4 Great Places to Snowshoe in and Around Thunder Bay

You’ve probably heard that “if you can walk, you can snowshoe” and it’s actually true. Strap on a pair of snowshoes—especially the lightweight modern kind—and you can explore a whole other side of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Want to go off-roading this winter? Check out these four great snowshoe outings.

1. Kamview Nordic Centre

Kamview is renowned for its cross-country ski trails but for a change of pace, give its snowshoe trails a try. A day trail pass is $10 (or less if you pre-book a group outing), and you can rent snowshoes for an additional $10 at the chalet. Pick up a trail map while you’re there or download it but there are also signed trail maps en route. There are more than 11 km of snowshoe trails at Kamview, criss-crossing the ski trails in spots so be alert and share the space. These 13 trails wind through mixed forest and meadows, around beaver ponds, up to a breathtaking lookout and alongside cliffs, so mix and match according to your skills and interests. Dogs are permitted on the Wilderness Wander trail only. Back at the chalet, refuel with some of their outrageously good homemade cookies, soup or chili.

2. Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond Ski Area boasts hills for downhill skiing, snowboarding and tubing, and it also has a range of snowshoe trails ranked from beginner to advanced.  A trail pass is $15, and you can rent snowshoes for $15. Take your pick from six different trails—beginners may like the 2.7 km loop on the Loch Forest Trail, a machine-groomed trail with views of the mountain and multiple rest stops, while more experienced snowshoers can check out the 4.6-km Cliff Cliff loop, offering beautiful views of the Nor’wester Mountains and the Slate River Valley, thanks to the 163-metre elevation gain. Loch Lomond also has live music in the snack bar area during the winter so check their social media for upcoming events.

3. Mills Block Forest

Want to snowshoe with your dog? Mills Block Forest is a popular dog-walking spot, about a 10-minute drive west of Hwy 11-17. (Remember to keep your dog leashed and to scoop the poop.) It’s a 284-hectare conservation area and part of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority]. Follow the 4-km loop hiking trail through mixed forest and catch a glimpse of Lake Superior in the distance. LRCA trails are free to use but please pay the $5 parking fee online at their website before you go or at the on-site automatic station.

4. Hazelwood Lake

Another local favourite is Hazelwood Lake, also a Lakehead Region Conservation Authority property. LRCA trails are free to use but please pay the $5 parking fee online at their website before you go or at the on-site automatic station. Located about 25 minutes north of the city, Hazelwood covers 618 ha of land, including a large inland lake. It’s a semi-wilderness area, with no motorized vehicles permitted. There are three trails, which are not maintained in the winter, so you may be breaking trail or you may get lucky and follow in a fellow snowshoer’s footsteps. Your choices are the 3-km Orange trail, a moderate loop with lovely views of the lake, the Forest Community trail, a 2.5 km loop through the forest, and the Dam trail, a 1.5 km (one way) in-and-back trail that follows the river to the dam.

Quiet, beautiful and lots of fresh air and exercise on a snowy day…snowshoeing is another fun way to explore Thunder Bay. Go for it! (No snowshoes of your own? You can rent snowshoes and Nordic poles by the day at several Thunder Bay stores, including Chaltrek and Wilderness Supply.)

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