Length of stay: 2 days
Visited: January 2025
Arrowhead Provincial Park is located in Muskoka. While this area is commonly known as cottage country, it also boasts of being one the snowiest regions in Ontario. In the winter Arrowhead offers skating, cross-country, skiing and other winter activities to enjoy the snow. It also offers winter camping, including in several cabins for those that want to stay overnight in the park.
The previous weekend we stayed in a yurt in Killarney. But K forgot his backpack inside the yurt, which meant we’d need to make a return trip. And it’s about a 4.5 hour drive, one-way to get there. There aren’t many options for accommodations near the park this time of the year. So all week I checked the Ontario Parks reservation system to see if there were any last minute cancellations in Killarney for a yurt or cabin. But we had no such luck.
However, I noticed that a cabin in Arrowhead opened up for the weekend and I immediately snagged it. Sure, it isn’t exactly near Killarney, but it’s somewhat along the way. And I’ve never been able to book one of the cabins as Arrowhead is insanely popular, especially during the winter. So we decided to make a whole weekend of it.
We left Friday afternoon to avoid rush hour traffic and arrived at the park just as it was starting to get dark outside. After checking in at the Park Store, we set off to find our cabin in the East River Campground. During the winter, the cabins are all walk-in only. We parked at P5 where there’s a short path that leads to the thirteen cabins. Near the start of the path there’s a bunch of sleds provided by the park to help haul your stuff in.
It was a bit brisk outside (-6°C), but it wasn’t too bad, especially in comparison to the previous weekend. We loaded our stuff and the baby into two sleds and off we went. The path splits in two with half the cabins to the left and the other half to the right.
The nice thing about staying in a cabin as opposed to a yurt is that it has an enclosed porch where we could stash our boots. It also comes with a kitchenette complete with a fridge, microwave and kettle. After unpacking, K got started on dinner while I returned the sleds to the parking lot. And baby M got right to exploring her new surroundings.
Day 1: Stubb’s Falls
It snowed overnight and the forest looked magical the next morning. It was overcast, but calm and mild (-2°C) outside. After making a quick breakfast of eggs and toast, K headed out to Killarney, which was a three hour drive one-way from Arrowhead. I stayed behind with baby M who might just hate her car seat more than napping.
M and I set off to go for a hike later in the morning. From the cabin it’s about a ten minute walk, mostly along the road, to get to the Big Bend Overlook. From the small parking lot at the end of the road it’s a short walk to the viewing platform. It required walking across the cross-country ski trail, which wasn’t groomed yet for the day.
We walked back along the road to Stubb’s Falls (2.1km loop, rated easy). There’s a few different access points to reach the trail, but we went with the official trailhead, located right off the main road through the park. The path is wide, relatively flat and follows the East Little River. Along the way there’s a couple different spots to catch a glimpse of the river through the trees. The trees were covered in snow and the forest looked like a winter wonderland.
The main point of interest along the trail are the falls, which can be accessed by walking down a set of metal staircase and crossing the bridge.
The trail continues onward and follows the other side of the river back to the main road. The path is narrower and a bit more rugged. I decided to turn around and walk back the way I came since I wasn’t wearing my microspikes. We headed back to the cabin, passing the ice skating trail on the way. It seemed to be the spot to be on a Saturday morning.
K returned to the park later in the afternoon. He was eager to stretch his legs after spending most of the day in the car. After eating a late lunch, we walked to Stubb’s Falls to hike it again. This time we hiked the entire trail and completed the loop. We also got closer to the river to check out the falls. There were more footprints in the snow compared to the morning, but we didn’t encounter too many people on the trail.
We also walked to the Big Bend Overlook, passing through the part of the campground that’s still open in the winter. There were a few vans and surprisingly a couple of tent campers. We headed back to the cabin to get started on dinner, which consisted of mushroom burgers.
Day 2: Lookouts and Overlooks
The sun was just starting to rise as we got up in the morning. I grabbed a sled from the parking lot, then packed up a few things like our sleeping bags, pillows, and travel crib. The sky was filled with pink and orange coloured clouds through the trees. I couldn’t resist getting a better view so I walked over to the Big Bend Overlook. It was pleasant outside, just below freezing, and it was calm and quiet. There was no one else around. I had the overlook all to myself.
