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Albion Hills Conservation Area 26K of groomed and track set trails for all cross-country skiing levels, and rentals. Wkdys 9 am-4 pm, wknds till 4:30 pm in Jan and 5 pm in Feb. $10, srs $8, child $5. 16500 Hwy 50, 8K north of Bolton. 905-880-4855, 1-800-838-9921.
algonquin and arrowhead parks Cross-country, classic, skating and dogsledding trails over 100K, with loops from 1 to 25K, are found here. Permits at the east and west gates, open daily 9 am to 4 pm. Daily vehicle permit $12. Check Web site at algonquinpark.on.ca for event details. 705-633-5572.
BEAVER VALLEY Alpine, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and a terrain park open through late Mar, with six lifts and 25 trails just 20 minutes from Collingwood. Women’s program, freestyle, racing programs, lessons for all levels and full equipment rentals. County Rd 13, NE of Flesherton. 519-986-2520, snow phone 416-391-6111. www.bvsc.com
BLUE MOUNTAIN Only two hours north of Toronto, with skiing on 34 trails, three half-pipes including two super-pipes and three terrain parks with 12 lifts at Ontario’s largest mountain resort. Night skiing/snowboarding, plus snowtubing. Lift tickets $29-$59, stu/srs $29-$39. 11K west of Collingwood. 416-869-3799, 705-445-0231, www.bluemountain.ca
DAGMAR Alpine, cross-country skiing and night skiing on 14 trails through late Mar, NE of Ajax. Children’s program, a ski school and full equipment rentals. Lakeridge Rd, Dagmar. 905-649-2002, 905-686-3207, www.skidagmar.com
DEVIL’S ELBOW This family resort offers alpine and cross-country skiing within a short drive from Oshawa. Lift tickets $37-$42, stu $32-$37, srs/child $27-$32. Bethany. 705-277-2012, www.devilselbow.com
GLEN EDEN Alpine, cross-country and night skiing, snowboarding and tubing through early Apr, with women’s and children’s programs, lessons and full equipment rentals. Family resort close to Oshawa. Lift tickets $25-$29, stu/srs $22-$25, under four $8. Kelsa Rd near Campbellville. 905-878-5011, snow phone 905-878-8455.
Hardwood hills nordic ski centre Located N of Barrie off Hwy 11, this facility offers classic cross-country, skating, back-country skiing and snowshoeing. Challenging groomed trails for beginners to experts. Rentals, lessons and discounts on frequency passes. Adult day pass, $20, child $12.50 1/2 day $17.50, child $10. Daily from 9 am to 5 pm. RR#1, Oro Station. Snow phone 1-800-387-3775, www.hardwoodhills.on.ca
HIDDEN VALLEY Muskoka’s Hidden Valley runs adult and children’s skiing and snowboarding programs seven days a week, with full equipment rentals. Lift tickets for weekends, two days consecutive, night skiing and hourly, $13-$38. Hidden Valley Road, Huntsville. 705-789-1773, snow phone 1-800-398-9555.
HOCKLEY VALLEY Near Orangeville, this resort offers alpine and cross-country skiing and night skiing on 11 trails, a ski school and full equipment rentals. Lift tickets $21-$33, under 5/over 65 $10, family Fri nights $39. 3rd Line and Mono Rd. 519-942-0754, 416-363-5490, www.hockley.com
HORSESHOE RESORT This four-season resort NE of Barrie offers alpine skiing day and night, cross-country skiing and snowboarding lessons, with 22 downhill runs and two half-pipes. Tickets range from $22-$39. For bus packages, call 416-777-9510. 416-283-2988, 705-835-2790, www.horseshoeresort.com
KORTRIGHT CENTRE Conservation area offering 6K of groomed trails for beginner and intermediate cross-country skiers in a natural setting, seven days a week from 10 am to 4 pm (weather permitting). $5, child/srs $3. No equipment rentals. Pine Valley S of Major Mackenzie, Kleinburg. 905-832-2289, www.kortright.org
LAKERIDGE SKI RESORT Only 25 minutes NE of Toronto, this facility offers a great half-pipe and terrain park along with alpine skiing, snowboarding and tubing. Lift tickets $26.50-$38 hourly, night and six-pack discounts. N of Whitby at Lakeridge and Chalk Lake. 905-686-3607, snow phone 905-686-SNOW, www.ski-lakeridge.com
MANSFIELD Private club on weekends,open to the public weekdays for alpine skiing on 13 trails. Lift tickets $29-$40, child/srs $18-$31. Airport Rd N of Hwy 89 (N of Alliston). 705-435-3838, 1-800-461-1212.
