Winter Events in Muskoka & Almaguin

There are plenty of activities and events in Muskoka and the Almaguin Highlands this winter. From outdoor festivals and activities, to live performances and inspiring films, to laidback getaways with wide open schedules, there's something for everyone.

We've started compiling a list of events. Check back often for updates.

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Burk's Falls Winterfest
Burk's Falls
Sleigh rides, indoor and outdoor games, prizes, vendors and live entertainment. At the Burk's Falls fair grounds. Visit the Burk's Falls Winterfest page for details.
Jan 12 & 13

Banff Mountain Film Festival
Huntsville
Be inspired and exhilarated by a selection of films that take you around the world, to the tops of mountains and down raging rivers. From adrenaline-fueled action sports, to an exploration of wild landscapes and remote mountain cultures, the films in this year's Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour will ignite your passion for adventure.
Algonquin Outfitters is the host for the Huntsville stop on the tour; and the Algonquin Theatre is the venue. Two evenings screening different shows. Discount at the Algonquin Outfitters store for people attending both shows.
Festival Special: Stay two nights at Fern Glen Inn and attend at least one night of the festival and get $32 off your stay. That's the cost of two tickets!
For descriptions of the films, visit the Algonquin Outfitters blog. Purchase tickets online from Algonquin Theatre.
Jan 22 & 23

Muskoka Loppet
Arrowhead Park
A classic ski tradition at Arrowhead Park just north of Huntsville, hosted by the Arrowhead Nordic Ski Club. 15 km and 30 km classic events; 3 km and 9 km individual and relay snowshoe events; 5 km classic for social skiers. Visit the Arrowhead Nordic Club website for details.
Jan 27

Algonquin Outfitters Winter Fun Day

Oxtongue Lake

An activity-packed day sampling the best of a Muskoka winter. Activities and events include rides, winter games, snowshoe hikes, races, Nordic ski lessons, winter camping demos, outdoor BBQ and campfire, plus in-store sales and prizes.

Visit Algonquin Outfitters events calendar for details.

Feb 9

Art Froid at Arrowhead Park
Huntsville
This "Cold Art" festival in the park features snow sculptures along the skating trail. Park visitors will be given ballots to vote for their favourite entry. The event also features night skating by tiki torch, a campfire for roasting hot dogs, plus free hot chocolate. For more information visit the Ontario Parks blog.
Feb 9

Valentine's Day
Fern Glen Inn
The best gift you can give your sweety is some time away with you! We think any getaway here at Fern Glen Inn is special, but if you want to add some extra treats, order our Muskoka Winter Wonderland package, including 2 nights accommodations, breakfast both mornings, homemade biscotti and gourmet hot chocolates, plus a one-day parks pass to explore Arrowhead or Algonquin Park. Every winter stay includes complimentary use of snowshoes to enjoy on our trails. Book online or email us for details.
Feb 14

February Long Weekend
Fern Glen Inn
Make the most of your mid-winter break by getting out of the city and coming out to play in the snow! Go snowshoeing and tobogganing (complimentary on site); let us book you in for a guided dog sledding tour; enjoy all the winter activities in Arrowhead Park; hand-feed the chickadees or unwind by a real wood fire. This weekend always fills up so reserve your room soon. Visit Fern Glen Inn or book online.
Feb 15 - 18

Winter in the Wild

Algonquin Park
Join Ontario Parks and The Friends of Algonquin Park in celebrating winter in Algonquin Park through indoor and outdoor events at various locations throughout the Highway 60 Corridor of the park. Events and activities include guided snowshoeing and birding, touring the visitor's centre collections, landscape and wildlife photography tips, winter camping demos, and bonfire and wolf howl. Visit the Friends of Algonquin Park for details.
Feb 16

Dwight Winter Carnival
Dwight
Celebrate winter with events and activities in this town just west of Algonquin Park. Visit the Dwight Winter Carnival website to see what's in store.
Feb 21 - 23

Ontario 55+ Winter Games

Huntsville

Athletes 55+ come to Huntsville to compete in winter sports including skiing, skating, hockey and more. Visit Ontario 55+ Winter Games for details.

