Arrowhead ice skating trail near Huntsville faced a meltdown with warm temperatures, rainy days

Arrowhead Provincial Park’s 1.3 kilometre ice skating trail is awaiting colder weather this week to prepare for its seasonal opening.

“We need Mother Nature to cooperate with some cool temperatures,” said Arrowhead’s parks superintendent, Jason Crozier.

  In early to mid-December, staff were able to maintain and build a solid base of ice for the trail. But, with the recent warmer temperatures and heavy rainfall, patches of the trail have melted and are bare.

  Staff are waiting for temperatures to dip below -10 C to begin the repairing process. Crozier said realistically they need two weeks of below-freezing temperatures for this to happen.

  The trail usually opens from early January to mid-March, requiring more than 100,000 litres of water to build the ice before opening.

  The park’s frequently asked questions page says “Arrowhead has quickly become one of the region’s most popular winter attractions,” alerting visitors to plan trips ahead of time, making sure they purchase an online Ontario Parks day-use permit.

  When reserving a permit for the Fire and Ice event, visitors need to select the “Day Use + Fire and Ice Evening Skate” option.

  “It’s a great vibe… There's a slight uphill and a slight downhill (grade). Campfires and tiki torches… It's a magical experience,” Crozier said.

 Visitors can check out hiking trails at Arrowhead while waiting for the opening of outdoor skating trails.

  Some hikes include Beaver Meadow Trail, Big Bend Lookout, Homesteaders Trail, Mayflower Lake Trail, and Stubb’s Falls Trail.

  To stay in the know, visit the Ontario Parks Alerts page for updates on closures and weather advisories and view the snow report to track conditions.

  For up-to-date trail status, call the park at 705-789-5105 or check social media on X.