There’s Snow Place in Winter Like Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
When winter wraps the North in its white embrace, few places celebrate the season quite like Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Locals know that the snow isn’t something to endure, it’s something to revel in, so visit to experience true Canadian winter.
The blistery saying is true: “If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life, but still the same amount of snow.” Thanks to Lake Superior’s generous snow belt, averaging 300 centimetres of powder, the region boasts one of the longest and most reliable winters in Ontario. For outdoor enthusiasts, this means endless opportunities for winter wonderland adventures, all within minutes of your hotel.
Start the fun with world-class cross-country ski trails and a downhill ski resort that may be Ontario’s best-kept secret. Continue with fat biking, snowshoeing and skating, and punctuated by the dramatic polar bear plunge for all the Elsas out there ready to exclaim: “The cold never bothered me anyway.”
However you choose to experience winter, the Sault can be your ultimate winter playground.
World-Class Skiing
The Hiawatha Highlands and Stokely Creek Lodge offer over 150 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails, often ranked among the best in North America. At Hiawatha, you can ski by lamplight on a two-kilometre trail or challenge yourself on competition-level terrain during the day. Stokely is another Nordic paradise, spanning 8,000 acres of Algoma wilderness, complete with trails winding up King Mountain and cozy cabins perfect for warming up between loops.
Just 48 kilometres north of town lies Searchmont Resort, a hidden gem with one of the highest verticals in Ontario: 703 feet of vertical for downhill skiing and snowboarding joy. With 26 runs (ten of which stretch over a kilometre long), and lift lines so short you’ll wonder if you’re dreaming, Searchmont offers big-mountain skiing without the big crowds. Whether you’re a beginner perfecting your turns or an expert chasing an adrenaline rush, you’ll find your groove on Searchmont’s slopes.
Snowshoe, Fat Bike and Skate
Snowshoeing is a magical way to explore the Sault’s winter beauty. Hear the joyful crunch of snow under your snowshoes, surrounded by nine kilometres of trails of tall swaying pines at Hiawatha, or 20 kilometres at Crimson Ridge. Learn about the natural environment on a guided snowshoe tour with a naturalist in the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy to add to the fresh air and exercise. On a sunset tour at Crimson Ridge, we followed animal tracks to a viewpoint overlooking the city lights, then finished the evening with a toasty meal at Embers on the Ridge.
If you crave more speed, fat biking is becoming a local obsession. At over 60 kilometres, the Sault has some of Ontario’s longest groomed fat-bike trails, including a dedicated 12-kilometre network at Hiawatha Highlands. Wide tires and packed snow make for an exhilarating ride through whispering pines and rolling terrain.
For those quintessential Canadian moments, you can don a pair of skates and head downtown to the waterfront skating trail. Winding through Clergue Park and John Roswell Park, this 14-foot-wide path offers stunning views of the St. Marys River. There’s something enchanting about gliding beneath streetlights, cheeks flushed from the cold, as ice shaves beneath your blades. Pro tip: bring a hockey stick to help steady you on the ice—or just for the photo op.
A Festival of Snow and Spirit
Every February, the Sault’s winter energy peaks with Bon Soo, one of Canada’s longest-running winter carnivals. For over 60 years, locals and visitors alike have embraced the “greatest snow on earth” with fireworks, sleigh rides, concerts, bum slides, and the legendary Polar Bear Swim where participants plunge into icy water.
Adventure at Your Doorstep
Ski, snowshoe or skate just minutes from your hotel and still make it back downtown for dinner, craft beer and live music. The Sault is truly a rare blend of world-class outdoor winter adventures with small-city charm.
Whether you come for snow sports or the Algoma region’s stunning winter wonderland, you’ll be able to experience the true Northern spirit: joyful, resilient and adventurous. Sault Ste. Marie is more than a destination; it’s a celebration of winter itself.
This article was sponsored by Tourism Sault Ste. Marie
Discover unique and exciting attractions, events and activities in and around Ontario’s best adventure town. Rugged Great Lakes coastlines, ancient Canadian Shield mountains, countless rivers and lakes, pristine beaches and exceptionally snowy winters provide a world-class outdoor backdrop for all kinds of adventures. Visit a city that pushes the boundaries outside of expectations. Start planning your Sault Ste. Marie vacation today!
