Frosted Winter Adventures - Guided Experiences Across Muskoka

• Includes Equipment Rental (Snowshoe and Head Lamp)
• Location: Deerhurst Resort ADVENTURE PARK (Not the Main Resort). (1180 Hwy 60, Huntsville).

Join Naturalist and Astronomer Robin Tapley on a Starlight Guided Snowshoe adventure in Muskoka. Experience the solitude as we glide effortlessly across a snow-covered forest. Trees draped in blankets of snow create the magical backdrop from where our adventure begins. Under the cover of darkness we will explore quiet, snow draped forests searching for wildlife tracks, calling for owls and other nocturnal creatures that make this area home.

Peace and tranquillity will surround you with each step forward as you discover the true wilderness in Muskoka.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• Start time: 6pm. Hikes last approximately 1.5-2 hours. Plan to arrive 20-30 minutes prior to departure.
• No experience necessary. Minimum age to participate is 10.
• Recommended attire: layers for warmth, warm waterproof boots, winter hat, mitts or gloves.
• Hikes are weather permitting. Should there not be enough snow, guided night hikes will still run.

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Location: White Pine Lodge Algonquin, 2884 ON-60, Huntsville, ON. (500m East of the Garden Centre in Dwight)

Experience the magic of winter under the stars with our Muskoka Winter Stargazing Adventure. Begin your evening with a short, guided hike through quiet forest trails, where the crunch of snow and the glow of lantern light set the mood for a night beyond the ordinary. Emerging onto a secluded clearing on the Oxtongue River, you’ll be greeted by one of the clearest winter skies in Ontario—crisp, colourful, and filled with the brilliance of Orion, the Pleiades, and the shimmering arc of the Winter Hexagon. Your guide will help you read the sky, share the legends behind the constellations, and reveal cosmic “nuggets” that bring the universe to life.

After exploring the night above, warm up beside a crackling campfire with a rich cup of hot chocolate in hand, feeling the calm of winter settle around you. This is a night designed for wonder—part nature experience, part astronomy workshop, and fully unforgettable. Perfect for families, couples, and anyone looking for a peaceful winter escape beneath a sky full of stars.

What You’ll Learn

• Skyfinding basics: Protecting night vision in the cold, slow dark-adaptation, reading the sky by Orion, the Big Dipper, and Polaris.

• Constellation stories: Memorable myths and sky stories behind Cassiopeia, Orion, Ursa Major, Andromeda, and the Pleiades;

• Cosmic nuggets: Why star colours look more vivid in cold air.

• Why starlight is “time travel” (light‑years).

• Meteors vs. satellites vs. planes (and how to spot each)

• What are meteors made of?

• How far away are the stars? Measuring the observable universe.

Session Flow (90 minutes)

1. Welcome & Eye‑Prep: Safety, red‑light etiquette, let eyes dark‑adapt. Short night hike to a light-free area.

2. Star‑Hopping 101: Using Orion as a sky compass. Finding Polaris from the Big Dipper; locating Cassiopeia and the Andromeda Galaxy.

3. Constellation Tour & Mythologies: Campfire side story‑rich stops at 5–7 constellations/asterisms, adding in cosmic nuggets

4. Wrap‑Up:  App tips; Q&A and “what to watch for” in the next month, short return hike.

What to Bring

Warm layers, a blanket or camp chair, red flashlight (or cover a normal light with red film), and optional binoculars (7×50 or 10×50 work great).

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Includes Equipment Rental
Location: White Pine Lodge Algonquin, 2884 ON-60, Huntsville, ON. (500m East of the Garden Centre in Dwight)

Experience the quiet magic of Muskoka’s winter landscape on this guided Afternoon Snowshoe Nature Hike. Your adventure begins with an easy trek along forested trails beside the Oxtongue River, where soft powder snow and sunlight filtering through the pines create a postcard-perfect setting. Along the way, your guide will help you identify the region’s key tree species — from towering white pines and sugar maples to spruces and birches — and share how Indigenous peoples traditionally used these trees for food, medicine, tools, and shelter. You’ll also discover animal tracks, hidden winter patterns, and stories written in the snow that reveal how wildlife survives Muskoka’s coldest months.

The hike concludes at a welcoming campfire nestled in the forest, where you can warm your hands, sip rich hot chocolate, and relax into the peaceful stillness of the afternoon. As the fire crackles and the river shifts underneath its frozen surface, you’ll feel the restorative calm that only winter in Muskoka can offer. Perfect for families, couples, and anyone seeking a refreshing nature escape, this hike blends gentle adventure, outdoor learning, cultural storytelling, and cozy fireside comfort.

What You’ll Learn

Winter Ecology & Tree Identification

• How animals track, tunnel, migrate, or hibernate

• Identifying key trees: white pine, red pine, balsam fir, maple, spruce, birch, and cedar

• Understanding tree adaptations to winter conditions

Indigenous Uses of Trees

• Traditional uses of local trees for food, medicine, tools, and shelter

• Stories and cultural significance tied to specific species

• How trees shaped Indigenous travel, survival, and seasonal practices

Nature Interpretation

• Reading the winter forest’s “clues”: feeding signs, trail routes, shelter spots

• Why Muskoka’s winter light and landscape look so unique

Local Natural History

• Stories of the Oxtongue River and surrounding forest

• Seasonal changes and winter survival strategies for wildlife

Session Flow (90– minutes)

Welcome & Gear Prep (10 min):
Snowshoe basics, trail briefing, warm-up tips.