Feb 26 - 28

Randy Bachman - Every Song Tells A Story

Huntsville

Inspired by his award-winning radio program Vinyl Tap, Randy Bachman takes his master story-telling and musical knowledge on the road to give fans on a guided journey through the last 30 years of popular music. In the intimate setting of the Algonquin Theatre; $55/person. Purchase tickets online from the Algonquin Theatre.
Mar 21

Holiday Wishes

Cross-country Skiing Lessons

Arrowhead Provincial Park has a great network of cross-country ski trails for a variety of skill levels, groomed for both nordic-style and skate-style skiing. Plus they rent skis if you don't have your own. It's a challenging sport, though, and can be a lot of work if you don't know what you're doing out there. Happily, we recently heard about a couple offering cross-country skiing lessons in the park.

Dan and Joan of Ski For Life have been teaching for years and frequently offer courses at Arrowhead Park. They are currently promoting classes on December 29th and 30th but have dates available throughout the winter. Here's the info from them:

ARROWHEAD PARK
Our first Northern Getaway Lesson of the year -- all equipment supplied.
Beginners, novices or those brushing up on long forgotten skills are all welcome. 

The lesson starts with preliminary info and outfitting, followed by instruction and trail skiing. Full-day lessons include a rest break in the warming hut for a half hour or so right at Arrowhead (bring a small packed lunch). On half-day lessons, eat a light lunch before arriving. The park trail fee for each adult skier, including ourselves, is $11. 

Date: Saturday December 29
Time: 9:30am till 3pm
Location: Arrowhead Provincial Park
Lesson Fee: $40/person
Park Admission Fee: $11/person

Date: Sunday December 30
Time: noon till 3:30pm
Location: Arrowhead Provincial Park
Lesson Fee: $40/person
Park Admission Fee: $11/person 

Contact Dan and Joan at Ski For Life directly to book your lesson or enquire about lesson dates. www.skiforlife.net

If you're staying here at Fern Glen Inn, you know we'll start your morning with a hearty healthy breakfast to sustain you on the trails!

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Squares

It's that time of year again! An abundance of holiday parties, open houses, potlucks and office socials mean it's time to break out your baking gear. And so I think it's the perfect time to share one of my very favourite sweets with you. 

These cheesecake squares are easy, quick to come together with few ingredients, travel well, freeze great, and can be kept simple for the novice baker but make a perfect blank canvas for the advanced baker to unleash some decorative flare. 

I've been making variations of them for years and years and have lost track of how many times I've given out the recipe to friends and coworkers. I hope you enjoy them too!

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Squares

2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup icing sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
6 oz (3/4 cup) cold unsalted butter
2 250 gram packages cream cheese, softened to room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup dulce de leche*
icing sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9"x13" cake pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang so it will be easy to lift out.

Measure flour, icing sugar, salt and baking powder into the bowl of a food processor process and pulse to combine. Cut butter into 1/2" dice and add to flour mixture. Pulse to combine then process until mixture looks like wet sand. Dump into prepared pan and press evenly onto bottom. Bake shortbread until dry on top and pale golden, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in the bowl of stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or with electric beaters), beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in granulated sugar and vanilla extract. Beat in eggs, one at a time, on low speed until just combined.

If dulce de leche is very thick, heat gently until it is spreadable.

Spread the dulce de leche evenly over hot shortbread. Carefully pour the cream cheese mixture over top, covering the dulce de leche completely. Bake until slightly puffed and dry on top, about 30 minutes.

Cool completely in pan then chill for at least an hour for cleaner slicing. I like to trim the edges off then cut into 1 1/4" squares (makes about 54) for snacking or a dessert buffet but you can cut into larger pieces for a more substantial dessert. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Can be frozen, well wrapped, for longer. Dust with icing sugar before serving.

* Dulce de leche is a rich caramel sauce available in the jams or baking section of most grocery stores. You can also make it yourself: Empty one can of sweetened condensed milk into an 8" or 9" ceramic or glass baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350°F, stirring occasionally, until thick and golden brown in colour, about 1 hour. Cool to room temperature before continuing with recipe.

Make it Fancy

There are so many ways to dress up these basic cheesecake squares if you want to add some bling to your sweet, such as...

• Drizzle the cooled cheesecake squares with zigzags of melted dark chocolate

• Spread a thin layer of dark or white chocolate glaze over the cooled cake and sprinkle with chopped nuts, crushed hard caramel candies, colourful sprinkles, silver dragees or even edible gold foil

• For dessert-sized servings, add a dollop of whipped cream and a ribbon of bittersweet chocolate sauce

Variations

Raspberry Cheesecake Squares: Replace dulce de leche with good quality seedless raspberry jam. Drizzle cooled cake with melted dark chocolate (optional).

