When in Sudbury, the closest place to go for locals is BioSki for 17 km of Nordic skiing and snowshoeing outdoor fun.
Situated in the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area behind the university, it is easy to get to and offers wonderful scenic trails with panoramic views.
This is a great outing for the family or individuals to get some exercise and fresh air. Trails are well-marked and require varying degrees of skill to manage with something here for everyone.
The area is hilly as you will note driving to it, but there are flat loops beginners can try. Kurt’s Trail and the Flat Five are a good start that avoids lots of the tricky steep stuff seasoned skiers enjoy.
The Red-wing Blackbird Wetland 1.2 km loop was added in 2021 to offer another flat, easy trail for beginners.
What I love about this area is the serene semi-open feel to the woodlands. As you ski or snowshoe the forest trails are more open with patches of white birch, shrubs and rock outcrops. This gives one plenty to view and with many lookouts across ponds and summits.
The trails are cut rather narrow and are suitable for only classic skiing. As such they are all one way and colour coded with a few shortcuts if you change your mind.
I found a few turns and inclines gave little space to maneuver climbing or for an emergency stop. Since then I have learned that numerous improvements were made to improve trail safety.
So be skilled enough to take on the challenges in the outback and know that on an icy day it is going to be fast and slippery.
I have also ventured out on Snowshoes on a glorious sunny yet -20C day. The trek to the view on top of Mount Ramsey was beautiful and went on forever.
Afterward, a visit to the BioSki Club cottage to warm up, buy snacks and a hot drink made for a good day.
Surprisingly, as north as it is, over the Christmas Holidays it is rarely open. Apparently not enough of that white stuff. Regardless, enough for me and my son to finally check it out last year, ungroomed. (As seen in the photos.)
I must mention that right beside, and with a connecting trail, there is another set of 8 km ski loops behind Laurentian Univesity. (Review to follow, eventually.) There you can find an opportunity to do skate skiing and now night skiing on a newly illuminated ski loop.