There’s lots to love about Grey County, especially in the winter months. Our natural landscapes lend themselves beautifully to a wide variety of outdoor activities. Whether you’d like to go hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, take a sleigh ride through a winter wonderland, or ride a fat bike through the snow, Grey County’s the place to be. Looking for something new to try? Read on for a few of our favourite ways to get outside.
Cross-Country Skiing/Snowshoeing/Hiking
Fat Biking
Sleigh Rides
Winter Waterfall Tour
Skating
Snowmobiling
Downhill Skiing
Please note – Fees may apply. Contact information has been provided, where available, for more information.
Cross Country Skiing/snowshoeing/Hiking
Cross-country Skiing or Snowshoeing trails are offered throughout the county, with some offering hiking as well. In addition to Nordic Ski Clubs with membership or day pass options, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking trails are maintained in several of Grey County’s forests. Horseback riders and snowmobilers may also be welcome to share the forest space, so please be mindful of your surroundings.
- The Glenelg Nordic Ski Club grooms 7 km of track-set ski trails at Grey County Forest 24 – Glenelg Klondyke Trail. Snowshoers are welcome but are asked to stay off the track-set ski trails.
44512 Concession 8, Markdale 519-376-3265
- An additional 25 km of groomed trails through hardwood forests are also maintained by the Glenelg Nordic Ski Club. Note: Cross-country skiing only at this location
Hamilton Lane & Concession 8, West Grey, accessible from the north only along Hamilton Lane
Memberships are available through https://www.glenelgnordicskiclub.org/ and day passes can be purchased as well.
- Day passes are available to access the 8 km of groomed cross-country and snowshoe trails provided by the Beaver Valley Nordic Ski Club, near Markdale. Adult and Family memberships are also available. https://beavervalleynordicskiclub.ca/
153 Windy Lane, Markdale 519-986-4369
- Maintained by the Owen Sound Cross Country Ski Club, the Massie Hills Ski Trails are 9.6 km of groomed trails, suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers. Snowshoeing is welcome, but not on the set tracks. Day passes and memberships are available. https://massiehills.com/
East Entrance – 497250 Concession 6, Owen Sound 519-376-8046
- Scenic Caves Nordic Adventure offers 27 km of groomed trails for skiers and 10 km for snowshoers and great views of the Niagara Escarpment. Day passes are available. https://sceniccaves.com/collections/winter-season-nature-adventures/products/cross-country-skiing
260 Scenic Caves Road, The Blue Mountains 705-446-0256 ext 222
- Grey County Forest 41 has 2.5 km of trails at the fish hatchery through pines & hardwood forest and into fields, that continues through to property owned by the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority. Great skiing and snowshoeing trails are also available on 141 hectares at Kinghurst Management Unit.
702736 Sideroad 5, Chatsworth 519-372-3265
- Ski, hike or snowshoe through forests and wetlands at Grey County Forest 19 – Grey Main. The trails at this location also welcome horseback riders and snowmobiles.
473275 Camp Oliver Road, Priceville
- The marsh and forest at Grey County Forest 20 – Dornoch near Markdale is a great place for a shorter, 2 km, ski or hike that shares the trails with bikes and snowmobiles.
394755 Concession 2, Markdale 519-376-3265
- Between Collingwood and Meaford, the trails at Grey County Forest 40 – St. Vincent Tract are a 1 km trek through mixed forest for hikers, fat bikes, snowshoers and skiers to share.
Concession 2, St. Vincent
- One of Grey County’s biggest forests, Lily Oak, has 9 km of marked hiking trails and 2 km of logging trail available for use. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing is also welcome, as is horseback riding.
- Allan Park offers 15 km of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on its large property, managed by the Saugeen Conservation Authority.
301820 Concession 3 SDR, Hanover 519-3673040
- Ron Savage Side Trail north of Owen Sound offers a 5.4 km loop snowshoe trail.
Parking Lot – Grey Road 17, north of Owen Sound
- At Kolapore Uplands Trails, cross-country skiers can enjoy 50 km of marked trails in a semi-wilderness setting. Trails are complex, and maps are recommended. They are available at the Ravenna Country Market near the main access point (not recommended for less experienced skiers) or purchased online.
495445 Grey Road 2, Ravenna 519-376-2205 ext. 1376
Fat Biking
Fat Biking is gaining in popularity as an active winter sport. What is it? According to Wikipedia, ‘a fat bike is an off-road bicycle with oversize tires designed for low ground pressure to allow riding on soft, unstable terrain, such as snow, sand, bogs and mud.’ Fat bikes are also great on traditional mountain bike trails. Here are a few places to go for a ride:
There are 2.5 km of trails near the fish hatchery in Grey County Forest 41, running through forests of pine and hardwood, then opening into fields before continuing on to Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority property. The trails are also used by cross-country skiers, snowshoers and snowmobiles.
702736 Sideroad 5, Chatsworth 519-372-3265
Grey County Forest 20 – Dornoch near Markdale also welcomes bikes, as well as skiers, snowshoers and snowmobiles, on 2 km of trails. Please be aware of your surroundings, and share the trails.
394755 Concession 2, Markdale 519-376-3265
If you’re new to the sport or just don’t want to bring your own gear, Blue Mountain is a great place to try fat biking. The South Base Lodge Rentals shop has a fleet of fat bikes to get you out on the trails.
Visit https://www.bluemountain.ca/plan-your-trip/rentals/bike-rentals/fat-biking for more information.
Sleigh Rides
Nothing beats an old-fashioned sleigh ride on a crisp winter day. Whether you’re looking for a family outing or a romantic evening for two, here’s who to call.
