Arrowhead Provincial Park is a beautiful, natural oasis located just north of Huntsville, Ontario. The Park is within the very popular Muskoka Region of Ontario, home to many Muskoka cottage rentals. It’s a very popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and families for year round enjoyment. With stunning landscapes, sand beaches, quiet, motor-free lakes, abundant wildlife, hiking trails, camping spots, and a well-designed ice skating trail, this Park has something for everyone.
One of the Park’s hiking trails ends at one of the top waterfalls to explore during your cottage vacation to Muskoka so you will want to check that out as well!
Activities Available at Arrowhead Provincial Park | Ice Skating Trail | Hiking | Biking | Swimming | Fishing | Muskoka, Ontario
Arrowhead Provincial Park is a huge draw in the winter, with 28 km of classic and 16 km of skate cross country ski trails. There are also a number of snowshoeing trails throughout the Park, and ice fishing. The ice skating trail was named one of the “19 Stunning Natural Ice Skating Rinks Around the World” by Travel and Leisure. This trail is extremely popular, so it’s best if you book your visit to the park early to avoid disappointment!
The ice skating trail is especially beautiful during the Fire and Ice Nights, when it’s lit up with hundreds of tiki torches, making it feel like a fairytale skate through the forest! If you need equipment – no problem – skis, sit-skis, snowshoes, sledge, and ice skate rentals are available.
The skating trail opens daily at 11 a.m. and closes between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. depending on the month. Admission to the Park is $17 per vehicle Monday to Friday and $20 on weekends and holidays. If you want to rent skates, it’s $10.
During the rest of the year, the trails are used for hiking, biking, and mountain biking. There are 2 moderately challenging mountain biking trails, and easy to moderate hiking trails. Birdwatching, swimming, and fishing are popular activities, and there are 3 beaches. Campsites are also available, but if that is not something of interest to you then there are also many Muskoka cottage rentals nearby, for more comfortable accommodations!
In the summer, enjoy one of the three sandy beaches for great swimming! Canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding rentals are also available, if you don’t have your own. The lakes do not permit motor boats, which allows for peaceful enjoyment. In addition to outdoor activities, the park also has a Visitor Centre, and offers a weekly Discovery Program for both children and adults.
For fishing enthusiasts, Mayflower Lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Arrowhead Lake is good for Smallmouth Bass. Remember to follow all fishing regulations and obtain a valid fishing license and Outdoors Card prior to your visit.
Other Frequently Asked Questions When Visiting the Park:
Where is Arrowhead Provincial Park?
The Park is easy to get to, simply go north from Huntsville on Highway 11 until you reach the Highway 3 exit. From there, turn left onto Arrowhead Park Road, which will take you right to the Park.
Are there bears in the Park?
Yes, there are black bears in the Park, as there are in cottage country and Muskoka Ontario as a whole. Bears generally avoid people whenever possible though, so a chance of a bear encounter is small and a serious bear encounter is even more unlikely. Here are some tips on preventing bear encounters that you may find helpful though while you’re visiting the Park. Safety first!
Can you swim in Stubbs Falls at Arrowhead Provincial Park?
Stubbs Falls Trail is an easy 2 km hike at Arrowhead Provincial Park that leads to the Stubbs Falls. Although you may see some people swimming around the Falls, it is not deemed safe to do so and we would strongly recommend not taking the risk given the safety concerns. Arrowhead does have 3 beaches that are safer to enjoy if you wish to take a dip!
Are there fire bans at Arrowhead Provincial Park?
Sometimes it’s necessary for local municipalities to enact a ban on outdoor fires. This typically happens when conditions are too dry, since outdoor fires can easily lead to wildfires in such conditions. It’s important to always check prior to lighting a campfire to be sure there are no restrictions in place.
To see if there are any fire restrictions in place, check the Arrowhead Provincial Park Alerts and Advisories page, to ensure that you’re able to safely enjoy your fire when permitted.
While you’re in the area, we recommend visiting Dyer Memorial, which is in Huntsville Ontario, and is a hidden gem of Muskoka and only 15 minutes away! You may also want to check out one of the other provincial or national parks in Muskoka as there are many other great parks for outdoor enthusiasts.
At CottageLINK Rental Management, the premier cottage rental management company, we have many great cottage rentals in Ontario that you can check out, whether you are looking for a winter weekend getaway or a family summer vacation!
