Length of stay: 2 days
Visited: March 2026
Arrowhead Provincial Park is located near Huntsville, an area in Ontario that typically gets hammered by snow. But the park has fully embraced winter and offers a plethora of activities to enjoy the ice and snow. This includes skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and for those who are a bit adventurous and have their own skis and a dog, skijoring. Arrowhead offers camping and has several heated cabins for visitors to stay overnight in the park, even in the winter.
We had a glimpse of spring earlier in the week with temperatures soaring in the mid to high teens. Most of our snow had melted. But Mother Nature decided we weren’t quite finished with winter. The weather forecast was calling for 10cm of snow during the day. And Huntsville was expecting nearly double that.
We left work a bit earlier and headed out at 2:30pm to drive to Arrowhead before the worst of the snow. Not surprisingly traffic was terrible on account of the weather. There were quite a few accidents on the highway. For what should have been a 3 hour drive ended up taking 4.5 hours. Granted, we did have to stop a couple of times as M is currently potty training.
We arrived at the park just before 7pm and it was still heavily snowing. The Visitor Centre was closed so we headed straight for the campground. All the cabins are walk-in only. So we parked our car and grabbed a sled to lug our stuff in. It’s not a far walk, only a few hundred metres, and the path is pretty flat and well travelled.
We unpacked and settled in then heated up leftovers for a late dinner. M was happy to be out of the car seat so we let her stay up a bit later than usual to explore her new surroundings.
Day 1: Hiking in the Snow
Even though we’re looking forward to spring, there’s nothing more magical than a fresh snowfall. We woke up the next morning to a fluffy layer of snow, masking all the crusty old snow underneath. It was only a few degrees below freezing, but it was windy which made it feel colder.
After breakfast we stopped by the Visitor Centre to pick up the keys to our cabin and to refill our water bottles. We planned to hike the Mayflower Trail, but M refused to get into the backpack carrier. After being in the car seat for nearly five hours yesterday, we didn’t blame her. So we drove back to the campground, pulled out our little red sled from the trunk, and walked along the road to the Big Bend Overlook. It’s not a far walk, maybe half a kilometer or so.
The Big Bend is a glacial delta that was formed thousands of years ago. Over time it will eventually become an oxbow lake as sediment fills in the old channel.
On the way back to the cabin we walked through the other part of the campground that’s open year round. Surprisingly we saw a few RVs and even someone camping in one of those fancy canvas tents with a wood stove and chimney.
After eating an early lunch we made an attempt to put M down for a nap. But the nap never came so we figured we could all use some fresh air. We hiked to Stubb’s Falls (2km, rated easy). The trail can be accessed a few hundred meters from our cabin. We followed the footprints in the snow to get to the path then followed along the Little East River through the forest to a bridge overlooking the falls.
The trail forms a loop and becomes more narrow after crossing the bridge. There’s a few ups and downs, but we persevered through the snow. And our little M seemed to really enjoy all the downhills in her sled.
After circling back to the cabin we tried for another nap. This time it worked. Once M woke up, we ate a snack then headed out to go for another leisurely stroll through the campground. We passed by the ice skating trail. Every winter part of the road leading through the forested campground is transformed into a 1.3km long skating rink. And on Friday and Saturday evenings, the park hosts Fire and Ice Nights where the trail is lit up by hundreds of tiki torches for a nighttime skate.
We were visiting a little too late in the season and the ice skating trail was now officially closed. But we could still walk along the former ice trail, which was now covered in snow. The clouds had started to clear and we even enjoyed a bit of sunshine.
We then walked along part of Stubb’s Falls trail to get to Arrowhead Lake.
Back at the cabin we got started on dinner. One of the nice things about visiting later in March was that the days were starting to get longer. It didn’t get dark outside until closer to 7pm.
Day 2: Mayflower Trail
We took our time getting up in the morning as check-out wasn’t until 10am. We enjoyed a warm breakfast of eggs, toast and hash browns and leisurely packed up all our stuff. Similar to when we arrived, we used some of the sleds provided by the park to help haul our stuff back to the car. Our little M is always so helpful and wanted to pull her bunny in the little red sled.
After returning our keys, we went for one last hike on the drive out of the park. We settled on the Mayflower Trail (2.1km loop, rated moderate). It’s a familiar trail and one we typically hike every time we visit Arrowhead. Given yesterday’s success with pulling M around in her sled, we were feeling confident that it would be helpful on this trail too, even though there are more hilly sections.
From the trailhead there’s a steep downhill to get to the shore of the lake. Normally there are stairs to use, but they were now covered in snow. It took a bit of negotiating with the sled, but we made it, thinking the worst was over. The first stretch of the hike is relatively flat and follows the shore of Mayflower Lake. It had started to snow at this point and we were thankful to have a bit of coverage from the forest.
