Last year, even minus 20 degree weather couldn’t keep local and visiting outdoor enthusiasts from wrapping themselves in their thickest knit scarves, pulling up their warmest mittens, strapping on their snowshoes, and joining the winter edition of the Hike Haliburton Festival.
Following the success of the annual fall festival, the 2024 winter edition is returning to the Haliburton Highlands on Saturday, February 3rd and Sunday, February 4th with a range of guided and self-guided hikes, paid excursions, and plenty of opportunity to experience winter in the Haliburton Highlands.
“Like the fall festival, it’s an opportunity to come to the Haliburton Highlands and see it basically through the eyes of a local,” says Thom Lambert, festival organizer and content creator for Haliburton County’s Economic Development and Tourism Department.
As with the fall Hike Haliburton Festival, which ran for its 20th year this past September, the winter edition features a series of guided hikes led by volunteers who are eager to share their knowledge and appreciation of the region.
“We’re reliant on volunteer hiking leaders that are really passionate about their favourite trail or their favourite place and have a great story,” says Lambert. “What we have is people that spend a lot of time in a place, and they want to share what they know.”
While February weather may not be the friendliest or most reliable, Lambert promises it’s worth it for the opportunities it presents.
“One of the beautiful things about the wintertime is you can do different things, like looking at animal tracks and focusing on how animals deal with the winter,” Lambert says. “Then some of the other hikes are just based purely on following a trail that has a really beautiful lookout or destination.”
Ranging in difficulty level from beginner to more challenging, many of the guided hikes also provide educational opportunities. A new one takes hikers through the Glebe Park snowshoe trails where the Haliburton Royal Canadian Army Cadets will show them how to make emergency shelters should they ever be caught in the elements.
“In the fall for the past couple years, the cadets have been doing a really neat guided hike on shelter building — this is similar but winterized,” says Lambert, adding that it is not an overly intensive or long hike. “It’s more about developing skills and learning something which not many people have the opportunity to learn.”
Other guided hikes are more centred around offering a reflective experience, including the Crane Lake Cleanse at Queen Elizabeth ll Wildlands Provincial Park where hikers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in nature and think about where they are,
“The Crane Lake Cleanse has a destination but it’s not quite as long as some of the other hikes,” says Lambert. “It offers a wellness approach that is centred around being very conscious of your surroundings and about having an awareness of where you are.”
The winter festival also provides an opportunity for beginners to dive into new adventures, with a cross-country skiing trail and several hikes with the potential to use snowshoes.
“There are a lot of people that wish they could do things like this, but they’re not confident enough to do it on their own,” says Lambert. “They’re afraid they might get lost or they’re not sure what they might run into. So it’s a great opportunity to go out with somebody who’s really familiar with where they are, and they’re going to guarantee that you’ll make it back to your car without having to worry about it.”
Registration is now open at winter.hikehaliburton.com/hike-registration/ for the following free guided hikes:
Winter Queen: Moore Falls to Devil’s Lake – Saturday, February 3rd at 8:45 a.m.
Join leader Rob Halupka for a one-way 10-kilometre hike from Moore Falls to Devil’s Lake via Queen’s Corridor. A segment of this advanced and hilly hike showcases the Ganaraska Hiking Trail in Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park. Crampons or cleats are essential for icy trails, hiking poles are recommended, and snowshoes may be required depending on the snow fall.
Winter Faerie – Snowshoe – Saturday, February 3rd at 9 a.m.
Leader Carolyn Humphreys will guide you on an advanced hike to faerie falls. Climbs, scrambles, and tiptoes across the stream are part of the adventure, and snacks will be provided. Snowshoes are required and hiking poles are recommended. Dogs are not allowed.
The Frost Centre’s Icicle Alley – Saturday, February 3rd at 10 a.m.
Enjoy all the Frost Centre has to offer on this hilly and remote guided hike from Irv Handler, beginning on the Acclimatization Trail. It then takes adventurers along the Steep Rock Trail to visit Icicle Alley, before returning on the Fire Tower Trail. The advanced hike includes steep climbs, physical obstacles, streams, and possible flooded trails. Poles are recommended, while snowshoes could be used if there is sufficient snow cover. No dogs allowed.
Tracks, Scat & Snowshoes – Saturday, February 3rd at 10:30 a.m.
On this hike through the Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve, hikers will learn about identifying animals by their tracks and the scat they leave behind. Led by Marena Wigmore, the program begins with a lesson on identifying and matching the tracks and scats of local wildlife, before hikers are taken out on the trail to put that new knowledge to use. This trail is best suitable for those aged 10 and up. Snowshoes are provided. No dogs allowed.
Snowshoe Excursion/Primitive Fire Demo – Saturday, February 3rd at 11 a.m.
Led by Algonquin Yet Paddling, this easy excursion takes hikers through the forest on snowshoes. Along the way, hikers will be harvesting combustible materials for the bow drill demonstration with opportunity for guests to try their own skill at fire starting. Snowshoes can be rented from Algonquin Yeti Paddling.
Bethel Heights Farm – Saturday, February 3rd at 1 p.m.
Join Minden local Katie Cox at Bethel Heights Farm for an easy snowshoe through well-maintained trails. Finish the hike by feeding and petting goats, chickens, ducks, and rabbits residing at the farm. This hike is very kid friendly and great for families.
