The ice skating trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park has become a victim of its own success, Huntsville’s Economic Development Committee learned on October 1.
The ice trail, which meanders through 1.3 kilometres of forest and is lit up at night with the help of tiki torches, making the ice sparkle and exuding warmth on the coldest of winter nights, has become a major attraction for an increasing number of locals and visitors to the area.
Last winter the park, which also offers snow-shoeing, tubing and cross-country skiing, attracted 20,000 non-skiing visitors, the committee learned.
The trail was built in 2011 by park assistant superintendent John Leadstone, and news of the trail, which is presumed to be the longest in Ontario, has been spreading.
“It appears to have been a huge economic boon to the area,” committee chair Bob Stone told Doppler. “I think there are a lot of people throughout the winter in Toronto for example that say, ‘hey I learned about this cool skating through the woods in Huntsville. Let’s go up there,’ and they do. They come spend the weekend and everybody wins,” he said.
But park staff has been finding it difficult to manage the increased visitors and demands on the park, especially as the ice rink is viewed as a secondary facility.
The success of the ice trail “has led to a conflict between the Arrowhead JackRabbit Ski Club users and the trail ice-skaters insofar as the heavy demand by the ice trail users is creating a jam up at the entrance. And there isn’t enough staff to maintain the ski trails and the ice skating trail,” states a report submitted to committee by one of its members, Morgan Earl.
“At an informal meeting with John Leadstone, the originator of the trail, we learned … the challenges the trail operation presents: the lack of any official operating budget, the double duty of road clearing, parking lot management and ice maintenance puts a strain on personnel and equipment,” states the report.
Some of the recommendations in the report, as far as supporting the facility from a municipal standpoint, include expanding municipal snow plowing into the park; loaning the park portable buildings to be used as warm-up areas and helping the park sell park passes and provide skate rentals in town in order to ease bottleneck traffic congestion at the park’s gate.
Stone said the committee is looking at ways it can help Arrowhead Provincial Park with its success from an economic development standpoint. He said he’s been in contact with the park’s superintendent and a meeting is being scheduled. He said Explorers’ Edge, tasked with promoting tourism opportunities in the area, has also been in contact with the park.
“Hopefully collectively we can improve the service that they’re offering,” said Stone.
The park charges $16 per vehicle for a day of skating. It officially opens December 18 for the winter season.
The skating trail has been a great addition to the activities Arrowhead Park provides in the winter. I have been thrilled to see so many families out using the skating trail these past few winters. I have been cross country skiing at Arrowhead for 18 years. Yes, our park has become so much busier. This is good news! More people of all ages are enjoying healthy winter activities.
Let’s not discourage anyone from enjoying a winter day at Arrowhead but rather address the issue of the bottleneck at the front gate.
Donna Brown
The problem at Arrowhead Park is the entrance system. People interested in renting skates and skis should be re-directed to another location instead of clogging up the main office. People who purchase winter passes as well as Jackrabbit parents should enter the park easily.
I am a regular visitor to Arrowhead Provincial Park and have appreciated this resource for over 35 years. The ski trails and skating rink are some of the best in Ontario. Isn’t it wonderful that so many people are travelling to Arrowhead Provincial Park to skate, ski, snowshoe and enjoy the out of doors in winter. We should be happy that people are wanting to spend time outside and take part in healthy activities. We are also so lucky to have our Jackrabbit Ski Program which encourages families to get their children involved in cross country skiing, a lifetime sport! The Arrowhead Nordic Ski Club is doing a wonderful job!
Let’s continue to enjoy one of the best provincial parks in Ontario.
Mary Spring