Winter Activities at Sandy Lane Resort

A true winter wonderland of frozen lakes and snow covered forest to play on.

Yes, we have snow, snow and more snow plus lots of activities for you to enjoy at Sandy Lane Resort or nearby.

All these snowy activities will be available for you to enjoy at Sandy Lane or nearby:   ** Available nearby

  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Downhill Skiing**
  • Snowboarding**
  • Ice Fishing**
  • Natural Skating Rink – Large & Lit
  • Family Toboggan Run – It’s Lit
  • Private Hot Tub ‘Under the Stars’ on Cathedral cottages
  • Snowmobiling**
  • Horse drawn Sleigh Rides**
  • Dog Sled Ride**

On-Site

It’s a great little hill nestled amongst the trees offering a great ride for the young and the not so young. Plus, it’s lit for night time fun. Plastic toboggans and snow tubes are all included.

cross country skiers

With always lots of snow, you may leave right from your cottage and ski around Sandy Lane, or try a little lake skiing on Halls Lake. Just 10 km north are the Leslie Frost classic ski trails or 25 km east the skating trails of the New Moose Woods Centre or Glebe Park in the town of Haliburton is lit for the “Fun Time” night skiing.  Whichever trail system you ski the nicest and best groomed cross-country ski trails in Ontario. Visit www.skihaliburton.com. Snowshoeing available at the Frost Centre.

game room

Come up to the banquet hall and enjoy the many games we have for your to play.

Still have energy to burn after a great day of outdoor activity? Well bring the quarters and loonies to the games room located in the Banquet Hall where you can challenge yourself and friends to a friendly game of pool (billiards), air hockey, foosball and free ping-pong. Come and Enjoy!

outdoor hottub in winter

Discover this healthful way to unwind and warm-up in blissful comfort in Sandy Lane’s Private Hot Tubs “under the stars”. The Private Hot Tubs are available on Cathedral Style Cottages #6, 7 , 8 and 10. PRIVATE OUTDOOR HOT TUB AVAILABLE ON DECK OF THIS COTTAGE OCTOBER 30th TO MAY 15th.

So bring your bathing suit and housecoat after a day of skiing, snowmobiling or whatever, it’s time for a dip.

feet in front of a fireplace

Every cottage at Sandy Lane Resort has its own wood burning fireplace for you to enjoy and we provide the wood!

Put your feet up, put out a few snacks, quench your thirst and enjoy the crackle and sizzle of your own wood-burning fireplace.

We supply the first bag of firewood, free. Do you need more Firewood? Purchase it from us for $7.00 a bag. Please only use the firewood that we supply as we need to ensure that it is the right type and moisture level.

So cozy up and enjoy.

holiday@sandylaneresort.com

ice rink

There is endless fun for everyone at Sandy Lane Resort!

You will have lots of fun on our large natural outdoor skating rink, it’s lit for night time fun for you to enjoy with the family and your friends. We have a good selection of skate’s, sticks and pucks are available, to rent at very reasonable cost.

Get a team together and join us for Sandy Lane Resorts Annual 4 on 4 Pond Hockey Tournament. It’s the 3rd weekend in January – Fun for everyone!

Off-Site

person Ice Climbing

Base Camp 35 is an Outdoor Adventure Company offering unforgettable action packed weekends!

The Base Camp 35 vision started in the year 2000 when Lorne Foisy enrolled in the 10 month Leadership Development Program at Medeba Adventure Learning Center in the Haliburton Highlands.  Focusing on Outdoor Adventure Programming, Lorne quickly developed a passion for the vertical world of rock and ice climbing. After the successful completion of the program, he pursued his dreams of the mountains taking up residence in the Canadian Rockies.  Becoming an ACMG certified top rope climbing instructor, he began instructing for the Tim Horton Children’s Ranch. Moving back to Haliburton in 2016, Lorne desires to spread his passion for climbing with others. If you are signing up for a climbing adventure, you are sure to have a great experience!

WHAT ARE WE?

Base Camp 35 is an adventure based business that gives you an opportunity to safely experience adventure activities that you would not normally get the chance to do.  We offer Ice Climbing in the winter seasons and Rock Climbing and Rappelling adventures in the summer.

Base camp operates within the HWY 35 corridor in the Algonquin Highlands. We have multiple locations we use for climbing based on the groups level of experience and desired adventure!

For more information place visit  Basecamp35

Carnivals, Ice Races, and Other Things to do in the Area

dorset snowball event

If you are looking for things to do around Sandy Lane Resort there are many things in the nearby towns.

In Dorset there is the Snowball Carnival, in Minden there is ice car races, hockey to watch and much more, and if ice fishing is your thing you can go to the Krista’s Bait n’ Bits on Halls Lake.

The town of Dorset comes alive in the third weekend of February with the Dorset Snowball Carnival , hosting snowmobile poker runs, outdoor ice hockey, snowman building and so much more.

