Fire and Ice at Arrowhead

skate through the woods by torchlight

February 26, 2022

Experience the outdoors in the great white North - at night!

Arrowhead Provincial Park is one of a kind and our favourite winter destination! Sitting just outside of Algonquin park it features more than 33 km of cross-country ski trails, a variety of hiking/snowshoeing trails as well as a lovely visitors centre to cozy up in.

Now, this trip is extra special because not only will you get to play outside in the winter weather, but you'll also get to be out after dark! Come experience Arrowhead's skate trail by torch-lamp.

You’ll have the option of joining a group hike to Stubb’s Falls in the afternoon. After a break for dinner everyone will have free time to be outdoors in their own way. Rentals are available on-site for snow-shoes, skis and skates on a first come first serve basis. see pricing: HERE

Please note there are no lessons provided. Winter activities can be really fun! If you’re trying something new please do so at your own risk.

Trail Difficulty: Easy- Moderate

THIS ACTIVEDAYS TRIP IS ORGANIZED BY THE ACTIVEDAYS COMMUNITY. SEE ALL ACTIVEDAYS TRIPS AND JOIN US VIA OUR FACEBOOK GROUP!

DAY SCHEDULE 

12:00pm - Pick up at 34 Asquith Ave, just north of the Yonge and Bloor Subway stop. We recommend getting there 15 minutes early to make sure you have enough time for the bus.

12:45pm- Pick up at Major Mackenzie and Hwy 400. The pick-up point is located at the MTO carpool parking lot. The bus will pull in right beside the bus stop, located at the parking lot.

1:30pm Stop at Barrie On Route for washrooms/ snack break

3:00pm - Arrive Arrowhead Provincial Park

3:15pm - 4:45pm - optional group hike led by Carly Joynt, Toronto ActiveDays Coordinator

-OR-

3:00pm - 5:00pm: Trek snowshoe/ ski/ hike in small or large groups on the trail system

Be sure to grab your skate rentals at the visitors centre by 5:00pm, it gets really busy after that

5:00 - 6:00 - Dinner - please pack yourself a delicious meal to enjoy on the trail, or at the centre. There will only be 25 people maximum allowed in the visitos centre at one time, it will be best if you pack something warm for yourself to eat by one of the fires!

6:00pm- 7:45pm - Skating on the outdoor rink by torchlight!

8:00pm - departure to Toronto

WHAT TO BRING?

• Dinner! If you can, bring something warm- This helps a lot in staying warm on a cold day

• Tea (optional but, again, a great way to keep warm)

• Winter boots / Hat / Scarf / Mitts (check out this post from our friends at The Tripshed about layering up for the cold: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXOdHfzlvu-/)

• Water (at least 1.5L)

• Skis, Snowshoes, Skates (All of these are rentable at Arrowhead on a first come/ first serve basis too- Check out the Pricing: HERE

• Medications

• Weather appropriate clothing- Layer up!- wool is great as a middle layer as it helps wick water away from the body and keep you warm!

• Camera

• Whatever else you need to have fun on the trail :)

WHAT TO EXPECT WITH ACTIVEDAYS

To us, facilitating this event is about creating an environment that you can engage with in your own way. This is your experience and everyone has their own relationship with the outdoors and their bodies. We want to meet you where you are at — you can take part in the group activities OR choose your own adventure.

Active Days is also a community. This is an inclusive space to meet new people, share stories and have fun! To us, there is no better place to get to know someone than the outdoors. We all share a desire to get out, explore and move.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is there to do in the park before we skate?

- Tubing** WEATHER PERMITTED**: access to Arrowhead’s tubing hill is included in your daypass. Tubes are provided (only park-provided tubes are allowed on the hill; no toboggans)
- Cross-country skiing: There are 28 km of classic ski trails and 16km of skate ski trails, ranging from beginner to expert level
- Snowshoeing: explore the 8+ km of marked snowshoe trails, as well as off-trail snowshoeing through mature hardwood forest
- Other winter activities: go for a snowy hike or try skijoring

What if there is no snow? Do you cancel buses because of the weather?

- There is a possibility that we will cancel a bus due to weather conditions that make visit to the park unsafe or not enjoyable due to trail closures. We generally make this decisions in consultation with park staff. In case of bus cancellation, we will offer an option of a full refund, or a rebooking to a different date, if available.

What if we get too cold? Is there a place to warm up? Washrooms?

- Yes! Arrowhead has several warm up shelters, and a beautiful visitor’s centre which offer seating area, and tables. 2 of these shelters are located right at the bus drop-off, and several more are scattered throughout the park. Park also maintains several campfires to stay warm outside! Due to COVID restrictions there will be limited space indoors. The bus will always be an option if there is no space indoors.

- There are heated flush washrooms available near the skating trail.

Are there places to get food?

- Park sells hot and warm drinks, chips and chocolates at the Visitor's Centre. We highly recommend that you bring dinner and drink with you to be self sufficient - and there are shelters to stay warm at while you are having dinner (or you can stay outside by the campfire).

Are equipment rentals included with the bus ticket?

- We do not include equipment rentals with Arrowhead tickets because there are many different options available, and it would be difficult to organize rentals for everyone in advance. However, Arrowhead bus tickets include park entrance as well as trail passes that are valid for cross-country, snowshoe and skate trails.

How much are rentals?

Check out this year’s rental fees: HERE

Can I bring my skis/skates on the bus?

- Yes! Lots of room.

Are there bathrooms on board the bus?

- Yep!

All ActiveDays participants are required to sign a waiver. We will Send you a copy prior to the trip that you must sign to board the bus. You can find a digital copy of a sample waiver HERE

activedays is made possible in part by the generous support of our partners at mec