Check out time was 10am. I headed back to the cabin to get started on breakfast. We then packed up the rest of our stuff, triple checked that we had everything, and walked over to the car. After returning our keys at the Park Store, we went on one final hike before heading home.
We settled on the Lookout Trail (3km loop, rated moderate) as we haven’t hiked it before. It’s a multi-use trail for skiing, snowshoeing, biking, hiking and skijoring. And in case you’re wondering what skijoring is, it’s a winter sport in which a person on skis is pulled by animals, typically a horse or dog. That would have been quite something to see on the trail. But unfortunately it was just us animals out there.
The trail weaves through a hardwood forest and features a viewpoint of rural Huntsville. There were also a few interpretive signs, but they were covered in snow. The path is wide, and contains a few rolling hills. It was peaceful, so much so that baby M took a Nordic nap in her baby carrier.
We circled back to the parking lot then used the heated washrooms near the trailhead before heading home. On our way out, there were a lot of cars driving in and it would likely be another busy day in the park.
L
Beautiful photos! Such a lovely park, I’d love to ride a snowmobile there but they probably don’ allow them. Happy weekend!
Thanks for your kind words. You’re right, most provincial parks, including Arrowhead, don’t allow snowmobiles. But there are lots of snowmobile tracks just outside the park. This area typically gets a lot of snow in the winter, so snowmobiling is quite popular.
You’re welcome. ☺️
What a lucky break to forget that backpack and snag a cabin when you returned. The cabin looks cozy and the walks in a winter wonderland well worth it. We always like winter walks where the trees are covered in snow. Happy weekend Linda. Allan
Oh I know! It wasn’t ideal that K had to make the drive back to Killarney to pick up his backpack, but I’m glad we made a whole weekend of it and were able to spend some time in Arrowhead. I’ve been trying to book one of the cabins there for years without much luck. It’s such a lovely park in the winter with all that snow.
Those sunrise photos are amazing! I must admit I felt cold looking at the snowy photos, but it sounds like a good time for the family. And an unexpected little holiday. xo
Thanks! The sunrise was pretty spectacular. I couldn’t think of a better place to enjoy it than at the Big Bend Overlook. Temperature wise it was actually quite comfortable outside, largely because it wasn’t windy. It was a lot of work to go away two weekends in a row, but so worth it.
beautiful sunrise!
The sunrise was stunning. It was worth venturing outside to get a closer look.
Oh my goodness, those cotton candy and fire sunsets are all the more spectacular in contrast to the snowy grounds. Wow! Almost makes the annoying long drive worth it – I would’ve screamed if I got home and realized I forgot my backpack! 😂 But such is life, filled with unexpected adventures and catalysts for new adventures!
Ha, no kidding!! I’m glad we made the most of it though and were able to make a weekend trip of it. I’ve actually been trying to book one of the cabins at Arrowhead for a few years now, so I’d say it worked out well! The sunrise was beautiful and well worth the hike to the Big Bend Overlook to enjoy.
That sunrise is beautiful. Thought I’d let you know, the second (?) paragraph on Day 1 is repeated immediately after. Maggie
The sunrise was such a lovely surprise. It looked even more beautiful as the colours were reflected in the snow. Thanks for letting me know about the repeated paragraph. Whoops!
How wonderful that the forgotten backpack lead to such a wonderful winter weekend! I can see why the cabins are so frequently booked; that park is gorgeous. I really enjoyed your photos. Cheers.
I’d say it worked out rather well. If my husband didn’t forget his backpack, I likely wouldn’t have found that last minute cancellation for a cabin in Arrowhead. And I’ve been trying to reserve one of their cabins for years. It’s a very popular park in the winter and I can easily see why.
Hi, I enjoy reading the stories of your adventures, you write beautiful and the photos are magnificent. I still miss Canada and the Canadian winters and hiking and camping since moving back to Holland years ago but by reading your descriptions it comes back since I was the same age with my daughter in a Korrimor backcarrier in the 70’s .. thank you so much for your sharing this , greetings from Marianne
Thanks so much for your lovely comment. We had a proper Canadian winter this year with a lot of snow. I’m glad we made the most of it and were able to enjoy the snowy scenery. Glad to hear this brought back fond memories and that you spent a lot of time outdoors with your daughter. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Linda
Wow, these pictures are amazing… I’m not a fan of snow, but they make it look so beautiful. Arrowhead sounds like a winter paradise, and it’s great you got to experience it.. Thanks for sharing this lovely adventure…
Thanks! You’re right, the snow is cold, but at least it looks pretty!! This was a fabulous park to enjoy the snowy landscape.
