FOUR SEASONS ACTIVITIES GUIDE
The Whiteshell is one of nature’s truly special places. This is where the Boreal Forest and the Canadian Shield converge to create a sense of rugged beauty that defines our nation – a place to be cherished and enjoyed with every season.
FALL
Try to catch your breath, as the season takes your breath away.
Some things, some places, you just have to see to believe… the fall season in the Whiteshell is one of those things. The unmistakable beauty of the Boreal Forest shines brighter than ever as the temperatures begin to decline, and the opportunity to lose yourself in the heart of nature is never greater than when autumn visits the Whiteshell.
SUMMER
Where it seems like time is the only thing standing still.
There isn’t a place in the world more active and alive during the summer season than right here in the Whiteshell. Family and friends find adventure at every turn, whether it’s on the water, on the trails, at the cottage or in town – summer is a time that brings people together in the Whiteshell with experiences that become lifetime memories.
SPRING
Nature and activity spring to life.
Spring is a magical time of renewal where you can feel the energy growing around you. Here in the Whiteshell you can see and be part of that rejuvenation first hand with countless ways to experience the magical effects of the season and actively enjoy the landscape.
WINTER
As the temperature falls your pulse will rise.
There’s no better time or place for outdoor adventure than winter in the Whiteshell. Whether you’re looking for a tranquil walk across untouched snow, a family outing along well-groomed trails or an adrenaline-seeking motorized adventure – winter is where you can have it all in the Whiteshell.
Snowmobile
Speed and exhilaration combine with the wonders of nature to create a truly iconic Canadian adventure.
Ice Fishing
Join a real community of fishing enthusiasts who never let the winter freeze keep them from their next tug on the line.
Skate
There’s ice skating and then there’s lake ice skating, which can only be described as strapping freedom to your feet as you blade across frozen waters.
X-Country Ski
Get the heart rate going as you glide along the trails that weave throughout the Whiteshell’s pristine wilderness.
Snowshoe
Experience a calm and personal connection with the landscape with every step taken across pristine snow.
Toboggan
Hills abound throughout the Whiteshell, calling children of all ages to test their slopes using nothing but a sled and laughter.
Fish Hatchery
The Whiteshell Fish Hatchery Interpretive Centre offers free guided tours and illuminates the efforts being made to replenish the area’s stocks of walleye, trout, lake sturgeon, pike and arctic char.
Hiking
There’s no shortage of trails in the Whiteshell just waiting to be explored, with options for all ability levels. The terrain and distances may differ but the feeling of the outdoors is always the same.
Bird Watching
Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary and Visitor Centre provides an up close view of goslings in spring and fall during their annual migrations. The Centre features an interpretive program, displays, exhibits, self-guiding hiking trail and an observation gallery.
Trail Riding
Visit Falcon Beach Ranch and ride horseback through the Boreal Forest, along lakeside trails and over granite terrain as you see and experience the landscape from a completely different perspective.
Mountain Biking
Keep to the many incredible trails offered throughout the Whiteshell, or slightly off the beaten path, as you maneuver through the wilderness with self-propelled energy and an appetite for adventure.
Swim
If you’re looking for swimming options you’ve definitely come to the right place. With countless lakes and secluded bays at your fingertips, getting wet in the Whiteshell is never a challenge.
Fish
Home to some of the most popular fishing destinations in North America, fishing enthusiasts can’t say enough about what they find in the Whiteshell and it keeps them coming back again and again.
Canoe
From serene early-morning escapes to multi-day paddling adventures, you’ll find all kinds of ways to enjoy the calm waters as you canoe or kayak across endless lakes and traverse to untold destinations.
Treats & Ice Cream
We all need to indulge from time to time and you’ll find everything you and your family are looking for at West Hawk and other confectionary stops throughout the area.
Festivals
The Whiteshell is energized throughout the year with numerous festivals that engage and entertain people from all walks of life. Art, music, carnivals and more highlight a year-long calendar of festival fun.
Whiteshell Trappers Museum
Modeled after an authentic trappers’ cabin, visitors can learn from an actual trapper and hear how the trade helped mold Canada’s history and how it plays a vital role in wildlife management today.
TIPS FOR THE OUTDOORS
No matter what the season may be, or what activity you choose, you can lose yourself outdoors in the Whiteshell while finding yourself at the very same time. To make the most of your outdoor adventures during your Timber Escapes luxury vacation, sunscreen is always good to have on hand no matter what the temperature. You’ll also be sharing the wilderness with nature’s tiniest of inhabitants during the warmer months so bug spray is a handy addition to your packing list. And during the winter months layers will be your most trusted companion, so this is the perfect time to pack your favourite cozy sweaters along with your trusted winter coat. But the best tip of all is to simply take the time to enjoy all the natural beauty that surrounds you during your time at Timber Escapes, where inspiration is always included.
FROM OUR FRIENDS AT EXPLORE MAGAZINE: MORE TO EXPLORE
WHY GETTING OUTDOORS FEELS SO GOOD: 5 BENEFITS ADVENTURE HAS ON MENTAL HEALTH
Getting outdoors can make a blah day brighter.
Nature is a universal tonic, with studies reporting al fresco benefits including decreased tension, anxiety, and depression.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND OUTDOOR PLAY
I remember my oldest son, Tynan’s, first hike on his own two legs. He was two years old and forced to walk because his new baby brother was now in my child carrier. Imagine my complete surprise and elation when he did an easy 2.6 kilometres to Bertha Falls in Waterton Lakes National Park all on his own! Not only that, but he also did the whole hike with no shoes and no pants. Fast forward to now, and he’s still hiking up a storm.
10 OF THE BEST HIKING TRAILS NEAR LAKE OF THE WOODS, ONTARIO
Deep, dark lakes. Soaring evergreens. Granite outcroppings. These features make the Lake of the Woods region magical, maybe even a bit mysterious. The lake itself rests mostly in Ontario with a tiny pond inside Manitoba borders and another section inside Minnesota. But it’s the woods and waters that surround it that make for some of the most scenic hikes in Canada. Here are our top ten.
THE WAY OF THE WOLF: A DAY’S PADDLE ON LAKE OF THE WOODS
Flipping through my old, beaten-up journal from a cross-Canada canoe trip I completed in 1995, I came across an entry for our time on Lake of the Woods that I hadn’t read since I first wrote it. We were moving quickly that summer, trying to be the first people to canoe across the country from coast to coast in a single paddling season.
THE HAPPER CAMPER: LAKE OF THE WOODS LAC LA CROIX
Lake of the Woods Lac la Croix is a giant expanse of water that runs along the western border of Quetico Provincial Park. It’s an absolute gem that should be put on your bucket list to paddle.
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