If you haven’t skated the Arrowhead Ice Skating Trail yet, this may be the year to do so. One of Canada’s must-do winter experiences is so popular, it often reaches full capacity on Saturdays. The Fire & Ice nights are particularly busy, so you may want to plan in advance if you want to skate on a fire-lit trail.
The 1.3 km Ice Trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park initially opened in 2012, and word has spread about the winter attraction. The trail curves and carves through the evergreen trees in the Muskoka forest and is a breathtaking experience, especially following a light snowfall.
When weather permits, the park hosts several Fire & Ice skate nights in January and February. Organizers illuminate hundreds of tiki torches on the trail, allowing visitors to skate under the stars as they breathe in the chilly night air.
Visitors are encouraged to go midweek or on Sundays when the trail is less busy. Thursday nights are also less crowded for the Fire & Ice nights, advises Muskoka Tourism.
Weather is a major factor in the trail’s open status. In years past, it has opened during the first week of January and closed around the second week in March. It’s open seven days a week, starting at 11 a.m. It closes at 5 p.m. in January, 5:30 p.m. in February, and 6 p.m. in March.
2019 Fire & Ice nights schedule:
Monday, December 31, 2018
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Saturday, March 9, 2019
During Fire & Ice nights, the trail will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Admission ranges from $17 to $20 per vehicle, depending on when you visit during the week. Visitors can bring their own skates or rent a pair for $10. Dogs are not allowed, but baby strollers with rubber wheels are permitted if parents feel comfortable taking their children on the trail in this manner.
The park is also known for its cross-country ski trails for beginner to expert levels. Visitors can also go snowshoeing and downhill tubing.