We got into a pretty good rhyme and routine with the hills with me pulling the sled and K pushing from behind. But then the conditions became more challenging. The path was no longer flat and compact. Instead there were these deep, uneven footprints in the snow. And while we could make do with trying to awkwardly land into the uneven footprints, the sled kept getting stuck on the uneven terrain, tipping over with little M inside. No one was having a good time. And I barely took any pictures along this portion of the trail.
And so K put M on his shoulders while I carried the sled and we slowly trudged on ahead. Once we got to the amphitheatre it’s not far to get back to the main trail. But the path was still in rough shape. And we were getting tired. We decided to abandon the trail completely and just follow the road back to the parking lot. It ended up taking longer distance-wise, but it was much better than navigating along the uneven footprints.
We were relieved to finally make it back to the car. After making a quick stop at the restrooms to change out of our winter gear, we were all ready to hit the road. We earned our car ride snacks that day!
L
Agreed; new snow is always so inviting even if it has been a long winter. It sounds like you had lots of exercise all weekend and earned every bite of every meal and snacks too. M is so cute pulling the sled with her bunny!
You bet! It was hard work trudging through that old crusty snow on our last day. That’s always the issue when hiking later in the winter is that the trail conditions can be very unpredictable. It was very sweet to watch M pulling her bunny on the sled. She actually got mad if we tried to help!
You have the activity that I don’t have that wish I could do too soon. I’m always dreaming to have my own cabin something in the elevated area.
The white environment looks serene and beautiful, and M adds more of its beauty. Amazing adventure, Linda.
Thanks for your lovely comment, Hazel. It was nice to get away for the weekend and enjoy the snowy scenery, even if the hiking was a bit challenging. Our little M always knows how to add some charm and cuteness to something. It was fun watching her play in the snow.
A little paradise, as they say. My pleasure, Linda.
Such a beautiful weekend Linda. Love your opening shot and the shot of Big Bend. Who can blame M for not wanting to be confined any longer. Always a challenge when the little ones develop their stubborn personality and start to assert their will, but a normal process. I, like you hate walking on a rumpled snow trail. It is tiring and often dangerous, so good call on heading back on the road. Have a great Saturday. Allan
Thanks Allan. The Big Bend Overlook is one of the best viewpoints in the park. Little M preferred the sled to the backpack carrier, which worked out well as it was much easier to pull her along than carry her on our backs … except for that one sketchy trail. We should have known as the path was much less travelled compared to the ones that we hiked the day before. Thankfully no one got hurt trying to follow in those uneven and deep footprints! But we were all pretty happy to see the car again. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Linda
Hi. The photo of your daughter pulling the sled is great. It’s a keeper!
She was so proud of herself! It was really cute!
Groovy! 🇨🇦
Winter was coming to an end and it was nice to enjoy some snow before it all melted away, leaving the trails wet and muddy.
Ah, another wonderful trip through a provincial park! Canada has very beautiful parks! M is sooo adorable! I really enjoy these posts, guys, have a wonderful summer weekend!❤️
Thanks John. You’re absolutely right, there are so many beautiful parks in Canada. It’s been fun trying to visit as many as we can, even in the winter. Enjoy the rest of the weekend as well!
Thank you! ❤️☺️
What a beautiful place to hike in the snow. Lovely pics, as always. I think I would be just fine walking on the snow covered ice trail rather than sliding on ice. 😁
Thanks Pepper! Even though the crusty uneven snow was challenging to hike through, it sure beats a trail that’s flooded and covered in mud!
What beauty! I loved seeing all the pics and learning about your trip.
Thanks for your lovely comment. Even though we had a really cold and snowy winter, I’m glad we made the most of things and still found ways to enjoy the outdoors.
The skating trail at Arrowhead is on my wishlist to visit one of these days. This park seems to be a favourite of yours to visit!
Your post reminded me of the long winter we experienced this season. I think we’re getting an unusually mild winter this coming season so it’s good that we enjoyed it while we could!
We’ve skated on the ice skating trail a number of years ago, but have yet to experience one of the Fire and Ice nights. One of these days we’ll make it happen.
Winter seemed to drag on this year and there was no shortage of snow. It was also super cold. A milder winter will be a nice change of pace and might mean we can spend more time outdoors.
Hope you had a lovely weekend. It always goes by way too fast. Sigh.
Yes, I go back to work tomorrow after two weeks off. 😞 Hope the week flies by for you!
It’s always tough to transition back to work after taking vacation. Hope this week goes smoothly for you. And stay cool out there!
I love this area of Ontario! Gorgeous photos! Cher xoxoxo
Thanks for your lovely comment. The Muskoka area is beautiful in every season, even in the winter with all that snow.
