WinterSports
‘The fluffy snow will blow your mind. It blankets the ground and turns trees into ghosts. It feels like you’re immersed in a snow-globe.‘
Like any great Canadian town, Sault Ste. Marie truly embraces the winter and becomes one of Ontario’s best places for snow sports like snowshoeing, skiing, skating and snowmobiling.
Exceptionally snowy winters support vast networks of groomed trails for skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, skating and snowmobiling. There’s enough to keep you entertained no matter the length of your Northern Ontario winter vacation, guaranteed. If you are really lucky you may be treated to Northern Ontario’s greatest natural wonder: The otherworldly frozen cathedrals of Lake Superior Ice Caves were voted among the world’s best travel phenomena by New York Times.
Sault Ste. Marie’s is the perfect place to go snowshoeing in Ontario. Massive lake-effect snowfall contributes 300 cm of powder. Step back in time and hike through stunning winter wilderness terrain, including towering snow-draped forests, serene ice-covered lakes and frozen waterfalls of the Canadian Shield region. Our trails are easy to access, signed and maintained by local enthusiasts. You can rent a pair of snowshoes at Hiawatha Highlands and embark on the area’s fantastic network of backcountry trails.
Sault Ste. Marie is quickly emerging as Ontario’s best place to go fat-biking. Or, for a morning or afternoon of fun, check out one of the city’s many ice skating rinks, including the beautiful Crimson Ridge forest trail or the Clergue Park skating trail alongside the St. Marys River. Whatever your craving, choose Sault Ste. Marie for your next winter adventure.
Wintersports Inspiration
Snowshoe
Expert Northern Ontario snowshoe guides will take you on a journey to Sault Ste. Marie snowshoeing destinations and share stories about the local history, culture, and the environment.
Locals love the Hiawatha Highlands; good maps, maintained trails and an informative website make this wilderness snowshoeing destination a great place for out of town visitors, too. The area is located barely a 10 minute drive from downtown. Snowshoe rentals are available. Venture on well-marked snowshoe trails through the beautiful forests, alongside iconic frozen rivers and ponds.
A short drive on the Trans Canada Highway north of the city takes you to stunning Stokely Creek, where you can enjoy perfect winter days in the remote Canadian wilderness. The lodge maintains trails for everyone, including the easy 2 km Otter’s Trail along an ice-sheathed creek to a 15 km epic to the summit of King Mountain with stunning Lake Superior views. It’s all part of the 4th largest cross-country ski area in North America; plan a day trip, all-inclusive weekend stay or a longer, Northern Ontario ski and snowshoe vacation: You’ll have full access to Stokely Creek Lodge and backcountry warming huts.
Skating
Sault Ste. Marie has some awesome skating trails all within a walk or drive of downtown. For a truly magical an unexpected experience check out Crimson Ridge’s stunning 1.1km lit trail winding through the forest. The City also maintains five over outdoor rinks including the popular waterfront Clergue trail.
Winter Sports Outfitters
Our bike and ski outfitters carry brands such as Saloman, Fischer, Madshus, K2, Rossignol, Swix and more. Visit their pages below for more info. Algoma Bicycle, Duke of Windsor and Vélorution.
