By now, we’re getting pretty good at it. So, let’s be prepared.
Let’s be honest. We’re all sick of the staycation. The thought of another Netflix night is met with about as much enthusiasm as tax season. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be ready for another round of restrictions. The key is to have options for outdoor activities that refresh and recharge. Here in Southern Georgian Bay, we are blessed with an abundance of outdoor activities generated by our ample natural areas, the Escarpment and Blue Mountain. So, get outside, get your dose of natural Vitamin D, and breathe a little fresh air.
Here are a few outdoor activities to get you rolling if one more season of the staycation is on the horizon.
1. Get Into The Forest
We could dedicate paragraphs and pages to the myriad of ways to find wellness and healing via some winter active forest bathing. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing venues are plentiful around here. For the former, head to Scenic Caves, Duntroon Highlands or Wasaga Beach Provincial Park for a paid groomed experience — either classic or skate-style — or Kolapore for a free experience of classic style cross-country skiing and deep immersion in a wild place.
For snowshoeing, most Bruce Trail sections are a great option. (Just don’t even THINK about snowshoeing at Kolapore, as those trails are volunteer-maintained and strictly for cross-country.) But if you are looking for a more adrenaline-filled afternoon, pack a couple of craft local IPAs or ciders, pull out a topo map of the Bruce Trail, and head to one of the local provincial parks where there’s a significant vertical drop for some ski touring. When the second wave of Covid hit last winter and the resorts closed for weeks, it didn’t stop us powder hounds from extending our staycation to the well-spaced glades and forests of the escarpment.
A couple of things to note. The first is that if I tell you specifically where the best spots for ski touring are, I’d be excommunicated from most of my friends. But I can certainly get you started. Pretty River Provincial Park has some excellent and nicely-spaced glades, just to the east of the Bruce Trail. It’s easy to see in winter. Duncan Crevice Caves is another spot (park in Duncan, head south on the Bruce Trail 200 m, and look to your left), along with the southern end of the Beaver Valley, just south of Hogg’s Falls (park at the falls, cross the creek, and look up). If you don’t have ski touring bindings and skis, you can “boot-pack” back up to the top. It’s good exercise!
2. Go To Blue
If travel restrictions have killed your plans for your annual ski trip out of the province, it’s time to rediscover Blue Mountain. For powder hounds, Blue now has a myriad of gladed runs with satisfying fall lines and nicely-spaced hardwoods. Tip from the locals: The Old-South Glades tend to get tracked out less than the Village Glades, and there are always some secret powder stashes hidden away.
If the weather holds, check out the Woodview Mountaintop Skating loop at the top of Blue, at the south end.
This 1.1 km loop winds through the hardwood forest and is perfect for the magic of a leisurely glide through the trees.
These days, climate change can throw a wrench into winter, but Blue has that covered as well. If it’s too mild for skating or skiing, check out the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster — which is the kind of hang-on-for-dear-life-stomach-in-your-throat adrenaline rush that makes you feel like you are 20 again. All winter there’s also daily live music at the myriad of pubs and restaurants in the Village. Regardless of the weather, we suggest a little shopping in the Village, some axe throwing, and dinner at the Pottery. There, see, the staycation isn’t so bad after all, is it?