Hike and Howl – Saturday, February 3rd at 5:30 p.m.
End the day with an easy guided evening trek through the woods at Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve led by Wolf Centre coordinator Marena Wigmore. The hike includes a guided reflection exercise, before the guide howls to the resident wolf pack in hopes of hearing a response.
Around the Pond Snowshoe Hike – Sunday, February 4th at 9:30 a.m.
Join guide Cam Ferguson for a snowshoe hike on Chessel’s Pond Trail. Recently opened, the moderate looped trail follows a pond and wetland, with opportunity to explore the wetland observation deck and pass through a forest with forest land art installations along the way. No dogs are allowed.
Crane Lake Cleanse – Sunday, February 4th at 10 a.m.
Marcia Mandel will lead a moderate meditative processional to Crane Lake, using sound and forest bathing techniques to deepen a sense of belonging. At Crane Lake, a ceremony will help you open up to the experience. No dogs allowed.
Dahl Forest – A 500-acre Gift – Sunday, February 4th at 10 a.m.
Outdoor guide, educator, and nature writer Rick Whitteker will guide hikers through Dahl Forest on snowshoes in this moderate hike. Explore the human history of the property, marvel at the beautiful Burnt River, and learn about the wildlife that lives both on and off trail.
Operation Get Home Safe – Sunday, February 4th at 1 p.m.
Join the Haliburton Royal Canadian Army Cadets, led by Corina Hall Mansfield, through the Glebe Park snowshoe trails. On the easy hike, the leaders will teach you about the emergency shelters that can be used for survival in the winter, as well as other skills including the immediate actions to take when lost.
Ski like a Canadian – Sunday, February 4th at 1:30 p.m.
Wrap up the 2024 festival with a guided cross-country ski session with an expert instructor and nature enthusiast from Haliburton Forest while enjoying a warm beverage on the way. Cross country skis required and can be provided if given notice. No dogs allowed.
Alongside the free guided tours, the Hike Haliburton Festival includes paid experiences and winter adventures offered by local outdoor adventure businesses.
“We’re really lucky that we have these experienced providers here in the county because it just gives the area a whole other group of things to do,” says Lambert. “But it also means there’s a group of people who are incredibly knowledgeable about the area and want to share that knowledge. That really enriches the whole area.”
Paid experiences can be booked directly with the tour organizer and include:
Intro to Igloo Building
Yours Outdoors will teach you how to construct (and even camp out in) your very own igloo, while exploring how the structures have stood the test of time. All supplies are included.
Guided Snowshoe Hikes
A naturalist at Deep Roots Adventure will take you on a guided two-hour snowshoe experience along the Glebe Park snowshoe trails, while teaching you all about snowshoe travel. Snowshoes are included.
Ski like a Canadian
This half-day introduction to cross-country skiing from Yours Outdoors covers the basics in either skate or classic style while guiding you along scenic trails. This is even an opportunity for those who have skied before to hone their technique.
Winter Camping and Day Trips
For those new to winter camping, Algonquin Yeti Paddling can give you all the expertise and equipment to get started.
Try It Ice Climbing
On this half-day adventure, Yours Outdoors is giving you a taste of ice climbing and all the fun it has to offer. This is suitable for beginners to learn the basics and get started with lots of climbing.
In addition to the free guided hikes and paid excursions, the festival makes it easy to explore the Haliburton Highlands all on your own through self-guided tours.
Visit Abbey Gardens during business hours (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) for the family-friendly self-guided Winter Scramble. Trek through the trails in search of symbols that each reveal a letter and then decode the message using the letters to receive a surprise from the food hub.
“Kids really like the Scramble,” says Lambert. “Abbey Gardens has a tendency to customize it for every season of the year, so it’s different each year.”
Another offering at the Abbey Gardens is the Chickadee Trail. Beginning with a children’s story at the trail head, it gives families the chance to learn about and feed the birds along the journey.
The festival includes a curated list of other happenings in the region to fully experience the Haliburton Highlands. Art Exhibits include the André Lapine exhibit at the Agnes Jamieson Gallery and the Earth, Wind & Fire Exhibit from Otis Tamasauskas at The Space.
As for places to let loose after an afternoon of bracing the cold, pianist Drew Allen will be at Minden United Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, performing for all audience with music from Bach, Billy Joel, and Disney. Franks & Beans will also be performing at Sir Sam’s Ski & Bike beginning at 4:30 p.m.
To get the full experience of winter in the Haliburton Highlands, several accommodations and hotels in the region are making it easy for tourists to stay in town without missing out on any of the fun.
“Lots of resorts have outdoor rinks or some form of trails on their property,” says Lambert. “They make for great places to get the full experience.”
Bonnie View Inn is one such place and will be hosting a Winter Magic Skate on February 3 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can bring their own skates or cozy up by the outdoor fireplace while enjoying a warm beverage from the restaurant.
With so much happening over the weekend, Lambert notes, it’s worth bracing the cold. Like last year, volunteers will be out and ready to lead the way, no matter the temperature and the amount of snow.
“The festival will go on whether there’s really great snow conditions or not,” says Lambert. “The festival is a really great opportunity for people to come up to the Haliburton Highlands and know that there’s going to be something to do, whether there’s two feet of fresh snow on the ground or not.”
For a full line up of events and to register for free guided hikes or paid experiences, visit winter.hikehaliburton.com.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Hike Haliburton. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
