Winter journey at Arrowhead Provincial Park

Planning a go to to Arrowhead Provincial Park?

Skating via the forest is certainly a winter bucket listing exercise!

However the secret is out! Arrowhead has rapidly develop into one of many area’s hottest winter points of interest so it’s essential you intend your go to fastidiously.

Know earlier than you go! Availability of skating and snowboarding is climate dependent. Test our Snow Report for ski circumstances.

We’ve assembled a listing of often requested questions and prime suggestions for planning your Arrowhead journey:

1. What’s completely different this yr?
2. Do I would like a reservation to go to for the day? Or a separate reservation for the skate path?
3. When is the park open?
4. I’m a season’s cross holder. Do I nonetheless have to order a day use cross?
5. Is the park internet hosting Fireplace and Ice nights this yr?
6. How do I keep away from crowds or lineups?
7. What’s there to do on the park?
8. Do you might have any path suggestions?
9. Is the skate path / ski path open?
10. How do I get to Arrowhead?
11. The place do I park?
12. How a lot does it value?
13. Can I hire skates, skis, or snowshoes?
14. Are there washrooms?
15. Can I keep in a single day?
16. Is meals out there on the market?
17. The place can I’m going if the park will get crowded or is already full?

1. What’s completely different this yr?

This isn’t new nevertheless it’s price repeating: there’s no must cease on the previous gatehouse to your day use, tenting, and Fireplace and Ice permits! Extra on that beneath.

The Lumby Ski Path will probably be CLOSED this season as a result of building tasks within the Lumby Campground, together with electrification of campsites and the constructing of a brand new consolation station. These enhancements are a part of Ontario Parks’ ongoing funding in park infrastructure to boost customer experiences. There’ll nonetheless be entry to the Homesteader, Arrowhead Lake and Beaver Meadow trails. Please observe posted indicators and verify the up to date path map earlier than heading out.

Our Lookout Path will probably be groomed this yr as a multi-use path. That features Fats Biking, snowshoeing, mountaineering, cross-country snowboarding, and skijoring. The path is taken into account reasonable and kinds a 3-kilometer loop. That is the one path within the park that can enable Fats Biking and skijoring.

You may get your day by day car allow on-line as much as 5 days upfront.

Whenever you arrive on the park for day use there’s no must cease on the workplace and verify in when you have reserved and pre-registered on-line, simply go on in and begin having enjoyable!

Like final yr, 100% of day by day car permits will probably be out there upfront. This implies we are going to know upfront if now we have reached capability for the upcoming weekend, and we are going to present these updates on our social media channels.

If now we have already offered all day by day car permits for a sure day, you will be unable to buy a allow (or use your seasonal cross) on the Customer Centre / Park Retailer, and also you will be unable to go to the park. Go to us in the course of the week in case you are trying to keep away from the crowds!

Trying to attend one among our Fireplace and Ice Nights? It’s also possible to reserve your allow on-line upfront! Make sure to choose “Day Use + Fireplace and Ice Night Skate” once you reserve. Your Fireplace and Ice allow is legitimate for the total day together with the Fireplace and Ice occasion within the night.

REMINDER: The Customer Centre/Park Retailer is now your one-stop-shop for your whole allow, merchandise, and provide wants! The gatehouse is now not open to the general public.

We’ve accessible sit skis and ice sledges for ski and ice trails. Our Roe Skate and Basic Trails are rated as accessible and adaptive for snowboarding, and the sledge can be utilized on the Skating Path.

REMINDER: Arrowhead hosts various ski races all through the winter. In case you plan to go to Arrowhead throughout one among these races, you possibly can anticipate the park to be additional busy. You’ll actually need to guide your journey as early as attainable or think about coming one other day. Sure trails could also be closed to the general public throughout races.

For data on when ski races are being held, please verify our social media channels for routine updates or the occasions on our webpage for detailed data.

Some last reminders:

We’re now not providing ski permits. We ask that our guests choose up a day by day car allow for entry to the entire park’s day-use actions, together with snowboarding, skating, and snowshoeing.

Arrowhead now not provides snow tubing.

Make sure that to verify again usually for up-to-date data.

2. Do I would like a reservation to go to for the day?

If you wish to assure your spot throughout Arrowhead’s extraordinarily busy winter season, sure.

We all know you don’t need to spend your time driving to Arrowhead or sitting in traces, solely to be turned away as a result of we’re already full. Test our social media channels for the most recent capability updates.

You may acquire a day by day car allow as much as 5 days upfront of your journey, starting at 7:00 a.m.

