Before you head out, consider:
Wearing clothing that is wind and water proof, but also lightweight so that you can layer. Anything easily removed or adjusted will make you much more comfortable.
Winter hiking boots need to be warm, as well as roomy, to add that thick pair of socks. They need to have a good tread – even if worn with snowshoes – and waterproof.
Bring extra snacks, and extra water. Because winter activities can be cumbersome – heavy boots, unsteady ground, and trying to keep warm – you will burn more calories than you would in the summer, and you need to replenish more often. A thermos full of something warm isn’t going to hurt either.
Be prepared with a first aid kit, a flashlight for the night that tends to fall earlier, and do what you can to prepare for changing weather conditions. And always tell others where you’ll be going.
Jenny Lamothe is a freelance writer, proof-reader and editor in Greater Sudbury. Contact her through her website, JennytheWriter.wordpress.com.
