See you next winter for another great cross-country ski season. Trail maintenance will commence as of November 18, with trails opening for skiing on December 1, 2024, depending on snow and trail conditions. Watch this site or go to our Facebook page for details.
About Opeongo Nordic
Come and experience fantastic cross-country skiing in the beautiful Opeongo hills! Opeongo Nordic is a non-profit, volunteer-operated cross country ski club.
We offer groomed classic and skate ski trails over rolling wilderness terrain. We are part of the National Capital District of the national club system created by Cross Country Ski Ontario and Nordiq Canada.
PLEASE NOTE: Walking or hiking is not permitted at Opeongo hill Nordic Ski Club. The trails are located on private land, and the landowners have granted access for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing only. Walking will be considered as trespassing.
tari
The new ATV for grooming, with Dale aboard! THANK YOU EVERYONE! Many ski club members chipped in so that we could purchase this machine! Not only does the ATV reduce grooming time, it also handles the corners and hills much better than the Skandics.
Public Skiing You don’t have to be a member to ski! $10/person/day (for non-members only). Sign in at the parking lot. Deposit fee in the box provided on site, or we accept etransfers for daypass payments: ski@opeongonordic.com (autodeposit).
Save with Day Passes Purchase a booklet of five day passes for $40 and save $2/day off the regular day-use fee. Daypass booklets are available for purchase at Mad Outdoors (Barry’s Bay) and Grandma’s Pantry (Killaloe, cash only).
Snowshoeing You’re welcome to snowshoe Opeongo Nordic’s ski trails as a member or for day-use fees/passes. Please stay off the set tracks and give the right-of-way to skiers coming downhill towards you.
Loppet
Sorry… there was no loppet this past season. Hopefully we can bring the loppet back for the 2024-25 season. Stay tuned!
For emergencies, dial 911andrequest the local fire department (BLR) is called for a medical assist.Opeongo Nordic does not have a fire route number or street address. The closest street address is 486 Drohan Road. Two volunteer firefighters live two minutes from the ski club.
The closest hospital is in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, St. Francis Memorial Hospital, approx 40 minutes west of Opeongo Nordic.
There are 19+ km of trails. Skiing the perimeter trails adds up to 11.3 km.
Ski club trails are open only in the winter (December to March). Ski club trails are for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing only. Anyone attempting to access the trails at other times of year will be trespassing.
Opeongo Nordic’s trails cross over several private properties and access is granted only for winter use and for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing only. Ontario
Trail signs, markers and maps are taken down for the rest of the year.
Opeongo Nordic grooms and maintains cross country ski trails, for both classic and skate skiing. The trails are located on beautiful rolling wilderness terrain —...
Located at 109 Nordic Lane, Brudenell, Ontario Opeongo Nordic is close to the Madawaska Valley (Barry's Bay, Combermere and Wilno) as well as Killaloe, Foymount,...
Emergency and Hospital For emergencies, dial 911 and request the local fire department (BLR) is called for a medical assist. Opeongo Nordic is located at...
Opeongo Gliders Youth Program aims to create a safe learning environment. Opeongo Gliders starts December 2, 2003 • Click here to register online. For Jumpstart...
For emergencies, dial 911andrequest the local fire department (BLR) is called for a medical assist. Opeongo Nordic is located at 109 Nordic Lane. Two volunteer firefighters live two minutes from the ski club.
Public Skiing
You don’t have to be a member to ski! $10/person/day. Sign in at the parking lot. Deposit fee in the box provided on site, or we accept etransfers for daypass payments: ski@opeongonordic.com (autodeposit).
Save with Day Passes Purchase a booklet of five day passes for $40 and save $2/day off the regular day-use fee. Daypass booklets are available for purchase at Mad Outdoors (Barry’s Bay) and Grandma’s Pantry (Killaloe, cash only).
When can I start skiing?
Opeongo Nordic will open when conditions permit, usually late December. Reservations are NOT required. Check conditions on the sidebar of this website or on our Facebook page.
Are the trails groomed for skate or classic or both?