Make your reservation:

1. On-line
2. By telephone at 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275) – open day by day from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST

Pre-register your reservation previous to arrival to proceed straight into the park – no check-in required! Pre-register at reservations.ontarioparks.com or by calling 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275).

Your day by day car allow consists of entry to the skating path (climate allowing), apart from our Fireplace and Ice Nights, which require their very own allow.

3. When is the park open?

The park is open all yr lengthy, besides on Christmas Day.

Availability of skating and snowboarding is climate dependent, with snowboarding sometimes changing into out there in mid-December and skating starting in January.

Park hours:

Skating Path hours: 

• Each day: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Friday/Saturday on Fireplace and Ice evening: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Be aware: The Skating Path is closed throughout path upkeep, which happens when mandatory, relying on the climate. Guests should vacate the path throughout this time to make sure security.

Customer Centre / Park Retailer hours:

8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Friday/Saturday Fireplace and Ice nights

Rental Pavilion hours:

9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Fireplace and Ice Days: 9:00 a.m. -9:00 p.m.

Bear in mind: Arrowhead can get EXTREMELY busy throughout peak occasions. You may plan forward by reserving your day use allow as much as 5 days upfront on-line, and verify for capability updates on our social media channels. 

4. I’m a season cross holder. Do I nonetheless must guide a day use cross?

Sure, however at no additional value.

When you have an annual or winter Ontario Parks allow, you need to use the serial quantity beginning with A24- or W24- in your cross to order your allow upfront.

Do not forget that a seasonal allow doesn’t assure entrance if the park reaches capability.

5. Is the park internet hosting Fireplace and Ice nights this yr?

Sure, climate allowing. Fireplace and Ice Nights are held each Friday and Saturday evening starting in late January, depending on climate and ice circumstances of the path.

You may reserve your allow for Fireplace and Ice Nights as much as 5 days upfront. When reserving your allow, be sure to choose the “Day Use + Fireplace and Ice Night Skate” choice.

Please monitor our social media channels for updates.

6. How do I keep away from crowds or lineups?

• Plan a weekday journey
• Keep away from Arrowhead’s busiest occasions, that are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
• Buy your advance day use allow as much as 5 days upfront of your go to
• Pre-register your reservation on-line or by telephone to skip check-in!
• Proceed on to the Customer Centre / Park Retailer
• Test our social media channels for normal capability updates

7. What’s there to do on the park?

• Skating: Glide via the forest on Arrowhead’s 1.3 km ice path
• Cross-country snowboarding: There are 28 km of basic ski trails and 16 km of skate ski trails, starting from newbie to skilled degree
• Snowshoeing: discover the 8+ km of marked snowshoe trails
• Multi-use path: New this yr, our 3-km Lookout Path will probably be groomed as a multi-use path. That features for Fats Biking and skijoring. That is the one path the place Fats Biking and Skijoring are allowed
• Different winter actions: go for a snowy hike, take pleasure in winter birding, or winter tenting and our 13 camp cabins
• Try Stubbs Falls and Massive Bend Lookout!

We hire tools for snowboarding (boots, poles and basic/skate skis), skating (hockey, determine and luxury skates) and snowshoeing (conventional and technical) on the Pavilion, which is situated beside the Customer Centre/ Park Retailer.

Whenever you want a break, try the Customer Centre / Park Retailer! Seize a sizzling beverage, browse the shop, or seize a seat within the Grand Corridor to heat up by the fireside

Our Roe Skate and Basic Path is rated as straightforward and is designated as an accessible path for adaptive snowboarding. We provide accessible sit skis and ice sledges to make sure everybody has an equal alternative to make use of our trails! This tools is offered to hire on the Pavilion.

8. Do you might have any path suggestions?

Know earlier than you go! Test our Snow Report for up-to-date path circumstances and availability.

Security on the paths is your accountability, as is dressing in line with the wintry climate.

Please discover beneath suggestions for every of our three kinds of trails:

Skating path

Please put on an authorized, correctly fitted helmet.

Hockey tools like sticks and pucks aren’t allowed on the path.

Pets are additionally not allowed on the path. They’re welcome by the firepit space initially of the path.

Strollers with rubber wheels and toboggans are permitted.

Skate Aids can be found for brand new and younger skaters freed from cost. They’re situated initially of the path and are first come, first served.

Path upkeep could happen at any time when mandatory, and is from 4:30 p.m. to six:00 p.m. throughout Fireplace & Ice Nights. The path should be vacated throughout these occasions to permit the Zamboni to wash the ice, growing the protection and high quality of the ice for everybody.

Ski trails

Skiers needs to be off the path quarter-hour previous to park closing.

Groomers work on the path day by day – please step off the path once you see groomers approaching to permit them to securely cross.

