Dorset Snowball Festival

Held annually on the 3rd Weekend of February (any weather) the Dorset Snowball Festival is a popular way to enjoy a winter’s day. To enjoy the days activities simply purchase a $3 Snowball Button available around town at many of the local retailers.

The activities begin on Friday night at the Dorset Ice Palace with a family skating night. Saturday morning everyone is welcome to the pancake breakfast at the Rec Centre ($6/adult, $4/child, children under 6 are free). Throughout the day there are a variety of activities including: a grand pa-rade, skating, snowball throwing game, tobogganing hill, chainsaw carving demo, minnow races, horse-drawn wagon rides, mini snowmobile rides, snow snake games, children’s broomball tournament, hockey shoot-out, kids vs adult hockey game, snowshoe races, tethered hot air balloon rides, and much more, ending the festival with Hockey Night in Dorset.

Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing

The Frost Centre which is 12 km (10 minutes) south of Dorset on Highway 35 offers ski and snowshoe rentals and 25 km of groomed trails. Half-Day, Full-Day and Season Passes are available.

Many of the local resort accommodations and motels have their own trails … just make an inquiry when booking your room.

Algonquin Highlands Trails Department – 705-766-9033

Downhill Skiing

For downhill skiers Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area is located just east of Huntsville (about 30 minutes from Dorset). Hidden Valley offers 3 quad chair lifts and 1 tow lift. Courses and night skiing are available. They are open throughout the winter months, weather permitting.

Ice Fishing

Whether you are sitting on the ice on a nice sunny day or huddled inside a fish hut, Dorset is the place to be if you enjoy ice fishing! The area lakes are teaming with perch, splake, bass and trout to name a few. Asking the locals where the best place to fish is sometimes difficult because they don’t want to give away their secrets, but if you spy an area where there are several huts then you’ve found a popular spot.

Ontario residents need an Outdoors Card to fish in Ontario. Immediate temporary cards can be obtained  from more than 1,800 licence issuers across the province or online at www.huntandfishontario.com.

Regulations are different from one lake to the next – be sure you know your catch limit, type of fish and the number of fishing lines you are allowed to have – before you venture out.

Please stay safe – do not wander out onto unfamiliar ice.

Snowmobiling

The winter months in Dorset are beautiful and we are generally blessed with lots of snow and good conditions for snowmobiling. The Tall Pines Snowmobile Club is based in Dorset and offers 200km of groomed trails throughout the area. As members of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs these trails also lead to thousands of kilometres of trails in the province.

For trail conditions and more information contact the links below.

Tall Pines Snowmobile Club
Muskoka Snowmobile Region Trail Status

Many of the local area marinas have snowmobiles for rent.

Puddle-jumping or water skimming is one of the attractions that happens yearly in Dorset. Once Lake of Bays is frozen you will find daring sledders dashing across open water between Big and Little Trading Bay as they drive under both bridges in town. It’s quite a sight and generally there are many onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse … fingers crossed that the sled doesn’t sink!