Skijoring

Skijoring Trails in Ontario

Skijoring might just be the best development in dog friendly vacations yet!

The winter activity is difficult to explain, and a picture is worth a thousand words, so…

Although a relatively new sport to our area, skijoring has been around for centuries in the nordic skiing popular countries of Scandinavia. This activity brings a whole new meaning to winter fun, and might just be one of the greatest winter experiences you will ever try!

Skijoring is relatively simple, and is a great way to get outdoors with your loyal four legged friend. Even if you have never skied before, skijoring is for all skill levels. All you need to try this amazing winter experience is:

A dog that is big enough to pull (a chihuahua likely won’t work). Some more experienced skijorers will use two or even three dogs, but to start out one should be enough.
Skijoring belt, line and harness: for the comfort of your dog, please don’t use a collar as they will be doing quite a bit of pulling. The skijoring belt will wrap around your waist, and connect you to your dog’s harness. If you are looking for a place to buy skijoring gear, we found this well reviewed skijoring equipment on Amazon.

Once you have everything you need, you will need to find a place to hit the trails!

Where to go Skijoring in Muskoka

Arrowhead Provincial Park is already one of Canada’s top cross country skiing destinations, playing host to the annual Muskoka Loppett and even hosting the prestigious Canadian Masters tournament in the past.

Now it has another claim to fame with its very own skijoring loop, so you and your dogs can hit the trails together. Their new 1km skijoring loop is the only track of its kind in Muskoka and is becoming a popular spot for skijoring lovers.

All you need to hit the trails:

an Ontario Parks and ski pass (purchased at the visitor centre)
cross country skis and poles (or if you do not have a pair you can rent from Arrowhead)
your four legged friend(s)
skijoring harness, belt and line

Check out the Arrowhead Provincial Park ski report for the most up-to-date trail status

More Advanced Skijoring Trails in Algonquin Park

Algonquin Park has a couple of trails that allow skijoring; the Sunday Lake Dog Sled Trail or the Old Railway Trail. It is recommended you have cross country skiing experience before trying these out as they are longer trails with more challenging terrains.

Algonquin Outfitters in Oxtongue Lake is on the way to these two trails when heading north and east, making it convenient if you are renting skis.

Stay AND Play

Skijoring definitely brings a whole new meaning to pet friendly vacations! If you plan on heading to Muskoka to try this exciting winter activity with your four legged friend, we recommend staying at one of these pet friendly accommodations.

Pet Friendly Resorts

Sherwood Inn
Deerhurst Resort
Trillium Resort & Spa

Pet Friendly Cottages

Adventure Lodge
Cedar Grove Lodge
Tally-Ho Inn
Muskoka Shores Cottages

Pet Friendly Hotels

Inn at the falls
Sleep Inn Muskoka
Travelodge
Howard Johnson Inn
Residence Inn Marriott
Skyways Motel
Holiday Inn Express
Canada’s Best Value Inn
Comfort Inn
Quality Inn Bracebridge