MOUNT ST LOUIS/moonstone Double resort has alpine skiing and snowboarding 20K N of Barrie through early Apr, with 37 trails and 13 lifts. Lift tickets $26-$44, child/srs $26-$38. 24 Mt St Louis Rd, Coldwater. 416-368-6900, ski reports 416-368-6900, www.mslm.on.ca
OSHAWA SKI CLUB South of Peterborough in Kirby, this easy-to-reach resort has alpine skiing and snowboarding on 26 trails, plus equipment rentals and lessons through early Apr. Open daily 9 am to 4:30 pm and Tue-Fri evgs (beginning mid-Jan) 4:30 to 10 pm. Lift tickets $26 to $40. Durham Rd #9. 905-983-7669, 1-877-672-2582, www.oshawaskiclub.com
PLEASURE VALLEY This outdoor recreational park 45 minutes NE of T. O. offers cross-country skiing Jan to Mar (weather permitting). Weekends only, 9 am to 5 pm. Ski equipment rentals. $14, child $9. Half-day passes avail. 2499 Brock Road, Uxbridge. 905-649-3334, www.pleasurevalley.on.ca
SNOW VALLEY An hour N of Toronto in Barrie, with 18 runs, alpine skiing, night skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing through early Apr. Discovery skiing beginners packages avail. Lift tickets $20-$39, under 6 $7. 416-366-SNOW (7669), 705-721-7669, www.skisnowvalley.com
TALISMAN MOUNTAIN RESORT Alpine skiing and snowboarding, cross-country trails and a ski school with group and private lessons in the Beaver Valley. Rentals of parabolic skis, cross-country skis, snowshoes, sled dogs and snowmobiles. Lift tickets $39, stu/srs $33, child $29, under 5 $10. 20 min SW of Collingwood, in Kimberley. 519-599-2520, www.talisman.com
Outdoor ice rinks
All rinks are free and open until February 28 unless otherwise noted. Call the Rink Hotline at 416-338-RINK (7465) for more information www.toronto.ca.
barbara ann scott Single surface, pleasure skating daily 10 am to 9 pm. Yonge and College. 416-392-1111.
CAMPBELL Single surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey. 255 Campbell, at Antler. 416-392-0039.
CHRISTIE PITS Single surface, pleasure skating, shinny, permit, girls’ and women’s hockey, learn-to-skate and hockey lessons. Bloor and Christie. 416-392-0745.
DIEPPE PARK Twin surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey. Cosburn E of Greenwood. 416-396-2862.
DUFFERIN GROVE Twin surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey, hockey school and learn-to skate programs. Dufferin S of Bloor. 416-392-0039.
GIOVANNI CABOTO Twin surface, pleasure skating, shinny, house-league hockey, adult and children’s skating lessons. St Clair and Lansdowne. 416-392-0036.
GREENWOOD Twin surface, pleasure skating daily, shinny and permit hockey. Gerrard and Alton. 416-392-0750.
HARBOURFRONT CENTRE Single surface, pleasure skating Sun to Thu 10 am to 10 pm, Fri-Sat to 11 pm. Open till Mar 14, weather permitting. Skate rentals $7, srs/child $5. York Quay Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4866.
HARRY GAIREY Twin surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey. Bathurst and Dundas. 416-392-0335.
HIGH PARK Twin surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey. Colborne Lodge S of Bloor. 416-392-0741.
HODGSON Twin surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey. Davisville E of Mt Pleasant. 416-392-0747.
JIMMIE SIMPSON Single surface, pleasure skating, shinny, permit hockey and skating lessons. Queen W of Logan. 416-392-0751.
KEW GARDENS Single surface, pleasure skating, shinny, permit, women’s and girls’ hockey. Lee S of Queen. 416-392-0740.
