Conditions Report
Conditions report for February 13 and 14, 2026.
Ontario is home to 53 ski resorts. That statistic surprises many, both within and outside its borders. When I first started riding on the Indy Pass, I was excited to see Calabogie Peaks on the list. The resort, which sits on the shores of Calabogie Lake at the base of Dickson Mountain, was the first in Eastern Canada to join the pass. It is also the first place I took my daughters—then five and nine years old—on a snowboard trip.
I’ve been a resident of Quebec since the 90s, but I wear my Ontario origins on my sleeve. My family’s connection to the land stretching from the Ottawa Valley through to Muskoka spans stories and generations. I even have a faded photograph of my grandma skiing in the interwar years; likely in the Kawarthas, though I can’t be sure—just far enough away from the chaos of downtown Toronto.
My dad was a well-known musician in this region throughout the 1980s. If any music fans from back when in the valley are reading this, I’m Marty’s “quiet” middle daughter. My dad rarely travelled beyond the outskirts of Toronto in his lifetime, but when he did, it was here. It’s all he needed. Each time I visit, I’m reminded why.
The ‘Ghost’ on Ski Hill Road
Before snowboarding found me, I knew Ontario, north of the 401 differently: the boats, the lakes, the cottages, the cliff jumps, sand dunes, and dirt tracks. A couple of winters ago, I was driving between Gravenhurst and Kingston along Highway 7 when I saw a pull-off for ‘Ski Hill Road’ outside Omemee. You turn right and drive into the past; a truly surreal experience.
First, you pass the massive, intricate Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden with its giant golden statues. Then you reach the ghostly chairlifts of the former Devil’s Elbow Resort, veiled behind skeletal tree branches. A deeper dive revealed that this was a snowboarding mecca in the early days, back when riders weren’t always welcome at traditional resorts. I wish I’d known it then.
Setting Off: The 417 Dilemma
Driving from Montreal, the stretch of Highway 417 through Ottawa is… also an experience. My advice is to leave early, plan around rush hour, and know that once you clear the city, the road opens into the big-sky wilderness of the Ottawa Valley. For Indy Pass riders, the ability to now hit Camp Fortune and Centre Vorlage on the same trip makes this corridor a fantastic value for a multi-day itinerary.
Calabogie Peaks: History and Terrain
Calabogie Peaks has been a staple of Ontario skiing since it was founded in 1969. It boasts the highest vertical drop for a public resort in the province at 781 feet. The geography—rolling Canadian Shield and reliable temperatures—makes it a natural fit. While the region is famous for ice fishing and snowmobiling, Calabogie is the “mountain anchor.”
The terrain, covering 80 acres, includes challenging steeps, long winding groomers, and lake views that stop you mid-run. The resort hotel is a quick walk to the lifts, and the hospitality is exceptional, and distinctly Ontario. When a storm with 30 km/h winds threatened our drive, the staff accommodated a one-day delay without hesitation.
On the Mountain: February 13 and 14
The snow on Friday was perfect packed powder. The sun couldn’t have been brighter, and the temperature sat comfortably just below zero. My youngest, Dylan (“Mighty Mouse”), and I headed straight for the lifts on arrival. Even with a creeping cold, Dylan was determined to ride. I was impressed by her stamina and her ease navigating the notorious unload on the quads. While she took a break in the lodge with her sister Em, I took the Solar Express up for a few hero runs on Whistling Paddy. The pitch there is genuine and rewarding—exactly what you want on a bluebird day when the wind is still.
On Saturday, I caught the first chair for an hour of solo riding while the girls hit the hotel’s saltwater pool. I stayed to skier’s left, finding shelter in the trees to escape the morning wind and enjoying the flow of the mountain before continuing our drive along Highway 60 toward Algonquin Park and Muskoka. It was the perfect reset for the day, and early enough that I had that side of the mountain nearly to myself. What more can you ask for.
A Corridor of Word-Class Talent
The drive from Montreal to Muskoka is one of Canada’s most majestic road journeys, and this rugged landscape produces world-class talent. Gravenhurst’s own Liam Brearley, where my mom also lives, grew up pushing his best friend Cameron Spalding of the Kawartha region on local slopes. While injury kept Liam from the 2026 Olympics, Cameron carried their shared dream to a 10th-place finish in the slopestyle final on February 18.
Just a little further west of Muskoka, on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay is Parry Sound, hometown to Canada’s freeski superstar Megan Oldham. This past week, Megan became an Olympic legend, capturing the Gold medal in the women’s big air final on February 16, adding to the Bronze she won in slopestyle earlier in the Games.
A Journey of Soul, Music, & Memory
This trip was a bridge. We were passing through the Valley on our way to a memorial in Gravenhurst for Roger Pinney—musician, aviator, and my mom’s partner of 13 years. While my own father once played the Wilno Tavern to an adoring local fan base, Roger’s music filled the Muskoka air over a lifetime. A trip like this one can mean many things, but given the wind, the weight, and of course the snowboarding, it couldn’t have been better.
Next time, I won’t take a decade to come back.
Calabogie Peaks Trail Map
Environment Canada Forecast
