Hub Staff
Winter has finally arrived in Saugeen Shores and what a great time of year to head outside with so many outdoor activities right on our doorstep.
MacGregor Point Provincial Park, with its entrance located just south of Port Elgin on Lake Range Road (Bruce Road 33) offers something for any outdoor enthusiast.
One of MacGregor’s biggest winter attractions is its ice skating trail, which opened for the season just this week, on January 13. Ontario Parks Superintendent at MacGregor Point, Keith Early, said that the park has been running the skating trail since 2007. “It's very popular but it's totally weather dependent,” he explained. “It's a 400 meter loop and we take a campground that's closed then the guys just pack the snow and build up the banks on the side and then we flood it.”
Early said that new this year is a heated yurt at the start of the trail so that skaters can get ready in warmth and comfort. “That's going to be a real plus,” he said. “We had a little cabin last year but the yurt is a lot more roomier.”
The skating trail is open to visitors from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. each day and is lit from sunset until 10 p.m.
For the last couple of years MacGregor Point has also put in a large ice pad in the Visitor Centre parking lot so people can enjoy a game of hockey without interfering with those skating the trail.
If skiing is what you prefer, the park offers an 8 kilometre cross-country ski trail, Deer Run Trail, which is groomed daily. Early explained, “It's single track-set and it's family friendly because there are no hills here.”
Snowshoeing at MacGregor has become more popular in recent years as well. “We have snowshoeing in our Nipissing campground as it's closed right now so you can (snowshoe) anywhere in there. Also on any trails we don't groom for skiing, we allow snowshoeing on.”
Early said that they don't allow snowmobiling in the park but people who come for camping do bring their snowmobiles and are allowed on the roads in the park in order to connect with the network of snowmobile trails in the area. “They have to be aware that they have to be licensed because all our roads are considered highways,” he stressed.
With regards to camping, MacGregor Point has sixteen yurts which are available all winter long. “We encourage anyone to book midweek because midweek they have their choice pretty much,” said Early, adding that every winter, weekends for the yurts are fully booked.
Winter camping is also available for people who wish to bring their trailers into the park. “It's popular and unique,” said Early. “We're the only provincial park that offers that type of seasonal camping where you can leave your trailer all winter.”
And for those a little more daring, tent camping is also available through the winter months.
If a more leisurely activity is something you’re looking for, you can bring wild bird seed to the park, especially near the Visitor Centre, place it in the palm of your hand and wait. Before long local birds, namely Chickadees and the occasional Nuthatch will come and feed right out of your hand.
A vehicle fee to enter the park is all that is required. This then allows use of the skating trail, ice pad, cross country ski trail and snowshoe trails and can be either a four hour pass for $7.50 or a day pass for $11.25. A pay and display is available in the evening if park staff are not available. For regular users of the park, an Ontario Parks Winter pass, valid until March 31, is available for $85.
