Arrowhead Park Skating Trail - Fire & Ice Night

Imagine gliding through a frosted forest, under a starry sky, on a ribbon of ice lit by flames reflecting on snow. You don't have to imagine it! You can experience it yourself on the ice skating trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park, just north of Huntsville, Muskoka. Now in its fifth year, the trail has become a must-do attraction for winter getaways.

Photo courtesy of Arrowhead Provincial Park

The skating trail is a 1.3 km loop through the forest at Arrowhead Park, and it's maintained by the park's own zamboni-like grooming machine. Cross-country ski trails, snowshoe trails and fat-biking trails also traverse the park grounds. Don't have your own skates, skis, snowshoes or fat bikes? Rent them at the park for reasonable rates. The park also provides inner tubes to use for free on their tubing hill. And, wow, it's a hill!

Perhaps the coolest thing about the ice skating trail at Arrowhead Park are the special Fire & Ice nights, scheduled on occasion throughout the winter. The last one scheduled for the 2016 season is set for Saturday, February 27 from 6-9pm for night time skating under the stars.

Arrowhead Provincial Park is located an easy drive from the inn. Looking for a winter getaway package to include accommodations and a day in Arrowhead Park? Try our Snowshoe in the Park package.

Check Available Dates or Book Now

Visit the Fern Glen Inn website for more information, or call, email or book online.

See you at the park!

Sunset Snowshoeing

Snowshoe tracks winding through untouched snow.

There's nothing like snowshoeing through a quiet forest to clear the mind and shake off the weight of a busy day. It's a wonderful experience at any hour, but even more so late in the afternoon on a clear day, when the sun casts a golden light against the trees before sinking behind a rosy horizon.

Warm sun, cool sky, fresh air.

Remnants of a strange track (I'm thinking porcupine) lead off into the trees.

The pinkening sky over the next ridge.

Happy snowshoer catches some rays.

 Photos were taken on the private snowshoe trails here at Fern Glen Inn. We provide complementary snowshoes for guests to use to explore our 10 km of trails on our 120 acre forest property.

Arrowhead Park Ice Trail

Imagine gliding through a frosted forest, under a starry sky, on a ribbon of ice lit by flames reflecting on snow. You don't have to imagine it! You can experience it yourself on the ice skating trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park, just north of Huntsville, Muskoka. Now in its fourth year, the trail has become a must-do attraction for winter getaways.

Photo courtesy of Arrowhead Provincial Park

The skating trail is a 1.3 km loop through the forest at Arrowhead Park, and it's maintained by the park's own zamboni-like grooming machine. Cross-country ski trails, snowshoe trails and fat-biking trails also traverse the park grounds. Don't have your own skates, skis, snowshoes or fat bikes? Rent them at the park for reasonable rates. The park also provides inner tubes to use for free on their tubing hill. And, wow, it's a hill!

Perhaps the coolest thing about the ice skating trail at Arrowhead Park is the weekly Fire & Ice Night. Every Saturday (weather permitting) beginning December 27 and continuing through February, the skating trail is lit by tiki torches from 5-9pm for night time skating under the stars.

Arrowhead Provincial Park is located an easy drive from the inn. Looking for a winter getaway package to include accommodations and a day in Arrowhead Park? Try our Snowshoe in the Park package. It includes: 

Snowshoe in the Park Winter Getaway Package

• Two nights accommodations
• Breakfast both mornings
• Handmade biscotti and gourmet hot chocolate
• Use of snowshoes for the day
• One-day Ontario Parks Pass for admission into Arrowhead and/or Algonquin Park

Rate: from $279/couple + tax (higher during Christmas/NewYears holidays and Family Day long weekend)

Check Available Dates or Book Now

Visit the Fern Glen Inn website for more information, or call, email or book online.

See you at the park!

Starring Fern Glen Inn!

See anyone you know in this video from Explorers' Edge? Fern Glen Inn was one of the properties featured in a series of winter videos for the region and Jim and I were some of the models, or as I like to think of us -- superstars.

That's us snowshoeing through knee-deep snow on our own trails and meadows. We had a blast with the videographer (Virginia Hastings of Starshine Video) and photographer (Scott Turnbull) but boy, were we glad we weren't the ones lugging their equipment through the deep snow!

There's a whole series of videos for the region and they do a great job showcasing just how amazing a winter getaway can be in Explorers' Edge. Their tag line is "Winter just turns up the fun" but we think it also turns up the romance, the adventure, the relaxation, the tranquility, the beauty... You'll just have to come see for yourself. But, please, no autographs. :)

For more videos from Explorers' Edge, check out their YouTube channel or Vimeo channel.

What to Wear for Winter Activities

I like to say there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. There's nothing like a brisk winter day to prove this adage true. If you dress to stay warm and dry, you can have a great time outdoors in just about any weather.

