2023 Ontario March Break Guide

Avoid mutiny this March Break—plan an action-packed week of outdoor fun. With the days growing longer and the sunshine already starting to feel a bit like spring, this mid-March siesta is the perfect time to enjoy Northern Ontario’s bountiful late-winter snowpack. From Nordic centres to outdoor centres, Ontario Parks to backyard games, try these kid-pleasers for your family’s best March Break ever.

Thunder Bay and Area 

Thunder Bay’s enthusiastic cross-country ski centres are all about community, fitness and family fun.

Kamview Nordic Centre offers over 30 km of ski trails groomed for both classic and skate skiing, as well as 20 km of marked snowshoe trails—so there’s something for every member of your family. Bring hot cocoa and a packed lunch to enjoy in Kamview’s cozy chalet after your ski.

Northwest of the city in the rolling Lappe hills, Lappe Ski Centre is a winter paradise offering world-class, family-friendly trails and an incredible ski centre – which includes changing rooms, saunas, waxing rooms and a canteen. Weekly, daily and punch passes are available. 

For skiing of the downhill variety, Loch Lomond ski area’s School Break Camps make it easy for families to cruise the blues over March Break. This snow school is all about flexibility—choose from full- or half-day camps with day-by-day options so you can design the camp that’s right for your family. Open to new and progressing skiers and snowboarders ages 4 to 14. March 13-17, 2023.

Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma

Bike-crazed kids and adults can organize a weeklong winter fat biking extravaganza in and around Sault Ste. Marie. Local riding hotspots include Whitefish Island, Hiawatha Highlands, Crimson Ridge, Fort Creek, and the city’s popular Hub Trail. The friendly folks at Vélorution can get your family equipped with bikes and trail beta.

Create your own March Break adventure in the winter wonderland of Lake Superior Provincial Park. Having a fun goal or objective is a good idea for a park visit with kids. Plan a snowshoe to a frozen waterfall with plenty of snacks en route, or search for ice caves along the shoreline and make a campfire for roasting hotdogs and marshmallows.

Close to Sault Ste. Marie, Searchmont Resort is one of the best Northern Ontario winter getaways for families. Ski the mountainous landscape of the Canadian Shield with 21 ski runs, four chair lifts and stay in a cozy on-site chalet or slope-side villa. With nearly non-existent lift lines, you’ll get lots of fun runs in. 

For family downhill fun of the free variety, grab your toboggans, snow skates, crazy carpets and anything else that slides on snow and head for one of Sault Ste. Marie’s favourite local hills. The largest of the city’s sliding slopes is Finn Hill, located along the Hub Trail on the corner of McNabb Street and Black Road. With over 100 feet (34 metres) of elevation, this hill has a reputation for speed, so slide with caution!

Timmins

Kids ages 6 to 12 can shred the hills at Kamiskotia Snow Resort’s five-day March Break Camp Ski & Snowboard Camp, which include lessons, activities, lunch and discounted rentals. In past years, the resort has also offered a Women’s Progressive Ski Camp during the break, so moms can join the on-slope action. March 16-20, 2023.

Bring the whole family out for a snowshoe or ski on the Porcupine Ski Runners’ impeccably groomed trail network—the club offers 30 percent off day use fees and equipment rentals for March Break. Don’t miss the amazing ski playground—kids love this ski-themed play area complete with slalom, hoops, soft jumps, and toboggan run.

Greater Sudbury & Area

At the Naughton Trail Centre west of Sudbury, Walden Cross Country offers discounted trail passes and ski rentals throughout March Break, as well as daily programming for kids and adults. Activities include lessons and games on skis, orienteering, quinzhee building, and guided trail skis. March 13-17, 2023.

Why not try a new type of sleepover for school break? Ontario Parks’ winter yurt and rustic cabin rentals offer a fun fort-like atmosphere for families, and March’s milder temperatures mean you can also enjoy outdoor features like fire pits and BBQs. Winter-ready yurts and cabins are heated, have electricity and are equipped to sleep up to six. Ten provincial parks across Ontario offer heated roofed accommodations. Two of the finest for snow-season enthusiasts—Killarney and Windy Lake—are an easy drive from Sudbury.

Participate in a great Canadian tradition—take part in maple syrup season. Just north of the city, Wagonwheel Ranch offers daily Maple Taffy Sleigh Rides during the school break. Enjoy a scenic sleigh ride through the ranch’s forest trails, where you’ll stop in the woods for a bonfire and a delicious, traditional French-Canadian maple treat.

For indoor adventure fun, Sudbury offers March Break day camps for every interest—whether it’s rock climbing, yoga, art, science, hockey, or junior zookeeping!

Algonquin Park

Experience a wild March Break that’s equally fun for kids and adults. Sunny days, snowy trails and frozen lakes are the backdrops for Voyageur Quest’s all-inclusive three-day, two-night Algonquin Park 3-Day Winter Lodge Adventure. Families stay at the cozy, off-grid Algonquin Log Cabin Lodge nestled deep inside Algonquin Park and participate in guided dogsledding, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, and wolf howling. 

For a very different kind of Algonquin experience, Outward Bound Canada offers a transformative March Break winter adventure for teens ages 14 to 18. The focus of this dogsledding and snowshoeing journey is to teach wilderness skills while encouraging youth to challenge themselves and get in touch with an iconic Canadian landscape. The seven-day adventure includes winter camping in prospector tents, mushing the park’s Sunday Lake Dog Sled Trails, and culminates with a 24-hour solo experience. March 12-18. 2023.

Haliburton Highlands

Tucked among the wooded hills of Haliburton, YMCA Wanakita Outdoor Centre hosts a weeklong March Break family camp program. Families play together while experiencing classic Ontario winter camp activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, broomball (picture ice hockey… without skates or pucks) and maple syrup production.

Also in Haliburton, Camp Kandalore hosts aspiring young downhill skiers and snowboarders over the school break. March Break Ski and Snowboard Campers ages 6 to 16 stay in Kandalore’s winterized cabins, shred Sir Sam’s Ski Area by day, and enjoy evening programs like outdoor games, sauna and climbing wall. March 12-17, 2023.

The Blue Mountains

Ontario’s premier downhill ski and snowboard resort, Blue Mountain Village hosts interactive activities and family entertainment on and off the slopes throughout March Break. Check their full March Break event schedule for daily summaries and locations. Stay at the hill to enjoy after-dark attractions like the Blumination dream trail and fireworks displays.

10 More Enjoy-Anywhere Ideas for March Break

1. Create a winter Olympics course for kids—ideas: speed sledding, snow-pit long jump, snowball accuracy.
2. Hold a best-dressed snowman contest. Winner shares the prize: hot chocolate and marshmallows.
3. Make tire sur la neige—maple candy in the snow.
4. Sign up for a family lesson or guided tour to learn something new together. Ideas include dogsledding, cross-country skiing, and ice climbing!
5. Go tobogganing—at night (wear a headlamp and helmet).
6. Help your kids build a little kicker at a local park to perfect freestyle ski or snowboard tricks.
7. Build a backyard quinzhee—then sleep in it!
8. Wake up early and get outside to watch sunrise on the first day of spring (March 19).
9. Make snow cones in the woods—pack in flavoured syrup and some parchment paper for cones.
10. Family Flannel Friday—wear every piece of flannel you own.

These events and activities will have your kids saying "best March Break ever!" 

Showing 'Edited Body' is no longer supported.