The main draw
With trails heading out in every direction, one of the most popular trails in the Nipawin area takes you north to Tobin Lake, where there are plenty of wide open fields to play in. Here you can also take advantage of many ice fishing opportunities. Home of the world ice fishing walleye record, Tobin Lake is a natural paradise which offers plenty of deep snow to play in, even when other locations in the province are snow-deprived.
Once at the Tobin Shelter approximately 40 kilometres northwest of town, riders can choose to stay and play along the lake and the many groomed trails that surrounded it or venture further afield to one of the many loop trails.
Riders can head south towards Hudson Bay and Homer’s Hideway Shelter, which offers the scenic Horseshoe Bend. Then either continue on to Hudson Bay or turn back west and head towards Aylsham and the safe river crossing at the Francois-Finlay Dam and up towards Whitefox, where you can ride off-trail and explore the scenery and play areas offered by the nearby river and lake.
Sledders’ hangouts
If looking for fellow sledders to connect with, head to the warm-up shelters at Horseshoe Bend and Tobin Lake or to one of the many all-season resorts that await past the Tobin Lake shelter. Within the town of Nipawin itself there are also a couple of regular hangouts, including:
- Seasons Edge Recreation, the local Bombardier dealership, located right on the trail as you head out. The coffee is always on and the locals are always ready to share the best advice.
- Tim Hortons. A Canadian classic. Sledders’ coffee row regularly can be seen hanging about filling up on the hot stuff before heading out for a day in the cold.
Once you head out of town, one of the many benefits of the Nipawin area is the many small towns that dot the trails system, ensuring that you’re never too far from a sandwich and cup of hot chocolate to warm up with while you swap pointers and trail highlights with other sledders along the way.
Extended stay
For those planning on making an extended trip to the Nipawin area, a journey on the Trans Canada trail to Emma Lake is a must. On this scenic trip through northern boreal forest there are plenty of groomed and ungroomed trails for every level of rider.
Stay in Nipawin your first night in one of the town’s hotels, located on the town snowmobile bypass, and then wake up and head out west towards Esker Bear and Emma Lake. Here a number of different resorts and outfitters offer accommodation packages tailored to sledders, with guides available for those looking to play in areas less trod. Continue heading up into the Candle Lake area, where more trailside accommodations await, before looping back by the Ridge Road shelter and Tobin Lake shelter straight back to Nipawin.
