This post was written by Maddie Austin, Assistant Park Superintendent at Arrowhead Provincial Park.
Every winter, thousands of visitors lace up their skates and glide through the snowy forest at Arrowhead Provincial Park. Our skating trail has become one of Muskoka’s most iconic winter experiences; winding 1.3 km through towering pines and sparkling snow.
But have you ever wondered how this magical trail is made?
From snow to ice: how the trail is made
Creating and maintaining a skating trail in the forest isn’t as simple as waiting for winter to arrive. Unlike a rink, the trail isn’t flat or sheltered; it’s built directly on the uneven ground, winding through trees, over slight inclines (if you know, you know), and around bends.
Once the ground has frozen, staff pack the snow base, then flood it with water, layer by layer. Each layer freezes before the next is added, gradually building the smooth surface you skate on.
Weather plays the biggest role in this process. Warm spells can undo hours of work, and sudden snowfalls mean our staff are back out clearing the trail before dawn. It’s a true labour of love, and every early morning and late night pays off when we see happy visitors on the ice.
The trail is constantly maintained. Snow or warm temperatures mean extra flooding and resurfacing. The work takes persistence, precision, and teamwork. By the end of the season in March of 2025, it took 909 water tanks and 631,000 L of water to keep the skating trail alive!
A day in the life of a Zamboni driver
Ever wonder what it takes to be a member of the ice trail crew?
5:00 am morning check
The day begins before sunrise with a full inspection of the trail. The crew looks at how the ice held up overnight and maps out the maintenance plan. Weather, temperature, and how busy the trail was the day before all affect what’s needed.
Snow removal
Any new snow has to be cleared with the plow, carefully tossing it over the banks along the edges of the trail to keep its full width. Throughout the season and especially on heavy snow days, the tractor’s snowblower attachment is brought in to push the banks back, otherwise the trail slowly narrows.
Sweep
Next comes the sweeper attachment on our backhoe loader to brush off the fine snow particles that are either left from fresh flurries, what the plow couldn’t get, or from people’s skates. This is a crucial step because the leftover snow makes our Zamboni fill up faster and also creates a grainy finish when it freezes into the ice, which makes for a bumpy skate.
Shaving
Start up the Zamboni (if you want to fact check us, it is actually an Olympia Ice Resurfacer, not a Zamboni… but that isn’t as catchy). The blade is lowered to shave off ruts and grooves left by thousands of skates, sometimes taking off several layers after a busy weekend. All the ice shavings and leftover snow gets collected into a box inside the Zamboni. You may notice plowed-in sections along the trail — these are for the Zamboni to dump the leftover slush!
Flooding
Finally, the water tank is filled and a felt bag attachment is hooked up to the truck. The bag drags behind the truck, spreading a thin, even sheet of water that freezes into a smooth glassy surface. If we didn’t use the bag, ridges of water would freeze, create ripples in the ice, and make the trail rough and unsafe.
There’s a real science to this: on colder days the crew can drive slower and put down a thicker layer, but on warmer days, speed is key. Driving faster means thinner layers of water, and no pooling! Thin layers freeze best, and no one wants to skate through puddles.
By the time visitors arrive, the trail gleams like glass, is in peak condition, and ready to handle thousands of blades.
A Muskoka winter tradition
The skating trail is more than just a place to skate, it’s a way to connect.
Locals keep seasonal traditions alive, families come back year after year, and visitors from all over Ontario, Canada, and the rest of the world experience Muskoka’s winter landscape in a unique way. Moving through the forest, surrounded by snow-covered evergreens, gives skaters a direct sense of the natural environment that a regular rink can’t offer.
For our team at Arrowhead, nothing compares to hearing your stories: proposals on the trail, kids learning to skate for the first time, or families making it a yearly experience. These special moments remind us why the hard work behind the scenes matters.
Plan your visit
To skate the trail, visitors need a daily vehicle permit. The best way to guarantee your spot is to purchase a permit (up to five days) in advance online through the Ontario Parks reservation system. If you are camping in the park and have a valid permit, you do not need to make an additional reservation for the skate trail.
If you’re hoping to avoid the busiest times, plan a midweek visit or arrive early in the morning for a quieter skate!
Skaters can rent equipment at the pavilion beside the Visitor Centre / Park Store.
The trail is weather dependent. Always check Arrowhead’s social media (Facebook, X, Instagram) or the Snow Report for current conditions and opening hours.
The trail opens from mid-January to mid-March (weather dependent), with Fire & Ice Nights on Friday evenings.
See you on the ice!
Whether this is your first time at Arrowhead or a return visit, we can’t wait for you to experience the skating trail.
Next time you glide under the snowy pines, take a moment to think about the layers of care (and ice) that made your adventure possible. It’s a Muskoka tradition you won’t forget!
