There is some fine skiing at Windy Lake Provincial Park NW of Sudbury, with 15 km of well-groomed Nordic trail and 5 km of snowshoe track to please everyone.
All trails are well-rated, wide and good for both classic cross-country and skate skiing. The grooming was good when I was there even after a bad period of rain and mild temps.
Being higher up in elevation they claim the snow lasts, making for a longer ski season.
The forest is a mix of evergreens and white birches with a few large bare rock faces. This makes for a scenic run that never gets boring. You will be passing right by a few small lakes on the 5 km Blue trail, but actually seeing Windy Lake is harder through the trees from the Red loop.
The advanced 4 km Red loop is more of a tight up and down training run for the seasoned skier. I took the shortcut off the Blue trail just before the big descent back to the chalet; good fun.
Green loops are short, flat, beginner runs but be aware the west one splits and could lead you to hills you need to work at.
Snowshoeing is is enjoyable here being well marked, scenic and can be challenging. The lookout is not a long climb but is steep and has a rope to hold on to. Can’t say there is much to see at the top.
Folks from the Onaping Ski Club run the show, are friendly and helpful. I saw lots of local families enjoying an outing here on a sunny weekend.
Big plans are underway to build a new chalet across the road. That will be great as currently the use of the park shelter is limited and you have to ski to the road and walk across to do most of the trails on the north side.
And what you really want to know is…was it windy at Windy Lake? …I can’t say, not when I was there but I am sure it can be!?