All the winter activities look fun. But, I don’t think we’ll last very long in that cold.
We’re under a heat warning at the moment and some cold and snow is looking pretty nice right about now!
I’m sorry … We’re pretty hot here too. Indoors is the best place right now. Your snow photos do look enticing!
Absolutely! Thank goodness for air conditioning!!
Looks lovely. (Suzanne)
I never thought I’d say this, but I’m actually missing all that snow at the moment! It’s been such a hot and humid summer so far.
Skijoring? I’ve never heard of this! It does take quite a bit of planning on your side to accommodate little M on these trips, right? The photos are beautiful and it sometimes looks like something from a fairytale book … but I’m afraid, even with ten layers of clothes on, I would be shivering 🫣.
I’ve never heard of that term before either and had to look it up afterwards. It’s too bad we didn’t see anyone that was skjorning as that would have been something! It’s incredible how much more stuff we need to bring with us when travelling with a toddler. Even the car ride takes some planning and preparation! But, it’s all worth it.
I imagine the Fire and Ice Nights are beautiful. Little M is so cute pulling her bunny in her sled. She’ll soon be an accomplished hiker!
We’ve never actually been to one of the Fire and Ice Nights. The timing hasn’t quite worked out and it’s also hard to get tickets for given how popular it’s become. But one of these days we’ll make it happen. Hopefully then little M can skate. It was very sweet watching her pull bunny around in the sled. She was having such a great time and was so proud of herself!
As much as I love the look of the thick layers of snow, this post is a reminder of the reality of living with it. That photo of M pulling the bunny in her little red sled is really cute. She reminds us that there is joy in doing even the simplest things.
Sometimes the snow can make hiking more enjoyable and sometimes it can be more of a hinderance! It was very cute to watch M pulling bunny in her sled. Bunny comes with us on many of our adventures.
There’s nothing nicer than a walk on fresh snow. Your weekend was the perfect winter wonderland retreat and it was good to be there when the days were drawing out. I’ve never heard of a canvas tent with its own chimney, whatever next! Sounds very fancy. I think I’d prefer your choice of log cabin!
Those canvas winter tents with a wood stove are becoming pretty popular here. We saw a few more at some of the various other parks we visited during the winter. I think I’d prefer a cabin as well!!
You really made me feel at peace with these gorgeous snow shots. Wow. And little M pulling the sled is sooo cute 🥰🥰
It was very sweet to watch her pull her bunny around in the sled. Here’s hoping we can get another winter using that sled! It made hiking in the snow much easier, assuming it’s relatively flat and the snow conditions are decent!
What a beautiful winter adventure. It still gives me the shivers, seeing these photos… I’ll just sit out on my patio this morning and enjoy the warm air (especially after seeing this journey of yours… The pictures and words capture the joy of family, nature, and making memories together, even when the weather makes things challenging.
God’s creation is amazing in every season. 🌲❄️
Have a Wonderful, Safe and Blessed Sunday….
Thanks Willie! Now that we’re in the middle of summer, I’m actually missing the snow. We had a wonderful time enjoying the outdoors and snowy scenery. And I like how you phrased it around making memories together. It’s always nice to spend time together as a family. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Linda
As a family that travels with little ones, this one hit home — the honesty of ‘no one was having a good time’ when the sled kept tipping on the Mayflower Trail is so real, and calling it and following the road back was absolutely the right move. We’ve had our own moments of admitting defeat and just aiming for the car snacks. But M enjoying every downhill in that little red sled, and wanting to pull her bunny in it, is the sweetest image. Those torch-lit Fire and Ice skate nights sound worth a return trip.
Seriously that snow looks so good right now! The heat and humidity (not usual for the prairies) have arrived!! Little M pulling her bunny is such a cute photo!!!
Oh I know! I would gladly trade the snow for the heat and humidity we had earlier in the week. Sorry to hear it’s made its way over to you. We’re currently dealing with poor air quality from all the wildfires in northwestern Ontario. That bunny goes everywhere with little M. It’s very cute.
It looks beautiful in the snow, but I can also understand why at the end you were ready to get in the car and have your snacks. Sometimes walks just get like that – we’ve had it a couple of times where we’ve just headed to the nearest road as we’re drenched through, feet wet, or blistered etc. Sometimes it’s totally OK to call it a day instead of persevering on a trail in bad conditions
We should have turned around much earlier, but we kept hoping the conditions would improve. They didn’t. Thankfully we had an escape route when we got to the amphitheatre. I couldn’t agree more about how it’s totally okay to call it quits instead of continuing onwards. What’s the point if you’re not having fun anymore?
What a wonderful place! If only I could jump right into that snow at this very moment!
Oh I know! We’ve been having a pretty hot and humid summer. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m actually looking forward to the winter!