It’s brave of you to spend a winter weekend in a cabin or a yurt, I’m surprised that so many people are attracted. Now, it’s understandable given the beautiful images of the sunrise and of the landscape after the snow, but still, you have to be brave.
The yurts and cabins are heated, which always helps. We did see a few people tent camping in the other part of the campground though. Now those people are brave!!
How lovely! To me, the second shot emanates a Christmas vibe. Maybe because of the snow outside and the seemingly warm cabin inside. It just looks so cozy. The sunrise you saw on Day 2 was just spectacular! I love the contrast of the orange clouds and the whiteness of the snow on the ground.
Thanks! The forest looked like a winter wonderland with all that fresh snow, which made the cabin feel even cozier. The sunrise the next day was stunning. I’m glad the overlook was nearby as it was the perfect spot to enjoy the colours in the sky and reflected on the snow.
Your photos are absolutely stunning! You’ve done an excellent job of capturing this beautiful, winter landscape.
Thanks so much for your kind words. The winter may be cold, but the landscape sure looks beautiful when it’s covered in snow.
What a beautiful park Linda and it worked well that you got to make a weekend of it somewhere new. It looked to be a real winter wonderland and the sunrise photos are absolutely beautiful. I also always triple check accommodation before checking out and can only recall leaving behind o ne nightdress (it was white) so it must have got buried under the bedding and a UK to Euro travel adapter that must have stuck in the wall when we unplugged the extension lead – so not too bad considering we travel a lot!
Thanks for your lovely comment. It’s not often that we leave something behind while travelling. Thankfully we were able to drive back to retrieve it, and make a whole weekend of it by visiting a somewhat nearby park. I’ve been trying to book one of the cabins there for years. So I’d say it all worked out in the end. Glad to hear that you haven’t left much behind either, especially considering how often you travel!
Amazing pictures.. we love to winter camp. We have a nice camper and our dogs enjoy the snow on the trails when we go!!
Thanks so much for your kind words. I don’t mind camping in the winter, so long as we have a heat source! The parks are typically quiet and there are no pesky bugs around. Glad to hear you’ve been able to use your camper in the winter and that your dogs enjoy playing in the snow.
Great photos, winter is so beautiful seen from a park, a bit less when seen from a large city half snow half slush…thanks for sharing!
Thanks! You’re absolutely right about how snow looks so different in the city compared to out in nature. In the city it can be a nuisance, but in the forest, it looks magical.
Gorgeous landscape! 🙌🏼
The forest looked very enchanting with all that snow. Thankfully it wasn’t too cold outside so we could do some winter hiking and enjoy the snowy scenery.
The photos are exquisite! I feel as if I have travelled within a Robert Frost poem after reading your post. Thanks for sharing! ⛄️
You are too kind. It’s a lot of work to bundle up in the winter, but it’s so worth it to enjoy the peaceful winter landscape. Thanks for reading. Enjoy the rest of the week. Linda
A bit brisk, yes, but your photos are stunning! Thank you for sharing. ❄️
Thanks for reading. I don’t mind all the snow when I can play in it and don’t have to shovel! Plus it makes the forest look so magical.
A pleasure to visit your posts and true! ❄️☃️
You are too kind
Enjoying that beautiful Big Bend Overlook alone in the morning sounds wonderful! Skijoring is becoming popular. There are places around here that offer the thrilling experience of Skijoring with their horses. I haven’t tried it, but it looks fun.
It was nice to have the overlook all to myself to enjoy the sunrise. It was so peaceful and pretty. It’s interesting to hear that Skijoring is becoming popular. I’ve never seen it before, but I’m intrigued!
Heading north again I read into what I view as an isolated vicinity. I would welcome such silence of nature myself.
It was very peaceful in the snowy forest. It’s always nice to get away from the city and spend time in nature, especially when we had a warm cozy cabin to return to afterwards.
Looks like you made the most out of the backpack incident, Linda. Sounds like a very lovely weekend. Glad that you went back to the Big Bend because those sunrise photos are stunning, especially with the bright orange reflection on the snow. 🙂
You bet. It wasn’t ideal to have to go back for the backpack, but I’d say it worked out rather well as I’ve been trying to book one of the cabins at Arrowhead for years. The snowy scenery looked beautiful, especially in the morning as the sun was rising.