Guided Snowshoe Hike (50 min):
Forested trails along the Oxtongue River; wildlife tracking, tree identification, Indigenous cultural stories, winter ecology insights, and nature interpretation.

Campfire & Hot Chocolate (20 min):
Warm up at a cozy fire in a sheltered clearing; marshmallows optional.
Relax, ask questions, enjoy a quiet winter moment.

Wrap-Up (10 min):
Final nature notes, optional photography tips, and a short return walk.

What to Bring

Warm layers, insulated boots, mittens or gloves, water
Optional: camera or smartphone, sitting pad, hand warmers.

Note: Snowshoes are provided.

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Location: Torrance Barrens Conservation and Dark Sky Reserve Southwood Road (District Road 13) near the village of Torrance, Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, with parking off that road, ideal for GPS as Southwood Rd, Gravenhurst, ON P0C 1M0. You turn onto Southwood Road from Highway 169 or Highway 11 and follow signs to the parking area. 

• Dates: All Events at 7pm | Friday, January 16, Saturday, January 31, Sunday, February 15, Friday, February 27, Friday, March 13, Saturday, March 14

Enjoy the night sky with interpreter Emara Streich for an evening of star stories at the world’s first permanently designated Dark Sky Reserve, Torrance Barrens. With minimal light intrusion, hard granite surface, accessibility, and 360 degree viewing, this truly is a remarkable place in Canada to admire the cosmos. 

You’ll learn about winter constellations and visible planets, and feel more confident locating these (and can practice pointing them out with a laser!). You will also be given a customized night sky chart, depicting the stars as they are oriented during this event at this location (a great tool for celestial navigation and an awesome keepsake from this experience)! This gathering is meant to inspire you to continue to explore the night sky on your own, and with practice, it will become full of familiar beings, animals, and other objects!

This event will only be cancelled in the event of rain or unsafe weather! Poor visibility? That’s okay, there are plenty of stories to share and tips for “reading” the sky regardless!

Some key topics we will explore:

• 5 Circumpolar Constellations -learn these, and see them year-round!

• Winter Constellations, including Orion and his hunting dogs!

• Winter Asterisms (distinct patterns within winter constellations like Orion’s Belt, we well as large patterns made up of prominent stars from multiple winter constellations, like the “Winter Triangle” and the “Winter Hexagon”)

• Phases of the Moon and Full Moon Names as methods of timekeeping

• Stories and mythologies across different cultures about the Milky Way and its stars

• Meteor Showers 2026

• Eclipses: mark your calendar for a total lunar eclipse in March!

Please Bring:

• Layers! It is winter, so please dress very warm

• Winter boots, extra socks

• Gloves/Hat/Scarf/Balacava

• Red light headlamp/flashlight if you wish

• Reusable mug, though paper cups provided if needed

• Camping chair and blankets if you wish

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Location: White Pine Lodge Algonquin, 2884 ON-60, Huntsville, ON. (500m East of the Garden Centre in Dwight)

Dates: January 10 and February 7 | 1pm

Join Emily, an Indigenous Naturalist from Six Nations on a short hike to a private section of the historic Oxtongue River. On this peaceful winter walk the forest’s stories will come to life as Emily shares teachings of the many clan animals of the Haudenosaunee and Algonquin-Anishinaabeg nations. These stories share the responsibilities of the animals, the guidance they offer to the people and funny moral lessons. At the end guests will have the opportunity to participate in a traditional smudge ceremony, offering a moment of reflection, gratitude and grounding

Emily is an Indigenous naturalist from the Six Nations Reserve, where her family roots come from the Haudensaunee confederacy. Emily learned how to interact with the environment through the values she was taught by the elders in her community and she continued to uphold this knowledge as her passions for exploration and adventure expanded.

Now living in Muskoka Emily shares these teachings through astronomy, open practice ceremonies, medicine walks and other guided tours. Her purpose in doing so is to educate by sharing cultural teachings and stories and therefore facilitating a relationship delved in understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

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Location: White Pine Lodge Algonquin, 2884 ON-60, Huntsville, ON. (500m East of the Garden Centre in Dwight)

Dates: January 10 and February 7 | 5pm 

Join Emily, an Indigenous Naturalist from Six Nations for a peaceful nighttime hike under the starry Muskoka sky. This short guided hike invites guests to slow down, connect with the land, and experience the night sky through traditional Indigenous teachings. At a private section of the historic Oxtongue River, Emily will share stories of the stars that have been passed down among different nations for generations. The evening will close with a traditional smudge ceremony, offering a moment of reflection, gratitude, and grounding before heading home.

Emily is an Indigenous naturalist from the Six Nations Reserve, where her family roots come from the Haudensaunee confederacy. Emily learned how to interact with the environment through the values she was taught by the elders in her community and she continued to uphold this knowledge as her passions for exploration and adventure expanded.

Now living in Muskoka Emily shares these teachings through astronomy, open practice ceremonies, medicine walks and other guided tours. Her purpose in doing so is to educate by sharing cultural teachings and stories and therefore facilitating a relationship delved in understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Get Tickets