First Day Hike

January 1st, 2023

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.

Join Carly for a gorgeous hike and group activities to start the year off on the right foot.

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

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

DAY SCHEDULE

8:00am - 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.

8:30pm - Stop at On Route for washrooms/ snack break

11:00am - Arrive Arrowhead Provincial Park

11:00pm - 12:30pm - group hike led by your ActiveDays Trip Leader

12:30- 1:00pm - Lunch along the trail, fireside or back at the Visitor’s Centre

1:00pm - 3:30pm - Continue hiking or trek snowshoe/ski in small or large groups on the trail system

3:30pm - departure to Toronto

WHAT TO BRING?

Lunch! 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
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 while we’re not on the hike?

- 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!

- 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 bring printed copies of the waiver to sign on the bus. You can find a digital copy of a sample waiver HERE

Photographs and/or video may be taken at this event. By taking part in this event you grant the event organisers full rights to use the images resulting from the photography/video filming, and any reproductions or adaptations of the images for fundraising, publicity or other purposes to help achieve the group’s aims. This might include (but is not limited to), the right to use them in their printed and online publicity, social media, press releases and funding applications. If you do not wish to be photographed please inform an event organiser.