There is a lot to do outdoors in the winter, just bundle up and visit the ice car races in Minden at the fair grounds. Head to the Minden arena to watch junior hockey or go ice fishing at Krista’s Bait n’ Bits on Halls Lake.

Return to Sandy Lane Resort at the end of the day to your warm cottage, light a fire, put up your feet, enjoy your favorite refreshment while having a few snacks and let the snow come down around you.

cross country skiers

There are two trails systems at the Frost Institute, one for classic track set skiing on the west side of HWY 35 and one for snowshoeing on the hiking trails behind the Frost Institute buildings.

A great bunch of volunteers maintain the trails, visit Ski at the Frost Centre site to see what they are up to. You can rent cross-country skis, poles and shoes as well as snowshoes from Sandy Lane Resort. Play around on the resort or head for the frost centre, which is only 10 minutes away for great skiing or snowshoeing.  Pick up your 20% off trail passes at Sandy Lane Resort.

Experience a winter wonderland of rugged Canadian Shield, majestic hardwood forests, old growth white pine, hemlock and yellow birch. Ski or snowshoe to cliff top lookouts and spectacular ice falls. View wildlife such as moose, deer, owls, martens, grouse and much more.

Located 12 km south of Dorset, Ontario at 20130 Hwy. 35.

26 km of classic cross-country ski trail offer 8 stacked loops ranging in length from 1.2 km to 6.5 km. Beginner to expert level trails, we have it all. Families can explore the Fox, Bunny, Bear, Beaver and Otterslide trails. If you are looking for a longer, more remote backcountry experience try the Deer and Moose Trails, which combine to give a 22 km loop. Several trails offer technical downhill sections for advanced skiers

close up of wolf

Haliburton Forest has lots of things to do including visiting the wolf center.

Haliburton Forest has the Wolf Centre where people can learn about the master of our forests. View the wolves from the observation room and watch them bask in the sun.

sleigh horses

What a relaxing way to see the winter scenery through cottage country. Warm up afterwards in your cottage at Sandy Lane Resort with a nice cup of hot chocolate beside your wood burning fireplace.

Call ahead to reserve your sleigh ride:

Murray Cowan Haliburton: 705-457-2149

Maple Lane Farms Bracebridge: 705-645-1723

Essonville Line / Country Rd 4  – overload_52@yahoo.com 705-448-9078   – 705-457-6048

older skier pulling a young skier

Sandy Lane Resort is right in the middle between two great ski hills, Sir Sam’s Ski Area and Hidden Valley.

Both ski and snowboard Hills have a main lodge with food and rentals for skiing and snowboarding. Hidden valley also offers night skiing. 

SIR SAM’S

Bundle up and join us on the hill! Fresh powder, challenging elevations, breathtaking views and friendly staff are waiting for you at Sir Sam’s. Spend your day easily moving from hill to hill on our 1100 foot covered surface lift or your choice of 4 uncontested chair lifts. Our goal is to maximize your time by getting you to the top of the hill as quickly and efficiently as possible, allowing you to get in as many runs as possible during your day.

For more information on our Sir Sam’s Special rates please click here.

 HIDDEN VALLEY

Hidden Valley Highlands is located just off Highway 60, 6 km east of Huntsville.

Enjoy a wealth of exciting winter recreation, including down-hill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, tobogganing, and ice skating at the Canada Summit Centre in Huntsville.

Hidden Valley Rates

buck in the snow

Visit My Haliburton Highlands for more information about the area.

dog sledding team

There are many places around Sandy Lane Resort that you can go dog sledding. Click on more info to find out about them.

Mush is the word when it comes to sled dog rides at Winterdance, Haliburton Forest, and North Ridge Ranch. They, the dogs, will take you for the ride of your life through tight trails over virgin fields and down the hills of the highlands.

group on snowmobiles

It’s time to bring out the snowmobiles to do endless trail riding on the OFSC trails (local clubs are www.hcsa.on.ca and www.msrsnowtrails.com).

Just 30 km away from Sandy Lane Resort is Haliburton Forest that has the world’s largest private snowmobile system and it is usually the first trails to open and the last trails to close.

Leave right from your cottage at Sandy Lane Resort and return when you wish and always on different land based trails, all winter long or journey onto the lake trails when the conditions are right. It’s endless trails and endless fun with friends and family.

To rent Snowmobiles please visit the following sites for availability and pricing:

Back Country Tours offer delivery to Sandy Lane http://www.backcountrytours.ca/

*special rates for Sandy Lane Resort:

Big Hawk Marina http://www.bighawk.ca/ (Closest)

H.S.R. Ski-doo rentals http://www.skidoorentals.com/

Haliburton Forest http://www.haliburtonforest.com/snowmobile.html

Old Mill Marina http://www.oldmillmarina.ca/win_rentals.htm

Winter Activities Gallery