Kingston 
Credit: Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
From exploring bird sanctuaries to hiking along St. Lawerence and taking in the scenic lookouts in the Canadian Shield, here are 15+ things to do outdoors during winter in Brockville and Leeds & Grenville County during winter.
1,000 reasons to visit
1000 Islands National Park plays host to the Jones Creek property, a place where you can leave your snowshoe tracks beside those of forest creatures. You can hike in as well, but you won’t have as much access to the landscape in the deep snow. You could stay out for 20 minutes or two hours. Parks Canada charges $7 for parking.
1088 Thousand Islands Parkway, Mallorytown
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Fly along trails at bird sanctuary
The Rideau Migratory Bird Sanctuary is nestled on the Rideau River near Merrickville, hosting a refuge for birds to nest and rest. The trails amid the 800-hectare property are level and easy to navigate on skis or snowshoes.
Lanark 43 Road, Merrickville
New toboggan hill in Kemptville
The Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation has teamed up with the town to provide a new toboggan hill on its property, but open to the public. The hill is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk at the Ferguson Forest Arboretum
241 Honour Way, Kemptville.
Sled on trails or on hills
The Limerick Forest offers a range of winter activities, including 180 km of trails from single tracks for skiers to 30 km of groomed paths for snowmobilers, thanks to the Leeds & Grenville Snowmobile Association. Check in at any information kiosks at various trailheads for more details. You can also bring your toboggan and ‘sled’ in the forest that way.
1175 Limerick Road, Oxford
Do the Charleston
Charleston Lake Provincial Park gives you the option of seven different trails to ski, hike or snowshoe. The easiest one, Beech Woods Trail, is a level 1.8-kilometre trip through a majestic forest. You can work your way up to the Tallow Rock trek which takes you 10 kilometres across meadows and rocky fields. In between, you can do the Sandstone Island, Shoreline Centennial or Hemlock Ridge interpretive trails or the looping Quiddity Trail, the shoreline Tallow Rock Bay Trail or the Blue Mountain Trail with a view of the Adirondack Mountains in New York State when skies are clear.
148 Woodvale Road, Lansdowne
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Nature comes to life in sculpture
The Sculpture Park in Gananoque features large herons, trees and leaves created by artists as part of Canada’s largest outdoor art exhibit. Walk through the downtown to find each one in a fairyland setting.
2 King Street East, Confederation Park, Gananoque
Ski or fatbike at Mac Mills Trails
The Triangle Ski Club has set up a network of 35 kilometres of spectacular trails in MacIntosh Mills near Mallorytown for skiers and fatbikers. Even snowshoers have their own six kilometres of exclusive trails.
112 Marsh Rd, Mallorytown
Five rinks under the stars
You can get out on outdoor rinks in three separate towns this season. Lace up at Rotary Park in Brockville at 148 George Street, Tunnel Bay on Blockhouse Island in Brockville and Memorial Park on Laurier Boulevard in Brockville; in Spencerville at 22 Sloan Street or in Merrickville at 151 Read Street.
Follow the legacy of Mac Johnson
The Mac Johnson Wildlife Area bears the name of a conservation pioneer in the area, opening up this 532-hectare paradise of forest, fields and wetlands. You’ll find 11 kilometres of trails that are ungroomed this winter so be your own pioneer and break them in after a fresh snowfall.
Debruge Road, Brockville
Find a thrill on this hill
The slope in Memorial Park in Brockville, is steep on one side and gentle on the other, making it suitable for all ages and levels of daring. Start out slow on one side then gear up with a courageous ride down the higher hill.
Laurier Boulevard at Bridlewood Drive, Brockville
Lookouts on the Canadian Shield
For a rugged experience, plan a trek at Marble Rock Conservation Area. Its trails for hikers and snowshoes are for medium or advanced outdoorsmen as you are climbing up rocky trails. You will be rewarded with fabulous views from lookouts on both the north and south trails within the Frontenac Arch Biosphere.
Marble Rock Road, Gananoque
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Sink at link in the waters of the St. Lawrence
The St. Lawrence River boasts more than 20 species of sport fish, including walleye which are easy to catch in the cold weather. While the whole river is rich in fish habitats, the pros recommend Gananoque and the Thousand Islands as prime locations to drag out dinner.
Walk on the level
The North Grenville Rail Trail is an easy trek on an even-to-traverse surface that travels seven kilometres. It will take you through the sights of the town of Kemptville, including the Ontario Agricultural College grounds. You can park off Bedell Road and walk from there or choose another entry point along the way.
A trek through history
When you take the Tip to Tip Trail in Burritt’s Rapids, you learn the value of the construction of the Rideau Canal and how it changed more than the physical landscape. This exploration takes about an hour as you cover four kilometres along the way.
Holy Foley!
That’s what you might say as you look out from atop this granite ride to see Upper Rideau Lake and the lovely village of Westport. The steep drive up the hill gives you a sense that you are going to have an amazing view and you won’t be disappointed. Once you get your breath back, there are seven snowshoe loops to extend your visit, with varying lengths and levels of difficulty. Day passes cost $7 while a season cost will be $50.
Foley Mountain Lane, Westport
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Tunnel vision in Brockville
The Brock Trail winds its way along an eight-kilometre route from the St. Lawrence River north to the Buell’s Creek Reservoir. In between, you’ll see the picturesque waterfront, Canada’s oldest railway tunnel, Blockhouse Island and a series of parks. Enjoy the city’s architecture as you explore.
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Thanks for this excellent list of ideas. I publish ThousandIslandslife.com and I am going to put a pointer to this article in our February issue (Feb.15th) I am sure our readers will appreciate this during Covid.