I can't really tell from the Friends' website, but does anyone know if
the Leaf Lake and/or the Fen Lake trails are groomed for skaters, as well as classickers ?
I made the switch to skate from classic this year, and while it's been quite an adjustment (maybe because the place we ski at is all uphill for the first 2.5 km), I'm getting the hang of it, and I love how you can cover greater distances. I've hung onto my classics, though, for days when there's lots of new snow or mild conditions.

Hey Formerly Foxco,

Leaf Lake trails are groomed for both classic & skate ski. If I remember right Leaf lake is classic for about .5 km and then it breaks into both. IMO Leaf lake trails are the best groomed trails in the park. The Pinetree loop is suppose to be the most scenic (lots of lookouts) loop in the park but its very high difficulty level and long 15 or 17Km (I think). I hope to concur this loop this year. Also Gray jays seem to hang out around the leaf lake parking lot which is cool.

I think Fen Lake is also groomed for both but Im not a 100% sure on this. I am sure that they track set Fen lake for sure.

My wife and I when last Sunday to Fen lake. They have been packed down but not track set yet and there was a few areas we had to work around. The park staff said Only the 5 km and 1 km loop are open right now and Leaf lake isnt ready yet. He said theres a lot of down tree on the ski trails and a few beaver dams problems.

The 5 km trail also had a lot of moose tracks on them and a few tuffs of moose hair which was pretty cool but we didnt get to see any moose though.

Thats awesome that you have taken up skate skiing! Im not that talented! My wife and I are always in awe of people that pass us while skate skiing! It looks so effortless but I know its not easy.

Btw Bracebridge Resource Centre off Hwy 11 (just past Baysville - 117 exit) offers both skate and classic as well and so does Arrowhead Prov. Park in Huntsville.

I hope this helps!

SBA

Thanks, SBA. Bring on what difficult trail ! It can't be any more challenging than where I ski (Highlands Nordic).
Sounds like a trip up will have to wait until later in the month. Luckily, I live about 10 min away from Highlands, so I can get a fix pretty quickly.

Foxco,

I was just checking out the ski maps legend at

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/mustrails/skitrail.html

and the solid blue line is track set and skate ski. The dash/dotted line is track set and groomed.

Does Highlands Nordic have a website? I'd like to check it out this year and I hope to check out the Frost Centre too.

Thanks
SBA