Looking for a winter activity? This is where you can cross-country ski in the Ottawa area

The latest dump of snow is adding to what was already a great base for cross-country skiers this early in the season. CTV’s Peter Szperling reports.

For some in Ottawa, the early-season snow and cold means huddling under blankets and staying indoors but for others, the winter weather means a chance to hit the cross-country ski trails earlier than usual.

Across the capital region, cross-country trails are beginning to open and skiers are taking advantage.

Gatineau Park welcoming skiers

With more than 200 Kilometers of skiing trails, Gatineau Park is a popular destination both for groomed and back-country skiing,

“This is absolutely a destination for winter activities,” says Calina Ellwand, manager of public programs and communications with the National Capital Commission. “We have one of the best ski networks in all of North America.”

The ski season hasn’t officially opened at Gatineau Park, but some trails are already groomed and welcoming visitors.

“We’re still in the pre-season right now. We both have about 50 per cent of our ski network Groomed,” says Ellwand. “Groomers are out. They are grooming so that we can expand the availability of the network over the weekend.”

Kanata Nordic ski club officially open

Gatineau Park isn’t the only destination for cross-country skiing in the capital region.

In west Ottawa, the season officially kicked off at the Kanata Nordic ski club on Thursday.

“We actually opened this morning. Our volunteer groomers were out last night, they were out this morning,” says Nigel Wallis, volunteer president at Kanata Nordic.

Wallis says the club has more than 1,000 members who can access various programs like Learn-To-Ski programs, children’s activities and social events,

“The goal is to make it a community activity, but with resources and sport,” Wallis said. “So, instead of being a solo activity out on a trail by yourself, you’re with friends, you get to meet new people.”

Winter trail network in Ottawa

Both Kanata Nordic and Gatineau Park require paid memberships or day passes, but there are many free or by-donation trails in Ottawa.

“Lots of other cross-country trail networks, and there’s over 100 kilometres of community-maintained trails that are free to access, where you can snowshoe as well as, snow bike,” says Ellwand.

According to the National Capital Commission’s website, the 100 kilometre network of groomed winter trails in the area is growing, and can be used for free for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking and hiking.

The National Capital Commission lists the following multi-use trails on it’s website:

• Kìchì Sìbì Winter Trail: “Runs along the Ottawa River, from Westboro Beach to the Portage Bridge.”
• Ottawa West Winter Trail: “Shirleys Bay sector of the Greenbelt, on the Watts Creek Pathway and the Greenbelt Pathway West, as well as side loops.”
• Britannia Winter Trail: “Near Mud Lake, from Andrew Haydon Park to Woodroffe Avenue near Kichi Zībī Mīkan.”
• Rideau Winter Trail: “A new section is being piloted from Bank Street through Vincent Massey Park, along the eastern side of the Rideau River, from North River Road to Bank Street.”
• Ski Heritage East Trail: “In the east end of Ottawa, along the Ottawa River, from the NCC River House to Tweddle Road, and on the Greenbelt Pathway East, up to the connection with the Orleans Nordic Ski Club Winter Trail.”
• Orleans Nordic Ski Club Winter Trail: “On the Greenbelt Pathway East, from Tauvette Street to the connection with the Ski Heritage East Winter Trail, on Trail 45 at Pine Grove and Trail 51 at Mer Bleue.”

Information on Gatineau Park cross-country ski routes can also be found on the National Capital Commissions website.

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