Please note: the yurts at Windy Lake will be closed for improvements during the 2025 winter season.
Today’s post comes from Sanjay Chauhan of @jayeffex!
As someone who travels extensively in warmer months, I always like to find ways to make winters more exciting!
I appreciate every moment I get to spend outdoors away from the hustle and bustle of Toronto. So when the chance came up to spend two nights in a heated yurt at Windy Lake Provincial Park, my friend Solmaz and I jumped at the opportunity!
First time winter camping
We flew to Sudbury and then it was just a 55-minute drive from the airport to the park.
We lugged our stuff in a sled from the parking lot to our yurt (which wasn’t far) — and it felt like a part of the experience.
I love photographing winter landscapes, but this was my first time experiencing winter camping.
I also hadn’t explored northern Ontario in winter, so this was the perfect opportunity to do so.
The yurts
The park has two cabins and four heated yurts. I’ve stayed in a yurt before, but never during winter months.
The yurts can sleep up to six people, and each comes with a table and chairs, lighting, electric heat, and an electrical outlet.
Each site also has a large deck, fire pit, picnic table, and propane barbecue.
I had an entire yurt to myself, and so did Solmaz!
They are spaced out so there’s a lot of privacy. This glamping experience was the perfect mixture of spending some time in nature and basic comfort.
Winter fun
Every morning, I went out for a walk when everything was covered in snow, and enjoyed the peace and quiet and some sunshine.
I often saw foxes running around! Unfortunately, they were too quick to photograph.
My day usually consisted of snowshoeing on various trails, and trying out cross- country skiing in silence and tranquility.
The Onaping Falls Nordic Ski Club operates a 15 km trail network with professionally groomed trails for both classic and skate styles of skiing.
This was my first-time cross-country skiing, and I loved how serene it was; a perfect opportunity to reflect on everything around me.
Ice fishing packages
One of the winter highlights for Windy Lake is their ice fishing packages.
With a complete ice-fishing package, the park office will set up a portable ice fishing shelter with two seats, rods/reels, tip-ups, baits, stool, and an ice auger.
It was perfect for a beginner like me because I didn’t have to lug around any of the fishing gear, and it was all ready when we showed up.
Call it beginner’s luck, but Solmaz and I caught two Lake Trout in five minutes. I also tried digging my own hole in the ice. It was a nice workout…and fun too!
Being out on the frozen lake felt like being on the Arctic tundra, and it was a total white-out for as far as you can see. I also saw quite a few private fishing huts on the lake.
Winds created some very interesting textures on snow. I loved this experience, which allowed me to make the most out of this cold weather.
The option to try out ice fishing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, and then being able to relax in our heated yurts was a great experience!
Every night, we would light up the barbecue and make a warm dinner. We would also start up a campfire in the fire pit to warm up.
Living in a city like Toronto is great, but you clearly miss out on peaceful moments as we encountered.
So if you are looking for a way to make your winters exciting, step out your comfort zone, and want to try out some winter activities, I’d recommend Windy Lake Provincial Park!
A huge thanks to Ontario Parks and Ontario Travel for hosting us.
Please note: the yurts at Windy Lake will be closed for improvements during the 2025 winter season.