So awesome post 🌷🙏👍🏻 The photos of Winter , all it’s beauty , are very attractive ❄️☃️
The cabin looks so lovely and trees and roads all covered with snow , wonderful view and
Your explanations are very interesting to read 👌❤️😍 thank you so much for sharing,
Many greetings Blessings my dear dear friend 👏💞🌷
Thanks so much for your kind words and for leaving a comment. The landscape looked beautiful covered in all that fresh snow. It made staying in a cabin feel even cozier.
So welcome and many blessings my dear friend 🌷🙏🥰🌷
Thanks! Have a wonderful day!
🌷🙏🥰✍️🌷
Beautiful winter. Beautiful and peaceful. The photos are stunning.
Thanks! The snow is cold, but it sure looks beautiful. It’s now all melted and we’re looking forward to the spring!
We are waiting for spring as well but today we got the snowstorm 🙄❄️☃️😄
Hopefully it will melt in couple days
Yikes!! Hopefully that’s the last snowfall of the season!
Hope so too🙂
Wow! All your photos are beautiful but those sunrise photos are especially spectacular. I love your posts. You’ve inspired me to get out to more parks with the family…in all seasons!
The park looks magical in the snow and your photos are beautiful. I particularly love your photos of the sunrise, they’re spectacular! I’d never heard of skijoring before, I’m going to have to look that up, I’m intrigued to see it in action 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind words. The fresh snow really transformed the forest. I still can’t get over how beautiful the sunrise was. It was definitely worth venturing out in the cold to see. Apparently skijoring is becoming pretty popular. I’ve never seen it before either but I’m curious to see it in action too!
Great job capturing the beautiful landscapes. 😊
Thanks so much! I’m convinced it’s impossible to take a bad picture when the snowy scenery is that pretty.
Thinking you are right about that. 😊
Nature is just so picturesque and pretty 🙂
Hiking in the winter is one of my favorite things. It is an entirely different experience with entirely different feel than other times of the year. This park looks so beautiful all wrapped up in its winter coats 🙂
Mine too! The trails are typically quieter. And I find the snow just makes the landscape look so magical, especially after a fresh snowfall!
Beautiful sunrise!
It was worth venturing out into the cold for a closer look!
Camping in winter is a completely different experience than when it’s warm and sunny weather! You guys actually make winter camping look really nice – it’s a real winter fairyland. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that K forgot his backpack (even though it was quite a distance for him to drive) – just imagine what you would have missed if you hadn’t come to this cabin at Arrowhead Provincial Park! Love the sunrise photos!
It helps that we had a warm cozy cabin to stay in! I actually prefer to camp in the winter as the park is quieter and there are no bugs around. Plus the snow just looks so pretty. Agreed, I’d say it worked out well that we had to go back for the backpack as we got to go on another trip!
The scenery is so beautiful with this snow. It looks so peaceful 😍.
It was very peaceful, quiet and cozy. We had a lot of fun in the snow, especially baby M.
Ooooh, it’s so pretty! Especially that sunset. Sounds like a good way to turn a misplaced backpack into a great little getaway!
Absolutely! While it wasn’t ideal to have to go back for the backpack, at least we got to make a weekend of it and spend more time outside in the snow!
Lovely sunrise photos 😍👏
Thanks! It was worth getting out of bed early to see!
Oh my goodness, that orange sky against the snow – it’s beautiful. What a lovely little getaway to get out in nature; though -6 degrees being not that bad had me gasping; in that temperature my whole body seizes up and I have to sit by a fire to de-thaw myself.
The sunrise was really beautiful and well worth venturing out in the cold for a better look. The temperature was much warmer in comparison to the previous weekend when it dropped to below -20C! That’s too cold for hiking, even for us!
-20 is absolutely crazy!! I couldn’t do it.
It’s even worse when it’s that cold and windy! I’m so glad winter is now (mostly) behind us!
Stubb’s falls are beautiful. I love sunset photos you got, too. I’m happy you found a cabin to stay in. Great job 👍 because I would be having an anxiety attack but you stayed calm and figured it out. It looks like a beautiful place .