MEL LASTMAN SQUARE Single surface, pleasure skating daily through Mar 23 (weather permitting). North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge. 416-392-1111, 416-338-7465.
MONARCH Single surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey, hockey school and skating lessons. Felstead, S of Danforth, W of Coxwell. 416-392-0752.
NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE Single surface, pleasure skating daily 9 am to 10 pm till early Mar. Skate rentals. City Hall, 100 Queen W at Bay. 416-392-1111.
NORTH TORONTO MEMORIAL CC Twin surface, pleasure skating, shinny, women’s hockey and skating lessons. Eglinton E of Avenue Rd. 416-392-6591.
OTTER CREEK Twin surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey. Chatsworth S of Lawrence W. 416-392-0618.
RAMSDEN Twin surface, pleasure skating daily and shinny hockey. Yonge opposite Rosedale subway. 416-392-6826.
REGENT PARK NORTH Single surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey. N of Dundas, W of River. 416-392-0753.
REGENT PARK SOUTH Single surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey. Shuter and Sumach. 416-392-5490.
RENNIE Twin surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey. Morningside at Runnymede. 416-392-6796.
RIVERDALE Single surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey. Broadview and Montcrest. 416-392-0749.
RObert street Single surface, pleasure skating, and shinny hockey. Robert and Sussex. 416-392-1111.
ROSEDALE Single surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey. Schofield and Roxborough. 416-392-6826
RYERSON Single surface, pleasure skating daily 9 am to 10 pm. Dundas and Victoria. 416-392-1111.
TRINITY-BELLWOODS Single surface, pleasure skating , shinny, permit, women’s and girls’ hockey, plus hockey and skating lessons. Gorevale S of Dundas. 416-392-0743.
WALLACE-EMERSON Twin surface, pleasure skating, shinny hockey and skating and hockey lessons. Dufferin S of Dupont. 416-392-0039.
WITHROW Single surface, pleasure skating, shinny and permit hockey and skating lessons. Carlaw S of Danforth. 416-392-0749.
Outings
albion hills conservation area Ice skating, snowshoeing and toboganning are offered along with cross-country skiing. Heated chalet, equipment rentals including snowshoes andtoboggan rentals $5. $10, srs $8, child $5, under 5 free. Wkdays 9 am-4 pm, wknds 9 am-4:30 pm in Jan, till 5 pm in Feb. 16500 Hwy 50, 8K N of Bolton. 905-880-4855, 1-800-838-9921.
algonquin park Algonquin Outfitters Winter Assembly celebrates self-propelled winter activities including lessons and demos in snowshoeing, winter camping, dogsled rides and cross-country skiing. Feb 21, 9 am to 5 pm. Free (except for dogsledding). Algonquin Outfitters, Hwy 60, Oxtongue Lake. 705-635-2243.
conservation halton parks Halton Region parks hosts a variety of winter activities. Horse drawn sleigh rides at Mountsberg Sundays to Feb 15, 1 to 4 pm. $12, child $8. Snowshoe adventures at Mountsberg, Sundays Jan to Feb 7, 1:30 to 3:30 pm. $12, child $8. 905-854-2276. Season of the Snowsnake: a native game plus tours of an Iroquoian village and Turtle clan longhouse. Cross-country skiing on the trails of Crawford Lake, along with snowshoeing (rentals available) Sundays 1:30 to 3:30 pm till Feb 7. 905-854-0234. Guided moonlight cross-country ski at Hilton Falls, Feb 6 and Mar 5, 6:30 to 9 pm. $8, child $6 (weather permitting). 905-854-0262. Families will enjoy an Owl Prowl at Mountsberg Jan 17 and 31, from 6:30 pm. $10, child $7. 905-854-2276. Maps and more information: 905-336-1158, www.conservationhalton.on.ca
HIGH PARK Winter walking tours through Toronto’s largest green space include identifying trees and learning how plants and animals adapt to winter. Meet at park benches across from Grenadier Café every second Sun at 1:15 pm. $2 donation requested to help with park restoration and maintenance. 416-392-1748.
