Snow and freezing temperature can cause some hibernation, but also offers various distinctive and enjoyable activities! Thunder Bay provides visitors with a warm hospitality, appealing scenery, and exciting winter adventures to remember for a lifetime!
Here is a list of 10 winter activities you can do before the temperature become warmer.
1. Snowkiting
Thunder Bay provides perfect snowkiting or kiteboarding experiences. Experience crisp clean air and beautiful landscapes on a thrill-ride across the frozen waters surrounding Thunder Bay. Contact Superior Kiteboarding for planning your winter experience.
2. Ice Fishing
If you just can’t get enough fishing, Thunder Bay present an attractive and neat fishing ground. Ice fishing is an experience worth living, especially if you have never been ice fishing in the past. There are various good ice fishing spots which are in proximity to Thunder Bay such as Black Bay near Hurkett along Lake Superior, about an hour from Thunder Bay and Lac des Mille Lacs. If you have never been into ice fishing, it is advisable to be accompanied by someone who is well conversant with the activity. Trust me, it will be more fan and less uncomplicated.
3. Tour the Ski Hills
Thunder Bay boasts of having two downhill ski hills. In order to balance your adventure equation, why not take your skis or snowboard and ride the slopes located at Loch Lomond and Mount Baldy. Apart from these ski hills being welcoming and charming, they also offer other outdoor activities such as tubing, live performance, and more!
4. Go Snowmobiling
If you ask any snowmobiler who had a chance to ride in the Northwest Ontario region, they will definitely agree with us that the region is by far the best region to ride as it offers an uninterrupted scenic view and a large quantity of snow to ride.
The snowmobile trails are created and maintained by Thunder Bay Adventure trails Snowmobile club. The club is mandated with the task of offering stages where snowmobilers can park for the day or for their weekend adventures, and also marketing riding events. So get your permit and ride over 300 km of groomed trails.
5. Dog Sledding Boreal Forest
This fun engaging activity will make your finger-numbing winter season a lifetime experience. Graced with tons of kilometers of outstanding winter trails, dog sledding can be a remarkable way to discover breathtaking and snow-covered forest located Northwestern Ontario. You can take your friend or family to explore a memorable winter adventure you will be yearning to repeat.
Dog sledding trip can vary from a one-night camping adventure to a night ride under striking winter stars. Visit Boreal Journeys Sled Dog Kennel in Kaministiquia, 45 minutes west of Thunder Bay to experience this adventure.
6. Ice Climbing
Credit: Outdoor Skills And Thrills
Northwestern Ontario is a well-known destination for ice climbing. A top destination for ice climber is the Orient Bay; which transforms into one of best Ontario’s premium crags for sport and ice climbing.
The crags are surrounded by over 120 waterfalls that spread across the adjacent area while the ice can freeze to 10 meters thick, making it home to largest concentration of climbable ice.
Join for guide ice climbing experiences offered by Outdoor Skills and Thrills Inc.
7. Winter at Provincial Parks
Cold shouldn’t let you stay indoors in Northern Ontario. Occasioned with eye-catching scenery, peaceful isolation and a layer of frothy snow, winter camping should be an enjoyable adventure. Dress up in your groove and head out.
Kakabeka Falls
Located half an hour from Thunder Bay, the second highest waterfall in Ontario, the 40 metre high Kakabeka Falls is a sight to behold in winter. Enjoy views of the frozen Falls and the Kaministiquia River Valley on the River Terrace Trail. You enjoy cross-country skiing, explore the park on skis. The campground roads in Whispering Hills, Poplar Point, Beaver Meadow and River Terrace Trails have skate and classic lanes.
Sleeping Giant
This 44-square-kilometer park located an hour east of Thunder Bay offers various activities you can engage in. It offers over 100 km of incredible hiking trails with various outstanding geographical scenery like the Sea as well as Thunder Bay Lookout. Offers an Awe-inspiring view of Lake Superior and you can get a clear grip of the surrounding scene at the top of Giant Trail and Thunder Bay Lookout.
The park offers winter camping with roofed accommodation.
If you looking for winter sports, then the park provides spectacular trail system for cross country skiing. The park is also the site for the annual Sleeping Giant Loppet, a mass participation cross-country skiing festival.
Quetico Provincial Park
Quetico has three winter cabins, if you are planning to go camping in winter. Cabin rental fee includes a pair of snowshoe so that you can take advantage of thirty kilometres of well maintained cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. If you are looking for ice fishing for trout, then you are at the right place!
8. Kamview Nordic Centre
Not interested in skiing? Don’t worry, as there are tons of approaches to enjoy a winter afternoon in Thunder Bay when lacking skis. One of the least demanding and fun ways to have quests encounters during winter is snowshoeing.
Visit Kamview Nordic Centre and try snowshoeing trail a try on the “Wilderness Wander,” a 4.4 km long trail that takes you through snow laden forests and beaver ponds. After your adventure wind down at Chalet.
9. Ice Racing
Can’t wait until summer to experience the thrill of Car racing? Head to Mission Bay on the Fort William First Nation to participate or take-in all the adrenaline pumping action every Sunday. The races are hosted by Thunder Bay Auto Sports Club.
10. Voyageur Winter Carnival
Visit Fort William Historical Park during family day weekend for the annual Voyageur Winter Carnival! Try to find your way through the giant snow maze, enjoy the tubing and sledding hills, try your luck at the winter carnival games, enjoy live indoor and outdoor entertainment, and much more at Northern Ontario’s largest winter carnival.