Mere minutes away from Cornwall, the Summertown Forest offers 19 km of mellow Nordic skiing for all. Here you can classic and skate ski or tramp around on separate Snowshoe loops for your enjoyment, for free.
Summertown is not a large forest but has enough to get you out and to unwind. An area that is somewhat flat and easy for anyone to learn the basics. Numbered/coloured signage along the route keeps you on course. There is a shelter midway and interpretive boards on the routes.
Trails consist of a central 8.2 km Red loop for both Nordic disciplines and a 8.3 km Blue path for only classic skiing that loops in and out from the Red one a number of times.
The small Green and Orange trails add a few more kilometres to the mix. All trails are bi-directional which can help add more mileage to your day.
There is a separate network of 12 km of Snowshoe paths that run somewhat parallel to the Nordic routes. Plenty of wandering abounds as these consist of many smaller loops that enable you to head back the moment you have had your fill. You will be sharing 9 km of those trails with Fatbikes on the south side.
Dedicated locals groom and set track when conditions permit. The newly formed Summerstown Coyote Nordiq Club is based here and it offers ski lessons and a Jackrabbit program for kids. An annual Dion Snowshoe Race is held every February.
You might think that the Cornwall area at the far end of Eastern Ontario gets less snowfall than they actually do. I did, till I sized up a map and realized they are more north than assumed and also close to Montreal. Which have legendary snowstorms.
This ski area is easily accessible from Highway 401, making it a great destination for skiers staying in or passing through the Cornwall area. Many local skiers take advantage of its proximity to use the trails at lunch or for a quick ski after work.
Find your way there one year, stay awhile, there are plenty of places to lodge and eat in Cornwall where the St. Larencence River runs fast.
Note: Info and photos supplied by the ski club and a friend. So this has yet to be a review based on me skiing there. I will…when I can…