Silver Spoon

112 Balmer Bay Rd., Deep River
Posted on January 25, 2019 / 1991
Silver Spoon
Location : Eastern Ontario
Note : Popular
X-Ski km : 30
Skate km : 10
Snowshoe km : 17
Skill Level : Easy, Intermediate, Advanced
Terrain : small hills, large hills, gentle hills, flat sections
Facilities : parking, chalet, toilets/outhouse, food close by, good trail signage, trails maintained, track set, gear rentals, night skiing
Trail Fee : Free

Length – 30 km

Cross-Country track set – 20 km
Skate Skiing  groomed – 10 km
Trail ungroomed – 10 km
Snowshoe trail – 17 km

Skill – All levels

Terrain – more level by river, hilly as you go further west, bridges, treed

Hours – daylight + organized night skiing

Fee – Free (but sign waiver inside chalet), donations of $5 suggested

Trail Map – signage on trails, no paper map

Facilities – parking, chalet, rentals, lessons, racing, local amenities up the road in town

Highlights – scenic, Ottawa River, wilderness, moonlight ski, ski fest

Phone – none

Website – DRXC,  Town of Deep River

Current Conditions  

Similar Trails – not sure

Local Clubs –   Deep River Cross Country  Ski Club,  Facebook group

Access –  SE of Deep River just outside of town at 112 Balmer Bay Road. Chalet on south side with harder trails behind. Trails on north side of road more level and easier.



Outside the town of Deep River on the upper Ottawa River, Silver Spoon offers plenty of trails to Nordic ski and Snowshoe.

The local club is active in maintaining this location and a few others in the area. At Silver Spoon you will find 30 km of trail with 20 km of it groomed with tracks set.

For Skate skiers try 10 km of trail labelled M, S and H on the map, which are groomed for both classic and ski skating disciplines.

Sloping up from the Ottawa River the terrain gets more hillly as you head inland. The other side of Balmer Rd. (south where the chalet is) gets hilly at the back end and is rated Difficult. If you want even more of a challenge, try the ungroomed 10 km back country Perimeter loop.

Kennedy Creek runs through this area to add some interest, bridges, lookouts and small ponds. Everyone should ski down to the Ottawa River to see the view across of the Laurentian Mountains in Quebec.

Snowshoe tracks at Silver Spoon criss-cross everywhere on their own paths. With 17 km in total, there is more than a days worth here. One track takes you out on to the Ottawa River, but only when the ice is thick enough.

The chalet is open every day as a place to warm up during the ski season from about 11 a.m. to dusk.

If you stay longer in the area the club lists two other ski locations you could try. The Cabin Trails are 50 km of wilderness trail loops from the road west of town out to a cabin near Algonquin Park.

And the Forestry Trails in the Petawawa Research Forest have another 19 km of groomed paths for you to enjoy.

As a 2 & a 1/2 hour drive from Ottawa it is sure to have snow and could be a day trip, or there is enough trail here for a weekend for sure.

With a longer season the community in Deep River enjoys winter sport and you can too. If you do make it out to this remote corner of Ontario, with nearby lodging and dining, it looks promising as a one to two day trip.

 

Note: I have yet to visit this location and am posting these details to inform and not as a full review. The club has supplied me with some information and images. I invite you to check them out and then leave your own review below.

Opening Hours
  • Monday :Daylight hours
  • Tuesday :Daylight hours
  • Wednesday :Daylight hours
  • Thursday :Daylight hours
  • Friday :Daylight hours
  • Saturday :Daylight hours
  • Sunday :Daylight hours
Silver Spoon ski trail map

Silver Spoon ski trail map

Silver Spoon snowshoe trail map

Silver Spoon snowshoe trail map

Reviews
3.8
Total Score 1 REVIEW
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