Sudbury 
The natural areas and expansive wilderness in Ontario’s northwest begin at Thunder Bay and the north shore of Lake Superior. There are many natural features that make the region worth a trip or day trip any time of the year. This includes the ice formations along the Superior’s shores, the dense forests, and the rivers with their steep or deep valleys.
Among those raging waters with deep gorges and a steep valley is the Kaministiquia River. While the river itself is an incredible natural scene to take in from many parts of Northwestern Ontario, the area around Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park is where you’ll want to head to see the true power of the river.
The park surrounds Kakabeka Falls, a stunning waterfall that is also the second tallest in Ontario, behind Niagara Falls. The Provincial Park is open year-round, but a winter trip to Kakabeka Falls offers some of Northwestern Ontario’s most spectacular frozen scenery.
Viewing the Frozen Kakabeka Falls
The trails for accessing views of Kakabeka Falls are open year-round. These walking trails surround the waterfall, the river, and cross the river over a pedestrian bridge. This enables you to get multiple different views of Kakabeka Falls while it is either frozen solid, or partially frozen.
The Village and Boardwalk Trails provide access to views from the east side of the Kaministiquia River, while the Mountain Portage Trail offers views of the falls from the west with parking lots on both sides.
There will be stairs and viewing platforms from the Village and Boardwalk Trails, which offer views from the top of Kakabeka Falls, as well as about halfway through the water’s 40m plunge.
Winter Recreation around Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
Find many more things to do at Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park this winter. Head to the west side of the park to find the start to cross-country ski trails, the skating loop, and the start of the snowshoe trail.
- A new winter feature at Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park is the ice skating loop. Access the skating area from the Whispering Campground to enjoy it day or night (8am-10pm) as the loop is fully illuminated for evening skating.
- There are about 15km of cross-country and skate ski tracks set on this side of the park. Each trail creates a loop with routes ranging from 1.2km to 10km.
- The Mountain Portage and Little Falls trails, on the west side of the Kaministiquia River, are open to winter hiking and are the park’s best trails for snowshoeing. These trails offer stunning views of the icy river, the snowy gorge, and a second but much smaller waterfall.
Credit: Ontario Parks
More Winter Adventures near Thunder Bay
Whether you head north, west, or south from Thunder Bay, or stay in the city, there are plenty more winter adventures to find around the northwestern shores of Lake Superior.
- Loch Lomond Ski Resort, on the south side of Thunder Bay, provides runs for downhill skiing and snowboarding with excellent views of the surrounding rugged landscape and high cliffs. The resort also has snowshoe trails, a terrain park, on-site dining, and ski/stay packages with Best Western Nor’Wester Hotel & Conference Centre.
- More winter trails await north of Thunder Bay in the Hazlewood Lake Conservation Area. The park’s trails are all under 2.5km in length but can combine to create a full day of snowshoeing or hiking with around 5km of paths to explore.
Thunder Bay’s Winter Events
With Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park just half an hour’s drive from Thunder Bay, the city is a perfect base camp for adventures in the nearby wilderness. Thunder Bay provides numerous places to stay, airport access, Trans Canada Highway access, and plenty of dining and culinary experiences. On top of those, Thunder Bay also hosts a couple of signature winter events.
- The season-long Winter Fun Days in Thunder Bay runs from January to March with a variety of programming scheduled for every Sunday between those months. These family-friendly activities include outdoor recreation and fun, artistic or crafting workshops, scavenger hunts, and more.
- SnowDay on the Waterfront is one-day-only festival in Thunder Bay. The celebrations offer the chance to ride a horse-drawn sleigh, snowshoe, create arts and crafts, play outdoor games, try ice fishing, or sit around the campfire with some hot chocolate.
Places to Stay near the Falls
Between Kakabeka Falls, the River, Thunder Bay, and the Trans Canada, which connects them all, this lakeside region offers many ways and places to stay.
- Options closest to Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park include the Pineview Motel, the Telstar Motel, while places on the western side of Thunder Bay also make for a convenient place to stay. Those include options like the Best Western Nor’Wester, Valhalla Hotel & Conference Centre, and a handful of chain hotels by the Thunder Bay Airport.
- Choose between a wide variety of private rental options in Thunder Bay with full homes, apartments, lofts, or guesthouses, as well as spots by the water.
Planning your Trip – Kakabeka Falls in Winter
What: Kakabeka Falls is the second highest waterfall in Ontario, next to Niagara and stands at 40m tall on the Kaministiquia River. The Provincial Park covers land on both sides of the river, with trails connecting all parts of the park.
During winter, you can enjoy scenic views of frozen waterfalls, winter hiking, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and snowshoeing.
Location and how to get there: Kakabeka Falls is located about 30 km west of Thunder Bay on Highway 17.
Cost: $6.50 per two hours for day use per vehicle.
Best time to go: day use open year-round; Winter Fun: Late December to Early March
For winter-related activities, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and snowshoeing, see here for the latest conditions.
Kakabeka Falls in Summer & Fall
For more information:
Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