Shallow Lake is home to Dual Acres Sleigh Rides, where the DeVries family has been offering wagon and sleigh rides on their family farm for over 20 years. Their larger wagons and sleighs seat 10-12 (and one is wheelchair accessible). There is a selection of smaller sleighs and wagons for smaller groups, and two seater sleighs, too. For more information, visit http://dualacres.com/ or call 519-935-3156. 300218 Grey Road 170, Shallow Lake
Glendale Farms, near Owen Sound, offers sleigh rides through open fields and woods to the sugar shack to warm up with hot chocolate and hot apple cider. Call Glen Catto Sr. at 519-376-9027 to book. 258612 Grey Road 17, Owen Sound
Winter Waterfall Tour
You may have visited some of Grey County’s 8 spectacular waterfalls in the summer or autumn months, but have you seen them in the winter? You should! If you dress warmly and are careful of icy areas and deep snow, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous scenery. Take your camera and a thermos of hot chocolate. Snowshoes and/or trekking poles might be useful, too.
Five of the eight area waterfalls are winter-safe. Before your visit, download the Winter Waterfall Guide here: https://www.visitgrey.ca/trip-ideas/winter-waterfalls-101.
- Inglis Falls – Inglis Falls Conservation Area, 237785 Inglis Falls Rd, Owen Sound
- Weavers Creek Falls – Harrison Park, 75 2nd Ave E Owen Sound
- Hogg’s Falls– 170566 Lower Valley Road, Grey Highlands
- McGowan Falls – Durham Conservation Area, 562 George St E. Durham/323198 Durham Rd E.
- Jones Falls – Pottawatomi & Jones Falls Conservation Area, 717875 Highway 6, Owen Sound
Skating
If skating is more your speed, there are a number of great options, whether you prefer an outdoor setting or an indoor option.
In the heart of Harrison Park, the outdoor Good Cheer Rink in Owen Sound is sure to please, once the weather co-operates. Remember the “HOSE” rule – Hockey on odd numbered days, Skating on even numbered days. For hours of operation and information on other places to skate in Owen Sound, visit https://www.owensound.ca/en/exploring/public_skating.aspx.
Also weather dependant, Blue Mountain’s popular Woodview Mountaintop Skating offers a 1.1 km skating loop with fabulous views along the Niagara Escarpment. Until 8 pm, enjoy a night skate under thousands of interactive lights. Skate rentals are also available.
https://www.bluemountain.ca/things-to-do/activities/woodview-mountaintop-skating
Also at Blue Mountain, outdoor skating is available on the Mill Pond in the heart of the village.
https://www.visitgrey.ca/business/mill-pond-dockside-and-skating
Many of our local arenas offer skating at their facilities. Click on the links below or call for more information.
Hanover P&H Centre – 269 7th Avenue, Hanover 519-364-2310
https://www.hanover.ca/parks-recreation-and-culture
Desboro Community Centre – 136205 Grey Road 40, Desboro 519-794-3202
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Desboro-Community-Centre-Arena/1599559513700808
Dundalk Arena – 550 Main Street East, Dundalk 519-923-3431
https://www.southgate.ca/en/recreation/dundalk-arena.aspx
Durham Community Centre – 451 Saddler Street West, Durham 519-369-5771
https://www.westgrey.com/en/discover/facility-and-hall-rentals.aspx#Durham-Community-Centre
(Euphrasia) Rocklyn Arena – 156371 7th Line, Rocklyn 519-538-1650
Flesherton Arena – 101 Highland Drive, Flesherton 519-924-2521
Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre – 1900 3rd Avenue East, Owen Sound 519-376-3594
Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre – 700 10th Street East, Owen Sound 519-376-3611
Markdale Arena – 75 Walker Street, Markdale 519-986-2811
Meaford & St. Vincent Community Centre, 151 Collingwood Street West, Meaford 519-538-2772
Neustadt Arena – 210 Foler Street, Neustadt 519-799-5356
https://www.westgrey.com/en/discover/facility-and-hall-rentals.aspx#Neustadt-Arena
Normanby Arena – 112102 Grey Road 3, Ayton 519-665-7850
https://www.westgrey.com/en/discover/facility-and-hall-rentals.aspx#Normanby-Arena-Complex
Osprey Recreation Centre – 494196 County Road 2, Feversham 519-922-3131
Snowmobiling
As you can imagine, snowmobiling (or sledding) is a very popular pastime in snow country. Grey County is no exception. Grey-Bruce is home to approximately 2900 kilometres of snowmobile trails that fall under the care and control of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), District 9. Some 26 clubs and organizations in the district develop the trails and maintain them throughout sledding season. Permits are required for their use and can be obtained through the OFSC. For information on all things snowmobile – clubs, trails, permits and more – visit the OFSC page https://www.ofscdistrict9.ca/.
Downhill Skiing
Last, but certainly not least, our favourite wintertime activity – downhill skiing! For a lot of us, winter in Grey County would not be complete without hitting the slopes at Blue Mountain or at one of the six private ski clubs in the area. It’s one of the things that has brought many seasonal and some full-time residents to the area in the first place!
Blue Mountain is Ontario’s largest ski resort, with 7 chairlifts servicing 43 runs spread over 365 skiable acres, 30 of which are lit for night skiing. Ski rentals, lift tickets and hospitality services are available. Book a stay at an on-site hotel (and get a discount on lift tickets), stroll the village and enjoy the restaurants and shops. There is no shortage of things to do at Blue! https://www.bluemountain.ca/
190 Gord Canning Drive, Blue Mountains, ON 1-833-583-BLUE
Private ski clubs, Alpine, Beaver Valley, Craigleith, Georgian Peaks, Ostler Bluff, and Toronto Ski Club offer a range of membership options for individuals or families. While skiing is the main draw, the social aspects of club membership can’t be overlooked, either. Click on the links to the different clubs to see what they’re all about. One may be just the thing to get your family sliding this winter!