For path high quality and the protection of skiers, strolling and snowshoeing aren’t allowed on the ski trails. Pets are additionally not allowed.

Snowshoe trails

Solely snowshoe on designated snowshoe trails.

Keep away from strolling on concrete or onerous surfaces with the snowshoes as this may harm them. Carry your snowshoes to an space with heavy snow and strap them on there for some adventuring!

9. Is the ice skating path / ski path open?

Winter outside actions are at all times climate dependent. Test park circumstances earlier than you permit dwelling, as some actions could possibly be closed:

• Try the Snow Report on the Ontario Parks web site (up to date day by day) for skate and ski path circumstances
• Observe Arrowhead on social media for dwell updates

10. How do I get to Arrowhead?

Arrowhead Provincial Park is 7 km north of Huntsville, off Hwy 11. Take exit 226, flip proper onto Muskoka Highway 3, after which flip left onto Arrowhead Park Highway.

11. The place do I park?

Whenever you drive into the park (significantly on a Saturday), you may even see a line up and should present your allow to a park warden. Please be affected person; park workers are working as quick as attainable to get you in to the park!

Whenever you arrive:

• Proceed on to the Customer Centre / Park Retailer – don’t cease on the previous Park Workplace
• Look ahead to park workers or signage to direct you to the suitable car parking zone. Please don’t park on the highway
• There are a number of parking tons. Be able to stroll 200-400 m to the skating or ski trails
• Reserve on-line or by telephone as much as 5 days upfront – Pre-register previous to arrival to skip the line-ups and check-in course of!

Please notice: All automobiles coming into the park should acquire a sound park allow.

12. How a lot does day use value?

The associated fee is $21 per day, per car.

In case you’re trying to assure entry to the park, be sure to reserve your day by day car allow upfront on-line. Allow availability is topic to capability limits.

When you have an annual or winter Ontario Parks allow, you need to use the serial quantity in your cross to order your allow upfront. Do not forget that a seasonal allow doesn’t assure entrance if the park reaches capability.

13. Can I hire skates, skis, or snowshoes?

Sure! Leases can be found on a primary come first serve foundation.

We often promote out on weekends, so arrive early to keep away from disappointment. Leases are provided within the rental Pavilion beside the Customer Centre / Park Retailer.

Rental charges are:

• Snowshoes: $18.00 for 3 hours
• Ice skates $18.00 for 3 hours

Cross-country skis:

• $35.00 for an grownup full day, $28.00 for an grownup half day
• $28.00 for a youth full day, $21.00 for a youth half day
• $112.00 or a household full day, $92.00 for a household half day

All costs embody tax, and half days start after 1:00 p.m.

14. Are there washrooms out there?

Sure. There are washrooms throughout the highway from the previous Park Workplace, on the consolation station close to the skating path, and on the Customer Centre / Park Retailer.

15. Can I keep in a single day?

Sure! You may take pleasure in tent or trailer tenting at Arrowhead.

All seven (7) of our winter campsites are electrically serviced and solely a brief stroll away from the winterized consolation station full with showers, flush rest room amenities, a dish washing station and a winterized trailer water filling station.

We additionally provide cozy camp cabins, which replenish rapidly all winter.

If you’re becoming a member of a campsite or cabin, make sure to register on the Customer Centre and let workers know which web site you can be staying at. Extra car permits are $14.13/evening.

Test our reservation web site for availability.

16. Is meals out there for buy?

Arrowhead provides restricted snacking choices.

We provide a wide range of cold and warm drinks (espresso, tea, sizzling chocolate, water, juice, soda, and many others.), chips, sweet and small snacks.

It is suggested you pack a lunch in case you are spending your entire day with us.

Seize a seat within the Grand Room on the Customer Centre / Park Retailer, or head into the city of Huntsville to strive one among many nice eating choices.

17. The place can I’m going if the park will get crowded or is already full?

If Arrowhead is already full, you might need to try close by Algonquin Provincial Park. However be sure to try our weblog evaluating Arrowhead and Algonquin Park’s winter actions. They each have so much to supply, however provide fairly completely different experiences! Algonquin has:

• skating (at Mew Lake campground, a one-hour drive from Arrowhead)
• snowshoeing
• cross-country snowboarding (it’s solely a 35 minute drive to Fen Lake Trails, or simply over an hour to Leaf Lake)
• a Customer Centre with museum reveals, a viewing platform, and bookstore
• For extra data, contact Algonquin straight by calling (705) 633-5572

Discover the area

In search of extra points of interest, occasions, and lodging to your winter journey?

Try Uncover Muskoka or Explorers’ Edge for concepts!