We’ve been to this park in a few different seasons, but I must say visiting in the winter is my favourite. The snowy landscape looks so pretty, especially around the river and falls. I’m so glad I went outside early enough to see the sunrise. Oh wow was it stunning.
My husband was actually a bit stressed about his backpack because it had his wallet inside. We managed to call the park in advance and they stored the backpack in the park office until we could come to retrieve it, which was awesome. Thankfully nothing went missing!
You have some of the best adventures ever! So glad you were able to rescue the backpack.
Thanks! I’m glad we were able to retrieve the backpack and make a weekend getaway out of it! This is such a fun park to explore in the winter.
What a cute cabin and gorgeous scenery. Leaving something behind made for a good experience. Not something you want to frequently, but you experienced this place.
Exactly! I’d say it worked out rather well. While it was a lot of work to go away two weekends in a row, it was worth it to enjoy the snowy scenery.
I love the beautiful hiking trails, they look like a wonderland with all the snow!
The fresh snowfall definitely added to the whole cozy cabin experience. And it made hiking in the forest feel very magical.
I will try to get back to you on Word Press when I return from vacation in May. Thanks for checking in.
Sounds good. We’re actually away on vacation too at the moment (currently in New Zealand) and will be returning early May.
Lovely photos! I am not a fan of cold or winter but that cabin looks so inviting and cozy it may make me chang my mind! Lori
Thanks for your kind words. I’m not a fan of the cold either, but the snow sure looks pretty. And hey, if it means there are no crowds or bugs, I’ll take it!
Such awesome photos!
Thanks! The forest looked so enchanting covered in a fresh layer of snow.
The snowy scenery looks amazing! We’ve had so much snow this winter!!
Lovely photos!
I know! We were seriously debating whether to buy a snowblower!
Canadians are a hardy bunch, glad to know there are still plenty of people out in the winter! (I write this as I watch a spring snow falling here in the Colorado Rockies.) Lovely sunset over the snow photos.
The winter is such a great time of the year to hike and enjoy the outdoors. The trails are quieter and we don’t have to worry about bears or bugs. And the snow just looks so pretty. I’m sure the Rockies look beautiful all year round, but especially in the winter.
Wow, so many beautiful winter photos, Linda! I have to say that something is alluring about a landscape covered in snow, as it can be visually striking and beautiful, creating a serene and awe-inspiring scene. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
Thanks Aiva. I couldn’t agree more about how the snow just transforms the landscape. It also makes for some peaceful hiking. Thanks for reading. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Hi Linda! These are some terrific pictures and, as always, I enjoyed your descriptions and commentary. I smiled at the mention of your baby not liking naps and car seats. I bet she’s at that stage where she wants to get out and experience the world! Your cabin looked very nice. On a recent local hike, we discovered cabins and yurts. My husband and I had not seen a yurt before and the ones there looked much like the ones in your blog posts. Take care 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment. Our little one has always been a terrible napper. You’re absolutely right about how all she wants to do is move around and explore her surroundings. And she just loves being outside. We’ve been trying to book one of these cabins in Arrowhead for years now. I’m glad the timing finally worked out, especially on a weekend where it wasn’t too cold outside. Good to know you have yurts and cabins in your area too. Highly recommend staying in one!
Really pretty sky photos. Wow!
Thanks for your kind words. The sunrise was stunning. It was well worth venturing outside in the cold first thing in the morning to see.
Oh sure, he “forgot” his backpack 🙂 I bet you’re glad he did, because what a great weekend away. To stay in that cabin in the winter. Very lucky.
Your river and creek phots are very creative, however the early morning sunrise shots steal the show. I love sunrises, and you captured this one beautifully. I’m glad you had the opportunity for back to back adventures in Muskoka. It’s a truly stunning part of Canada.
Despite having to make the long drive back to Killarney to retrieve the backpack, I’d say it worked out rather well as we got to spend the rest of the weekend enjoying the cabin and snowy scenery in Arrowhead. The sunrise on our last morning was stunning. It was definitely worth going outside in the cold to enjoy! Agreed, the Muskoka area is very lovely, even in the winter.
I want to camp in the snow so bad! Waiting for winter ❄️
Camping in the winter is a whole different type of experience. But I don’t mind it, especially when we’re staying in a heated yurt or cabin. The park is much quieter and there are no pesky bugs.
I do love the idea of less bugs 😂
Me too, especially since I seem to have sugar water for blood. The mosquitoes love me.