Winter Activities

It looks like snow is the theme for this winter - and at the Spotted Dog in Madoc we have many ways for you to enjoy our great Canadian winter.

Cross-country skiing enthusiasts will be interested in the 11 conservation areas in the Moira River watershed, many of which offer cross country skiing in winter. In particular the Quinte Conservation area near Belleville offers 5 km. of groomed trails, and the Vanderwater Conservation area south of Tweed offers 15 km. of ungroomed trails. More information is available from Quinte Conservation. Canada Trails also maintains an index of Ontario cross country skiing areas with directions and reviews of the ski areas.

For those more interested in downhill skiing, the "local" hill is at Batawa - about 45 minutes from the Spotted Dog. The Batawa Ski Club is entirely run by volunteers and offers an affordable day's outing for the whole family. There are three lifts and seven runs, a canteen, and a fully equipped pro shop with rental equipment available. Lessons are available on weekends, and night skiing is available three nights per week. Further afield are Devil's Elbow and The Oshawa Ski Club, both about an hour and a quarter away.

Snowmobilers can enjoy the Trail of Two Lakes which runs 500 feet from our door and is part of the Eastern Ontario Trail Alliance. (This is trail E212 on the EOTA trail maps.) Permits are required for snomobiles on the trail, and are available at the Co-op across the road from the Spotted Dog.

Closer to home, we've put in a small skating rink (34' x 42') on the front lawn and have been skating almost daily since the new year.

"Mushing" is a great winter sport. The Ontario Federation of Sleddog Sports sponsors the annual "Quad Crown", and three of the four races are in our area:

The Eldorado Gold Cup was held January 11,12.
Marmora SnoFest January 31 through February 2. 2003 marks the 25th anniversary of this event!
Bancroft Frosty Frolics is a 10-day winter carnival held every year, with the 2003 sleddog races being held the weekend of February 15.