Things to Do Outdoors this Winter in and Around Cornwall

Credit: Friends of Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Hugging the shores of the St. Lawrence River, this area has plenty of trails and hills to add thrills and fresh air to your winter days. Whether you choose to hang out in Cornwall or venture into the woods around it, it’s easy to embrace this chilly season in this county.

Here are 15+ things to do outdoors in Cornwall and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties.

Zoom on a tube

Countryside Adventures gives you a chance to ride three tubing toboggan hills for 300 metres of thrill-seeking adventures. While you’re there, check out its three-kilometres skating trail through the forest and visit the farm animals. Admission costs $8 for kids and $12 for adults for the day or $35 and $50 respectively for a season’s pass. The park is open from noon to 8 p.m. or later, depending on the day of the week.

Address: 16495 Sixth Road, Moose Creek

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Go downhill at Big Ben

Big Ben Ski Centre offers ski and snowboarding slopes wit ha wire-cable lift with tow handles, alongside its terrain park. Bring your own skis or board, plus a helmet. Come for the day for $7.50 during the week or $9 on a weekend.

Address: 125 Seventh Street West, Cornwall

Glide in Green Valley

Green Valley Community Park has an outdoor rink at 4159 MacKinnon Road. Bring the whole family out for some exercise and games on ice.

Be a guest in the forest

Two Creeks Forest Conservation Area shares its many gifts as a coastal ecosystem, lowland forest and grassland floodplain all in one. Trace your way along a 4.5-kilometre trail through its 457 acres in your boots or on skid or snowshoes while watching for forest denizens.

Address: 11267-11365 Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, Road 2

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Bring your skis or your fatbike

Summerstown Trails welcomes cyclists and snowshoers on its 15 kilometres of trails near Williamstown. Skiers have their own 20 kilometres of groomed trails tucked out of the wind by the trees. Bring your own gear since rentals are not available during COVID lockdowns.

Address: 6150 County Road 27, Williamstown

Behold the birds

The Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary provides a wonderful natural setting for cardinals, blue jays, nuthatches and other winged creatures to enliven your day. Hike, ski or snowshoe along its nature trails as you watch for their colourful feathers. Visits are free but memberships of $15 for adults are welcome to support its operation.

Address: 13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg

Credit: Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Hit the hills

Cornwall has four great tobogganing hills for quick rides and lots of fun. Head to the west side of Legion Park on Race Street, Snetsinger Park on Blessed Sacrament Drive, Lamoureux Park behind the Splash Pad or the east entrance to Long Sault Parkway.

Visit Gray’s to brighten your days

Gray’s Creek Conservation Area has 6.4 kilometres of meandering trails to take your forest bathing for as long as you can. Its 43 hectares of foliage allows you to relax. For more adventure, look for the geocache along the trail.

Address: 18045 SDG County Road 2, South Glengarry

Fall in love with Lamoureux Park

This lovely park in Cornwall beckons you for a skate on its outdoor rink at the Clock Tower or a walk around its bike paths. Bring your snowshoes to explore beyond the trail.

100 Water Street, Cornwall

Cannot wait to skate?

Visit one of the two outdoor rinks in Williamstown. You can lace up at Paul Rozon Park at 19715 John St. or Empey-Poirier Park at 6085 Vine St.

Get away to Guindon Park

Even though this forest is just outside Cornwall, you will feel like you are far from the city once you hit the trails in this 500-acre park. You can travel on skis, fatbike, snowshoes or just your boots as you relax and enjoy the scenery.

Address: Floral Drive, near Trillium Drive

Lace up in Lancaster

Smithfield Park has an outdoor rink where you can glide in the fresh air. You’ll find it at the end of MacDonald Street.

Trek on these trails

The Trails of Glengarry take you along 15 kilometres of groomed trails and boardwalks, as a skier, hiker or snowshoer. Please stay on the trails since some of them cross private properties.

It’s great to skate

Cornwall has 10 outdoor rinks, including two with night skating. These eight are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with limits on number of skaters during COVID restrictions):

Dover Heights Park – Dover and Robertson – limit of 12 skaters
Grant Park – Kennedy and Grant – limit of 25 skaters
Lamoureux Park – Water St – limit of 7 skaters
Mattice Park – Edward St – limit of 14 skaters
Memorial Park – Bedford and Third – limit of 14 skaters
Menard Park – Concorde Ave – limit of 17 skaters
Reg Campbell Park – Leitch and Fraser – limit of 20 skaters
Terry Fox Park – Mercier and Ross – limit of 4 skaters

These two parks have lights on from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.:

King George Park – Seventh and York – limit of 18 skaters
Optimist Park – Sunnyside and St. Michel – limit of 20 skaters

Toast winter!

Two breweries and a winery offer their unique tastes of the area with locally produced beverages to share with friends or family. Stop by Rurban Brewing, Wood Brothers Brewing Company or Stone Crop Acres Winery to brighten up your taste buds.