Blueberry Cheesecake Squares: Replace dulce de leche with good quality blueberry jam. Spread cooled cake with melted white chocolate (optional).

Gianduia (Chocolate-Hazelnut) Cheesecake Squares: Replace dulce de leche with chocolate-hazelnut spread (such as Nutella); add 1/2 cup toasted skinned hazelnuts to the food processor with the flour and process until finely chopped. Drizzle or spread with melted chocolate and sprinkle with chopped toasted skinned hazelnuts.

Arrowhead in Between

We're in between seasons now. The fall colours have all fallen but the snow hasn't started yet (not in earnest, it hasn't). It's too cold for swimming and too warm for snowshoeing and that leaves a lot of people wondering what to do with themselves around here. My favourite answer to that: hiking!

Cool days, fresh air, clear paths, no crowds. All excellent ingredients for a great day on the trails. A popular local spot for afternoon hikes is Arrowhead Provincial Park, just north of Huntsville, Ontario.

The park is closed to vehicle traffic at this time of year but there's ample parking at the entrance gate and visitors are welcome to walk, hike, cycle and even roller blade into the park during the day. It's about 1.5km from the gate to the (closed) park office and the start of the 2km Mayflower Lake Trail or 2.7km Homesteaders Trail.

You can venture further into the park to access even more of the trails, such as the one that goes to Stubb's Falls. From the park gate to the falls and back is about an 8km round trip walk/hike. While there are some good long hills on the route, most of it is on paved roadways absent of cars.

I recently did the hike to Stubb's Falls and back in about an hour and twenty minutes, but allow yourself at least two hours so you can spend some time viewing the falls or wandering along the lakeshore. There are lots of photo ops, even if this isn't our prettiest time of year.

Even though the park is officially closed, you won't be alone there as it a favourite outing for many locals and visitors, especially on a mild weekend afternoon. Plus we have park maps here at the inn for guests to bring along on their hike so you'll have the lay of the land.

It's between seasons now, what some would call the "off" season, but take advantage of this limbo time while you can. Once winter sets in, the cross-country ski trails, snowshoe trails, and the new ice-skating trail will be open and Arrowhead Park will be a bustling hive of activity for outdoor enthusiasts once again.

Track and Tower Trail

It was a beautiful November day -- mild temperature, sunny breaks, and my birthday to boot! -- so we headed over to Algonquin Park for an afternoon hike. I got to choose the trail and since I've never done the Track and Tower Trail, and because I wanted to make good use of a particularly fine day, that was the one I chose.

It's a 7.5 km trail including the side loop over to the lookout point. It's definitely worth the extra couple of clicks to get that view! We did it in just under 3 hours with brief stops for snacks and photos. The Algonquin Park trail guide recommends allowing 4 hours for the hike and that's about right for a leisurely pace. It's also wise to err on the side of caution when planning a hike at this time of year. The days are short and there are fewer people on the trails so it's important to start a trail only if you know you can finish well before the sun goes down.

The trail followed Cache Lake to start.

Rivers, rapids, and bridges make for interesting sights and sounds along the way.

A few sections of the trail use boardwalks to protect the land and/or our feet.

A lovely little waterfall cascade. We could hear this one well before we could see it.

Over 130 steps up to the lookout and back down again.

The view from the top! Totally worth the stairs!

Part of the trail follows an old train track. It ends rather abruptly where a bridge used to span a river.

And it picks up on the other side where it left off.

The old track sections make for some easy, level walking.

Even though the ambient temp was 15°C, these frozen little waterfalls stayed cold against the rock face. 

Cool curtain of ice!

Old footings, remnants of a train trestle.

A river runs through it.

Hike complete! Either I'm doing a happy dance or I'm trying to get untangled from the leash. Either way, what a great day!

Oh, Deer!

We know deer frequently inhabit our little meadow at night. We see the tall grasses flattened down where they sleep, as well as other signs they've been. We often catch brief glimpses of them in our headlights when we pull into the parking lot after an evening out.

This week, though, two deer have been active in our back lawn in the middle of the day. We've been able to watch them from windows in the kitchen and the Loft room. They stay awhile and graze on grass and other vegetation. They've completely chewed down our comphry plants, which is fine with me -- I'm just glad someone is making use of them!

Yesterday when Jim saw the deer were back, he grabbed his camera, quietly slipped outside and then slowly, slowly, made his way close enough to get some nice pictures. We know we're sharing our forest with many wild animals but it's such a rare treat to get a good long look at them doing what they do.