All the trails are groomed for classic skiing and some are groomed for both skate and classic. Stonedam and Churchview are best for skate-skiing.
Do you know where I can get used equipment?
Please do not contact the ski club about used equipment. We don’t keep track or facilitate connections for used equipment. We strongly recommend you buy new equipment so you can actually enjoy cross-country skiing! Matching boots with bindings is a challenge when it comes to used equipment. We recommend you avoid three-pin bindings all together. If have to go with used, try asking your friends, searching Kijiji, going to Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Gear Swap page or try the used sports equipment store in Pembroke. Also note that buying used equipment isn’t necessarily going to be less expensive than buying new. There are lots of great starter packages at retail stores. Do your homework.
Can I walk or hike on the ski trails?
Walking or hiking is not permitted at Opeongo hill Nordic Ski Club. The trails are located on private land, and the landowners have granted access for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing only. Walking will be considered as trespassing.
Can I walk, hike or bike the trails in other seasons?
No. Absolutely not. Anyone attempting to access the trails at other times of year will be trespassing. Trying to access the trails outside of December to March will also negatively impact our relationship with landowners. Don’t do it. Try this place instead: Dacre Heights Wilderness Park.
Are you hosting a loppet?
Opeongo Nordic is not hosting a loppet for the 2023–24 season.
When are the trail clearing dates for the fall?
We’re all volunteers at Opeongo Nordic… including you! Our small ski club thrives on its active and dedicated volunteer base. Trail clearing happens over several weekends in the fall, outside of hunting season.
How many kilometres of trails are there?
When conditions permit, we groom about 19+ km of trails. To avid skiers, that may not sound like much distance but because of the hills and gorgeous terrain, it’s plenty of great cross-country skiing.
May I snowshoe the trails at Opeongo Nordic?
Traditional non-sliding snowshoes are permitted. Keep to the side of the trails and OFF of the track-setting.
Are the trails two-way or one-way only?
All trails are two-way. Downhill skiers have the right-of-way. If you fall, please fill in your sitzmark, ~noun, ‘sits-ˌmärk,’ definition: a depression left in the snow by a skier falling backward.
How far is Opeongo Nordic from Algonquin Park?
We’re about 50 minutes east of Algonquin Park’s east gate and Algonquin Park’s Leaf Lake ski trails. We suggest you ski one day at Opeongo Nordic and the next at Leaf Lake! Makes for a great overnight ski vacation. More details on our Nearby page. Opeongo Nordic is located at 109 Nordic Lane, Brudenell, Ontario.
Why do I have to sign in and out?
It’s very important for all trail users to sign in and out to fulfill our insurance requirements through Cross Country Ski Ontario.
Other options… Locally, the Killaloe Library has cross-country skis and snowshoes in its sports hub rentals. If you’re in Ottawa or Toronto, Mountain Equipment Co-op rents skis. At Oxtongue Lake, outside Algonquin Park’s west gate, Algonquin Outfitters rents skis.
Can I rent skis or snowshoes from Opeongo Nordic?
No…. but see above!
What facilities are at Opeongo Nordic?
By the parking area, you’ll find Diane’s Yurt, with a woodstove. The outhouse is about 25 metres from the yurt. There’s a sign-in board and gorgeous, well-groomed cross country ski trails. Trails are groomed using two Skandic snowmobiles and two Ginzu groomers (60″ and 80″). Please take home all garbage—there are no garbage cans. Click here for details on nearby accommodations, shops and restaurants.
May I make a fire in the woodstove?
Yes. Please do! It’s a good idea to bring kindling from home… there will likely be some in Diane’s Yurt, but it disappears quickly! Matches, paper and firewood are usually always plentiful.
Why is it called “Diane’s Yurt”?
We fundraised in order to purchase the yurt in 2015, and we had a particularly significant donation with the request that the yurt be dedicated to Diane Brown, who passed away from the disease of alcoholism in 2014. She loved kids and cross-country skiing. The plaque above the inside of the door reads: In loving memory of Diane Brown, 1958-2014, Never give up, never surrender.