The challenge for many visitors to the near north is knowing what kind of clothing will do the job. The good news is it's not very complicated.

Snowshoeing and other winter activities often have you exerting yourself in fluctuating levels of intensity. You heat up on the uphills but cool down quickly on level ground or when you stop to take photos. For these reasons, try to wear layers that you can easily take off to cool down and put back on to warm up.

If possible, avoid 100% cotton clothes, especially for the layers next to your skin. Because cotton is very absorbent, it will hold moisture when you perspire, making you feel damp, clammy and susceptible to cold. Better choices are wool, silk and synthetic materials designed to wick moisture away from your body.

For the upper body, a good combination of layers is:

• long sleeve shirt (of two if light)
• fleece or wool sweater (one that zips up is best so you can unzip it to cool down a bit without taking the whole thing off, but a pull-over will work)
• winter coat with a water-resistant outer fabric

For the lower body, a good combination of layers is:

• longjohns or tights made of silk or a wicking synthetic material
• snow pants (if you don't have snow pants, wear a combination of fleece or warm pants with a top shell that is water- and wind-resistant)

For your feet:

• wool socks are highly recommended; don't wear 100% cotton socks as your feet will/may sweat which will lead to them getting cold very quickly
• warm winter boots, ideally ones that go up past your ankle and have an insulation liner inside (go for warmth and functionality over fashion!)

For your head and hands:

• hat
• scarf or neck warmer
• warm gloves; bring mittens to wear over your gloves when you're sitting in the sled

Other stuff you may want with you out on the trail:

• a bottle of water or a thermos of tea, light snacks
• kleenex/tissue (there are no indoor facilities on the trails)
• sunglasses to cut the snow glare, lint-free cloth
• don't forget your camera!

One of my favourite stores in Toronto for outdoor gear is Mountain Equipment Co-op. They have a great selection of silk and synthetic long underwear and long-sleeve undershirts, fleece garments and specialized footwear. You can also find plenty of choices at department stores, Canadian Tire, Mark's Work Wearhouse, and any outfitter stores, especially those in and around Huntsville. For boots, if you don't want to get too high-end just yet, you can usually find good value at our local Canadian Tire store.

Don't let my list intimidate you. If all you have is cotton, wear cotton. But if you plan to do some shopping to build up your outdoor-adventure wardrobe, then try to stick with the alternative fabrics I mentioned. And you don't have to rush out and buy everything at once. You can always add a new piece or two every year. Quality gear will last you for years. You can haul out your winter adventure wardrobe when the snow starts flying and enjoy getting outdoors and active no matter what mother nature throws your way!

Winter Activities in Muskoka and Almaguin

Winter just might be the most playful season of all. There is so much to do, especially once you get out of the city, get bundled up, and head outside. I've put together a list of some of the popular winter activities in Muskoka and the Almaguin Highlands to get you started planning your perfect winter getaway.

Cross-country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Skating and Tubing
Arrowhead Provincial Park
Hwy 11, just north of Huntsville
Cross-country ski trails groomed for both skate-ski and classic style; snowshoe trails; toboggan hill with free inner tubes available to use; and even an ice skating trail through the forest! A favourite winter hike is the short trail to Stubb's Falls.
Ski, skate and snowshoe rentals available at reasonable rates.

Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
Hidden Valley Ski Hill
Hwy 60, just east of Huntsville
Downhill skiing and snowboarding in the heart of Muskoka.

Cross-country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Dog sledding, Winter Hiking
Algonquin Park
Hwy 60, east of HuntsvilleMany day trails along the Hwy 60 corridor are open for hiking or snowshoeing; plus there are three cross-country ski trails with loops ranging from 5km to 24km. Ski and snowshoe rentals are available at local outfitters. The visitor centre (including interpretive displays, bookstore and restaurant) is open weekends throughout the winter, and daily during the school break season March 7-22. The park office is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Shopping & Dining
Huntsville; from Hwy 11 take exit #219 or #221 and follow signs
Browse the shops, boutiques and galleries of Huntsville's historic down town. Savour a meal or sample some sweets from a variety of restaurants, cafés and bakeries.

Snowshoeing, Tobogganing, Snow angel making, Getting toasty by the fire
Fern Glen Inn
Fern Glen Rd, west of Hwy 11, north of Huntsville
You don't even have to leave the inn to enjoy the peace and quiet of a winter wonderland forest, or the sheer fun of playing in the snow. We'll fuel your day with an abundant, healthful breakfast before you hit the trails or slope. 

Complimentary snowshoes are available for guests to use on our private trails that wind through our 120-acre property. There are toboggans for the hill, bird seed to hand-fee the chickadees, and a real wood-burning stove to warm up by in the rustic cabin lounge. Of course, it's up to you to bring a sense of adventure and a hearty appetite!