TORONTO ZOO Visit some of the zoo’s inhabitants that stay outdoors all winter. Open daily to Mar 12, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. $18, srs $12, child $10, under 3 free. Meadowvale N of Hwy 401. 416-392-5900,www.torontozoo.com
Urban skiing
CENTENNIAL PARK SNOW CENTRE Etobicoke’s main park features a ski hill, T-bar and Poma lifts, alpine and snowboard lessons and equipment rentals. Tow tickets $10-$25, stu/srs $10-$20. Mon-Fri 10 am to 9:30 pm, Sat 9 am to 9:30 pm, Sun to 8 pm. To Mar 21. Rathburn and Centennial Park Blvd. 416-394-8754, snow phone 416-338-6754.
HIGH PARK Toronto’s largest park offers cross-country skiing daily. Parkside btwn Bloor and the Queensway. 416-392-1111, 416-537-7669.
NORTH YORK SKI CENTRE Alpine skiing with a beginner and three intermediate slopes (all patrolled), one double chair lift and a rope tow. Mon-Fri 10 am to 9:30 pm, Sat 9 am to 9:30 pm, Sun to 8 pm. To Mar 21. Ski and snowboarding lessons. Equipment rentals. $14-$25, stu/srs $12-$25, child $11-$25. Earl Bales Park, Bathurst and Sheppard. 416-395-7931, snow phone 416-338-6754.
Ski clubs
beaches alpine ski club Bus trips are organized for alpine skiers on Wednesdays in winter. Jan 7, Blue Mountain, Jan 21 Craigleith, Feb 4 and March 3 Osler Bluffs, Feb 28 alpine. $145 for five bus trips + $10 membership fee. 416-694-0617.
five winds ski touring club Backcountry skiing outings are organized by this group. 416-860-6152, www.skifivewinds.org
high park ski club Not-for-profit organization runs Nordic and alpine skiing, fitness and outdoor events along with social activities. Ski instruction for all levels. Annual membership fee $155. Info nights at Lithuanian Hall, 1573, Bloor W. 416-537-7669, www.highparkskiclub.on.ca
north toronto ski club An alpine and cross-country ski club running weekday, weekend and chartered trips. Ski and snowboard lessons and a newsletter are included with membership. Annual fee $140. Write to 106-214 Merton, M4S 1A6, or join online. 416-763-9016, www.ntsc.ca
Trakkers Cross-Country Ski Club Bus trips to cross-country ski resorts Sundays from Dec through Mar, plus weekend and week-long trips, ski instruction and meetings with guest speakers all season. Yearly membership $80. 2336 Bloor W. 416-763-0173, www.trakkers.ca
VOYAGEURs SKI and snowboard CLUB An adult downhill ski club offering day and weekend trips to destinations in Ontario, Quebec and the eastern U.S. for skiers of all abilities. Lessons also available. Yearly membership $135. 416-422-3214, www.voyageurs.ca
Skating clubs
central toronto skating club Children and adult club for all levels of figure skating instruction. Moss Park Arena, 140 Sherbourne. 416-367-3826, www.centraltorontoskating.com
LEARN TO SKATE Skaters of all abilities learn at Harbourfront Centre’s skating school on an outdoor rink overlooking Lake Ontario. 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4093, www.harbourfront.on.ca
NORTH TORONTO SKATING CLUB This figure skating club provides instruction for children three and up, including a learn-to-skate program, plus a full range of adult classes. 174 Orchard View. 416-485-2721, www.geocities.com/northtorontoskatingclub
UNIVERSITY SKATING CLUB Club skating out of Varsity Arena, offering classes in free-skate and dance to adults of all abilities, as well as a Kidskate program for under-fours and a junior figure skating program. Bloor and Bedford. www.icomm.ca/usc
Tobogganing
Toboggan hills for young and old can be enjoyed at the following parks:
ADAMS PARK N of Lawson, W of Port Union
CEDARBROOK PARK Markham S of Lawrence
CHRISTIE PITS Bloor and Christie
HIGH PARK Bloor and High Park
MILLIKEN PARK McCowan and Steeles
RIVERDALE PARK Broadview S of Montcrest
THOMSON MEMORIAL PARK Brimley and Lawrence
TRINITY-BELLWOODS PARK Gorevale S of Dundas
WITHROW PARK Carlaw S of Danforth