May I hike or mountain bike the trails in the spring, summer and fall?
No. We are not permitted access to the various landowners’ properties during the spring, summer and fall. The cross-country ski trails are open (weather permitting) between mid-December and the end of March.
Are the trails hard to ski?
We purposefully added the word “hills” to Opeongo Hills Nordic Ski Club —it is hilly terrain, and on topographic maps of the area, the region is called the “Opeongo Mountains.” The ski club is also just 10 km downhill from the highest populated point in Ontario (Foymount). So… while we love and welcome beginners, the trails can be a bit challenging because of the hills! When in doubt, take your skis off and walk down the side of hills. Opeongo Nordic trails are a great way to prep for the Canadian Ski Marathon and the Gatineau Loppet.
Does Opeongo Nordic offer cross-country ski lessons?
No, the club doesn’t, but email us at ski@opeongonordic.com for names/contact info for local certified instructors.
Who owns the land the ski club is on?
There are five landowners who have given Opeongo Nordic permission to access their properties. We are very grateful to them!
How are ski club funds used?
Grooming the trails is our biggest expense and most of the membership and day-use fees are put into purchasing and maintaining equipment, as well as fuel. We have the laneway and parking lot snowplowed. A small portion of fees is used for promoting the ski club. $22 of every membership goes to insurance.
Who owns/runs Opeongo Nordic?
The ski club is a not-for-profit, managed by a volunteer board of directors and a dedicated membership. The trails run over more than a thousand acres, crossing the properties of five different land-owners. We’re grateful to all the landowners for their continued permission.
Board Members
Linda Deluca, Treasurer
Helena Coulas, Secretary
Trevor McGarry, Signage
Duncan Noble, President
Allyson Saunders, Social Media, Opeongo Gliders Head Instructor
Gus Zylstra, Trails
Opeongo Gliders
Ally Saunders, Head Instructor
Tammy Thompson, Co-ordinator
Trail Groomers
Tammy and Dale Thompson
Does anyone check the trails at the end of the day?
No. Do not ski alone! There is no end-of-the-day trail check.
Will my cellphone work at the ski club?
Cellphones generally work at the parking area and Diane’s yurt. They do not work as you head further out on the trails. Texting is always your best bet but it may not work either, especially in trail valleys.
Do I have to be a member to ski at Opeongo Nordic?
No. You can pay by the day when you sign in, and drop fees in the box, or we accept etransfers for daypass payments: ski@opeongonordic.com (autodeposit).
If I’m a member, do I have to pay daily too?
No. A season membership gives you a full season of unlimited cross country skiing.
Do I need a four-wheel drive vehicle to get to the ski club?
The laneway into the club and the parking area is plowed but narrow and we do usually get a lot of snow! Use your best judgement as you start coming down Drohan Road. If you’re concerned, as you enter the ski club laneway, park by the big stump on your left.
I’d like to volunteer but don’t have much time. How can I help?
Awesome! Little things help a lot!
If you have 5 minutes, any one of the following is very helpful… sweep and tidy the yurt, tables and fireplace. Shovel the yurt’s entrance deck. Gather small bits of garbage and take home to throw out. Remove food left behind in the yurt (the yurt is not critter-proof!). Shovel the path to the outhouse. Bring in some firewood from the pile.
Bring from home… kindling, toilet paper for the outhouse, matches.
Do NOT bring… newspapers, magazines or any other paper for fire starter, plastic bags. Sadly… things get messy and we end having to take home a lot of garbage.
While skiing… clear a fallen branch or debris, trim back an over-hanging branch with folding handsaw/pruners, check in with other skiers and help them have a positive experience.
May I bring my dog?
Yes (if well behaved), but don’t tell anyone. It’s a contentious issue! Be a responsible dog owner so we don’t have to say no to dogs. Not only does poop need to be removed from the trails, please also shovel away pee around the yurt and parking area. If your dog is not good with other dogs or people, do not bring him/her. If you’re not sure, don’t bring the dog. Dog-sledding is sadly not permitted.
