Americas
Blue Mountain Resort | 10 Non-Skiing Winter Activities
If you’ve been in Toronto during wintertime, you probably heard someone mention they’re heading to Blue Mountain for the weekend.
Just an hour and half drive north of Toronto, Blue Mountain is Ontario’s largest mountain village ski resort, nestled between the foothills of the Niagara Escarpment’s scenic Blue Mountains and the rugged shores of Georgian Bay. The main activity is, of course, skiing and snowboarding on one of Blue Mountain’s 42 ski trails. But, if that’s not your forte or you’ve fallen or crashed down the slopes one too many times (like I always do), you don’t need to sit in the chalet and wait for your friends to finish skiing or snowboarding. Instead, you can visit Blue Mountain Village guest services and book an activity. Here is a list of the top 10 winter activities you can do on or nearby Blue Mountain Resort:
- Ride a horse
Location: off resort, 302 Grey County Rd 21, The Blue Mountains
You’ve probably horseback ridden before, but did you do it in the snow? Mountain View Stables is located just five minutes from Blue Mountain Resort. The trail ride takes you through a scenic meadow, past streams, where the ski slopes come into view in the distance. The horses are calm and know their way around the trails, that they sometimes take shortcuts. The horse stable has many other animals, like pigs, which you can occupy yourself with, while you wait for the horses to get ready for the trail ride.
- Drive a Snowmobile
Location: off resort, 574751 Rd 57D, Ravenna
My favourite winter activity and it’s fun as hell. If you haven’t been skidooing, Ride on Rentals lets you test your skills in a large, snowy field. Once you gain the hang of it, join a scenic snowmobile ride through a snowy, barren forest. Watch your navigation though, when I went, someone crashed and uprooted a small tree.
- Go Dog Sledding
Location: off resort, 469358 Grey Rd 31, Singhampton
Whether or not you love dogs (who doesn’t though?!), this activity is the epitome of winter-living. At Rob Roy Farm, stand behind the sled and drive an adorable pack of purebred Siberian huskies as they haul you through the snow. Check out the nearby igloos and enjoy a mug of hot chocolate after
- Hike in Snowshoes
Location: off resort, pick up from Blue Mountain Village
There are multiple snowshoe hikes to pick from: a guided night snowshoe hike, snowshoe and wine tasting tour and a Hummer and snowshoe hike. Whether you’d like to snowshoe along scenic, moonlit trails and discover animal nightlife, tour the Georgian Hills Vineyards to enjoy local wine and cheese, or be driven ‘military style’ up a mountain to enjoy panoramic views of Georgian Bay, snowshoeing provides hours worth of adventure whether solo or with family or friends.
- Ice Skate
Location: on resort
A bit easier than skiing or snowboarding, skate along a 1.1 km mountaintop ice skating loop, while enjoying the views of the Niagara Escarpment, or skate on Mill Pond in Blue Mountain Village. Ice skate rentals are available and all skill levels are welcome.
- Explore caves
Location: off resort, pick up from Blue Mountain Village
Snowshoe through the woods to explore some of the Niagara Escarpment’s uniquely formed caves. Once at the caves, you will take off you snowshoes and enter inside. You’ll be climbing and crawling to navigate the caves and it’s a whole different world underground! A great activity for families.
- Ride the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster
Location: on resort
Decide your speed on this ride. Alone or with a passenger, cruise along the track’s twists and turns or race up to 42 km/hour with a self-controlled accelerator. And the best thing? Lineups are usually short because multiple people are allowed to ride at a time.
- Visit Blue Mountain Village
Location: on resort
A quaint-looking village with turn-of-the-century Ontario architecture. Its boasts family accommodations, restaurants, cafes and clothing stores. Enjoy the classic Canadian dessert, Beaver Tails, by frozen Mill Pond or while you browse through the shops.
- Connect with Wolves
Guided by a former forest ranger, gain knowledge on how the wolf lives in a functioning ecosystem. Wolves once populated large portions of Canada, but were hunted to near extinction. Wolves are legendary because of their howl, which they use to communicate. You will howl like a wolf and hopefully garner a response.
Location: off resort, pick up from Blue Mountain Village
- Relax at a Spa
Location: on resort
There is a plethora of spas on and off Blue Mountain Resort, but the Scandinave Spa is popular for a reason. Famous for its Finnish hydrotherapy approach, the Scandinave Spa claims to effectively release tensions in both the mind and the body with its cycle of hot-cold-relax. You’ll leave this spa detoxified and relaxed, with improved blood circulation.
Blue Mountain Resort offers a wonderful way to enjoy snow and engage in Canadian activities that don’t necessarily involve hitting the slopes. What’s your favourite way to spend the winter?