Horseshoe Resort

Canada has plenty of four-season resorts that offer good downhill experiences, and Ontario's Horseshoe Resort is one of them. It opened in 1962, with Canadian pro golfers George Knudson and Al Balding helping to design the golf course that opened all 18 holes in 1975. Winter activities still hold sway here, with continuous investments and upgrades creating several ways for guests to enjoy themselves during the ski season.

The resort sits on the northern edges of Barrie, Ontario. It is about 1.25 hours away from downtown Toronto, with Highway 400 providing access to the winter venue between Lake Simcoe and Lake Huron's Georgian Bay. Toronto's Pearson International Airport is the largest facility in the area at a distance of 58 miles.

Plenty to Offer off the Slopes

The Horseshoe Resort ski area has visitor lodging with several room options in The Inn at Horseshoe, Copeland House Condos, and Slopeside Condos. Those bringing their four-legged family members along with them will find pet-friendly rooms available, which is not always the case in resort settings.

Several dining options provide that apres-ski that resort guests are looking for, including seasonal menus prepared by the Executive Chef. An Alpine Cafeteria, Shoe Brew, Eleven01 Taphouse & Kitchen, and the Crazyhorse Sports Bar & Grill will keep guests fueled and hydrated while providing a meeting place to socialize.

The Horseshoe Resort ski area has a small fitness center for working out when not skiing or snowboarding. Family members staying here can also take a dip in the pools, hot tubs, or sit in the sauna. If guests want to keep the activities outdoors, they can get everyone on the outdoor skating rink.

Horseshoe Resort is home to Ontario's longest snow tubing run, providing fun for all family members. The Copeland Forest is a great place to walk on a pair of snowshoes, with several trails available to explore. Fat biking has grown in popularity, and the Horseshoe Resort ski area rents bikes to ride around the groomed loop. Another popular winter experience off-slope is the guided Snowmobile Tours that include warm clothing and instruction for kids aged 8 to 100.

A Cross Country Centre has everything that cross-country skiers need to get started along the groomed trails here, including gear and a full-service chalet. The private, group, multi-week, and school programs get people onto skis or boards and downhill with quality instruction. Horseshoe Resort even provides lessons for adaptive skiing.

Downhill in the U

The Horseshoe Resort is a west-facing venue that sits in a natural "U" shaped valley. It receives over 87 inches of annual snowfall, with snowmaking equipment covering 75-percent of the property. The 29 runs covering the terrain here (61 acres) favor advanced and expert ski bums.

Terrain ratings at the ski venue include green/beginner (28-percent), blue/intermediate (21-percent), black diamond/advanced (45-percent), and double black diamond (7-percent). The Horseshoe Resort offers skiers and riders a 308-foot vertical drop to work with, and it is worth noting that several trails have lights for nighttime skiing and riding.

Six lifts keep guests moving uphill, including the learning area and the tubing hill.