Your pictures make me ready for winter and snowy trees…especially in the crazy humid heat we have going on right now. Beautiful pictures all around. But the best picture is of Little M pulling her sled 🙂
It’s been fun reminiscing about our adventures from the winter. And crazy to see how much M has grown since then! It was pretty hot and humid here earlier in the week too. And now we’re dealing with poor air quality from some wildfires in northwestern Ontario. Such a weird summer so far in terms of the weather.
so true! here’s hoping you get some wind and rain to clear out the air there and cooler days all around. Have a great weekend 🙂
Thanks! Enjoy the weekend as well!
This looks like such a pretty park all covered in snow. I love that they do an ice skating trail; I’ve never heard of that before but would absolutely skate on it. I love the photo of M pulling the sled. I can’t believe how big she’s getting!
The ice skating trail is pretty neat. They make it on one of the roads through the campground. We’ve skated on it before, but haven’t seemed to manage to snag tickets to their Fire and Ice nights. Perhaps next year. By then M might be old enough to learn to skate. And I’m sure she’ll still want to take bunny on all her adventures.
What a perfect post to read during our current Minnesota heat wave! It was refreshing and gave me shivers. ❄️🥶 And little M pulling her bunny in the sled, the cutest! 💞
Thanks Rose! Hope you’re staying cool out there. And hopefully you’re not too impacted by all the smoke from the wildfires in northwestern Ontario. Our air quality has been awful the past couple of days. We could really use some rain!
So pretty when the sun peaks out between the trees and lights up the forest floor making the snow sparkle. Wonderful adventure for your little one and I am sure many more ahead for her to enjoy!
It’s funny how the snowy landscape can look so different depending on the weather. I’m glad we got to enjoy a bit of sunshine. Have a wonderful weekend. Linda
Nothing beats a fresh snowfall, but I’m assuming it was wet snow, more difficult for M to pull her bunny! (Adorable!!)
The top layer of snow was actually pretty fluffy and wasn’t too wet or slushy. It was the crunchy base layer underneath that was problematic for pulling the sled. You could tell it had warmed up and then froze, creating uneven terrain. It was just really that last trail that we hiked where the conditions weren’t the greatest.
Plenty of snow last winter and plenty of sunshine this summer, as if each season were trying to outdo the other in this battle of the giants.
Ha! Very true. We’re really experiencing the extremes of the seasons this year!
What an adventure, thanks for sharing
Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment. We had a wonderful time enjoying the last of the snow before spring arrived.
She is so sweet with her little red sled and bunny rabbit! The place itself looks like Narnia – what fairytale memories she will have of these places you go!
She was so proud to pull bunny around in her sled. It was very cute to watch. The snow has a way of making the forest look even more enchanting, especially when it’s fresh.
I had a bunny when I was little too! Actually, I still have him and he sits in my childhood rocking chair.
Snow really does make everything look magical.
I still have my childhood stuffie too, which was also a bunny!! I guess bunnies are a pretty popular choice.
Bunnies make for the very best friends.
That they do! My daughter has five stuffed bunnies now and they all have to sleep with her at night!
That’s so sweet!
Beautiful snowy scenes. I can imagine it would be tricky (and energy-sapping) on an uneven trail. I hope you had a good stash of car snacks for the journey home!
The trail conditions are always a bit sketchy when the snow starts to warm up during the day and freeze overnight. The fact that there weren’t many tracks in the snow once we passed the lake should have tipped us off. Oh well, it makes for a funny story now. We just assume traffic is going to suck and always plan to have car snacks just in case. The trick is not to eat them all on the drive down and to save some for the return journey!
Amazing little adventure. When Marcus stopped wanting to go in the backpack, I bought a shoulder seat from the brand babysaddle. He loves it as he can see everything from the seat and it is very easy to use and convenient when travelling.
Thanks for the recommendation. I haven’t heard of a shoulder seat, but that sounds like something that would be super helpful as I don’t think we could wrangle our little one into the backpack carrier anymore!
Sounds rough the sled tipping over, especially with M inside. The ice skating trail sounds really fun. M pulling her bunny in the little red sled is just the best image. Sounds like a proper little adventurer already.
She’s such a trooper! I wouldn’t have enjoyed falling over into the snow either! Maybe that’s why she’d rather pull bunny around in the sled afterwards instead of being a passenger!
the little one is growing up so quickly… I have been trying to touch base ..for some reason, the last few times I’ve tried to connect, I couldn’t get your page to connect me so I could write a comment.. was just wondering if all was well had not seen a post… Glad all seems to be ok now..
Oh I know! It’s crazy to look back at pictures and see how much she’s grown! WP has been doing some funny things lately. Glad you were able to connect. Hope all is well with you and that you’re enjoying the summer. We’re currently in NB for the week.