Winter Activities

Winter months on Desert Lake can offer just as many activities as summer months at the lake. Fishing can occur in the summer and the winter months!    Skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and tobogganing are a few activities that locals also enjoy when the lake freezes over.

SNOWSHOEING
Snowshoeing is a popular sport in the county and is easy for almost anyone to enjoy. Below are a few options to explore:

• For a real wilderness experience, head over to Frontenac Provincial Park to explore backcountry trails and wildlife viewing, offering a variety of lengths and difficulty.
• Cataraqui Conservation Authority's Little Cataraqui Creek features hourly snowshoe rentals, and many easy trails ranging from about 2km to 7km in length.

SAFTEY
Before heading out for any winter activity, be sure to check the weather forecast and road conditions. Many private lanes are not maintained year round for vehicle use. Consider how services (police, ambulance, fire) will access your property during the winter in the event of an emergency. Contact your local authorities with questions about local weather systems, roads, and ice conditions. 

In order to safely participate in winter activities, it is important to know the risks involved and how to mitigate them. Be sure to check the ice conditions on the lake and learn about ice safety. Ice formed over open water is never 100% safe, but some ice is safer than others. Know the facts about cold weather-related injuries and how to prevent them as well as treat them.