Hitting the Slopes in Northeastern Ontario

The landscape in Ontario is beautiful, especially when it is snow-covered during the winter months. And what better way to take in this landscape than on a pair of skis! Exploring the hills and trails after a fresh snowfall will make you fall even more in love with winter—and Northeastern Ontario has some of the best spots for the sport!

Skiing is a very popular winter sport in Timmins, Ontario, and is home to the local Porcupine Ski Runners Ski Club—one of the largest cross-country ski clubs in the world! They maintain 30 km of illuminated trails that are suitable for both day and night use.

Of course, in areas like Timmins with lots of snow and rugged landscapes, you can hit the slopes as much as you hit the trails. Kamiskotia Snow Resort is known for its downhill skiing and snowboarding, as well as snow-tubing. From the top of the mountain, sitting at 148 metres in the air, you can see from miles around. Bring your own equipment, or rent your equipment from the resort to enjoy the 25 runs. And if you are a beginner, you can take advantage of lessons at the Ski School that the resort offers. No matter your age or experience level, you can spend hours enjoying all that the mountains have to offer.

Looking for a place to play and stay? The Mattawa River Resort offers their "All-Inclusive" winter packages that ensure you get to experience fun in the snow and get to stay in accommodations that match these experiences. With lots of cross-country skiing trails available, you can play all day and then retreat to one of the resort's personal cottages, complete with a fireplace to warm up after a day in the crisp northern air!

If you head farther north, the town of Cochrane Cross-Country Ski Club maintains 27 km of trails, to be enjoyed by all. This is especially emphasized by a cool initiative run by the town of Cochrane, to make skiing on these cross-country trails more accessible. As a part of the town’s “Doable Neighbourhood Project,” those wishing to ski are able to “borrow” skis to use for a day on the trails from the Cochrane Public Library, upon presentation of a Cochrane Public Library card. Visitors to Cochrane can obtain a library card for a fee of $10, and be able to take part in this initiative.

To access the trails, you can purchase a day pass from the Cochrane Cross-Country Ski Club, and if you check the ski club calendar, you can make sure you plan your trip to include a scheduled night ski on the trails, complete with hot chocolate and hot apple cider. 

Get Involved!

Many ski clubs and associations in Northeastern Ontario organize events throughout the season that are open to the public.

Every year, the Porcupine Ski Runners Ski Club of Timmins hosts their annual Porcupine Ski Runners Loppet. This is a family-friendly cross-country ski and snowshoe competition day being hosted on February 29. Also, in an effort to encourage families getting active and skiing together, the Porcupine Ski Club is offering 30% off rentals for use on their trails for this year’s Family Day weekend.

The Friends of Killarney Park hosts an all-ages Family Day event every year, where you can partake in cross country skiing and snowshoeing events throughout the weekend. You can also make accommodations to stay in the area, either at a local inn, at the Killarney Mountain Lodge, or even in one of the yurts in the provincial park.

The Temiskaming Nordic Ski Club has many scheduled events for you to take part in. Make sure to check the schedule on their website, so you don’t miss any of the fun!

So whether you’re hitting the trails or hitting the slopes this season, be sure to check out all that Northeastern Ontario has to offer! 

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