Choose Your Winter in The Kawarthas

 

Winter is far from the off-season in The Kawarthas. As a true four-season destination, this is when the region settles into something special – quieter trails sparkle with freshly fallen snow, cozy places come to life with crackling fires, and people gather on cold nights to celebrate connection and community.

Whether you’re ready for a well-earned reset after the holidays or looking to becoming energized for the brand-new year ahead, there’s winter waiting for you in The Kawarthas. All you have to do is choose how you want to experience it.

For the Simplicity Lovers

If you’re drawn to calm moments, familiar comforts, and experiences that invite you to relax and enjoy, this is your season. A Simplicity Lover’s winter in The Kawarthas is about comfort and calm – cozy spaces, gentle outings, and time spent simply being together.

Settle in with a locally crafted pint at Belmont Lake Brewery, where snow-dusted lakefront views pair perfectly with small-batch English brews. It’s the kind of place where winter feels welcoming, not rushed. Connect with nature and gentle creatures at Wanderlight Alpaca, where meeting fluffy alpacas turns a cold day into a warm-hearted memory. And for a longer escape, book a family day or March Break getaway at a year-round cottage resort, where activities out in the sparkling snow and nights cozied up in the perfect accommodations make time spent together truly special.

For the Outdoor Explorers

If winter makes you want to move, to explore deeper, go farther, and feel the landscape beneath your boots, then an Outdoor Explorers’ winter is calling. This is the season when The Kawarthas becomes a playground for those who thrive outdoors.

Pitch a tent and set up camp in the forests of Kawartha Highlands Signature Site, where winter backcountry camping offers welcome solitude, a unique challenge, and unmatched scenery. For a quintessential Canadian experience, try ice fishing on one of The Kawarthas’ hundreds of frozen lakes, where patience is rewarded with both a peaceful day on the lake and the thrill of that big catch. Have a need for speed? The OFSC snowmobile trail network leads to communities, forests, and frozen waterways across The Kawarthas, offering endless opportunities to explore your way.

For Purpose Driven

Winter can feel like a great chance to reconnect with your family, the community, and the places you’ve been meaning to visit. For the Purpose Driven, winter offers experiences that bring people together in meaningful ways.

Bundle up and join the fun at a local winter celebration like Polarfest in Selwyn Township or Fire & Ice in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, where skating, fireworks, entertainment, and seasonal traditions turn cold days into warm shared memories. Indoors, teamwork takes centre stage at Escape Maze, where families and friends work together to solve puzzles and complete challenges, laughing all the way! For quieter connection, plan a thoughtful winter hike along one of Kawartha Land Trust’s public access footpaths, where snow-covered trails invite self-reflection and a deeper appreciation for our protected natural spaces.

For the Culture Seekers

If travel inspires you to collect stories and hands-on experiences, then winter in The Kawarthas is for you. A Culture Seeker’s winter is about curiosity, creativity, and culture – all experienced without the crowds.

Indulge in a private wine tour or a workshop with a local artist at Kawartha Country Wines, or uncover something unexpected with a visit to the hidden wine cellar at Elmhirst’s Resort, where winter tastings feel intimate and indulgent. Book a visit to Indigenously Infused to learn how Indigenous ingredients and Anishinaabe knowledge are thoughtfully infused into handcrafted wax melts, body sprays, and candles. Spend an afternoon outdoors at Kawartha Nordic, where skiing, skating, and snowshoeing trails weave through the forest before leading you back to the warmth of the chalet.

One Destination. Four Seasons. Endless Ways to Winter.

Winter doesn’t close The Kawarthas – it opens it up. Slower, quieter, and more intentional, the season invites you to experience the region in ways that feel personal and purposeful.

Whatever your winter energy may be, one thing is certain: The Kawarthas is waiting for you this winter – even after the holidays have passed.

Written By: Ryley Gutoskie,

The Kawarthas Tourism
www.thekawarthas.ca

Photo credits: The Kawarthas Tourism