Rainbow Routes Association: winter trails near Sudbury
Rainbow Routes Association manages 54.2 km of cross-country ski trail, 99 km of snowshoe trail and 11.7 km open to snowmobiles in the Ontario Trail Network, across 35 named trails. The trails lie around Sudbury.
Trail conditions and fees: www.rainbowroutes.com
Open the full Ontario Crown land map
Cross-country skiing
Snowshoeing
Snowmobiling
Skating
Trails
| Trail | Length | Winter use | Also open to |
|---|---|---|---|
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Naughton X-Country Ski Trails The terrain of these trails is rolling to moderately hilly, with numerous rock outcrops, typical of the Precambrian Shield found across Northern Ontario. Double-tracked classic trails range from 1KM to 9KM in length, and there is a 4KM of skate skiin |
14.6 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Rayside Balfour Leisure Trails The Rayside Balfour Leisure Trails connect Azilda to Chelmsford. They pass through a variety of ecosystems, including a boreal forest with white birch. Going from Main St. East to Highway 144, the trail follows an old railway bed and is well lit from |
13.9 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Onaping - Windy Lake Cross Country Ski Trails Onaping Falls Nordic Ski Club maintains two trail sites, one at Windy Lake Provincial Park and the other in Dowling.The main trail system is located at Windy Lake Provincial Park, a short 45 minute drive north of Downtown Sudbury off Highway 144. Com |
13.6 km | Cross-country skiing | |
|
Centennial Park to Black Lake Road trail from Centennial Park to Black Lake Rd. |
11.7 km | Snowmobiling | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Junction Creek Waterway Park Trail The Junction Creek Waterway Park (JCWP) is an Active Transportation Route designed to provide non-motorized users with a safe and enjoyable option for commuting from one end of the City to the other. The JCWP is marked with blue trail markers through |
10.9 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Vermillion River to Hillfield Trail Free parking available at Centennial Park where you can access the trail. This 10 km easy to moderate off-road trail parallels MR 55 and runs across Vermillion River and Simon Lake. |
10 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Capreol Trail The Capreol walking trail winds its way through an area that could be right out of the film ' A River Runs Through It'. The Vermillion River, with its many rapids, is perfect for fly-fishing. It's also suitable for a riverside walk and, in some place |
9.1 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Dominion Park/Howard Armstrong Trails These easy to traverse trails connect the residential neighbourhoods of Val Therese. They make a 4.5 km loop through wooded areas, and pass by the new soccer fields. While your family members are playing in their soccer tournaments, why not take a st |
6.6 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Kelly Lake Trail The Kelly Lake Trail begins at Fielding Memorial park as an easy walk that is wheel chair accessible. |
4.1 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Voyageur Hiking and X-Country Ski Trails This challenging walking trail, 5 km in length, traverses a wide variety of ecosystems. In winter, there are 5 and 8 km groomed trails for x-country skiing. Most striking is the abundance of local wild life, particularly beavers. Testimony to the bus |
4 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Moonlight Beach Trail This wide gravel trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail and is suitable for hiking, running, cycling and dog walking. Use the BioSki parking lot or the Moonlight Beach access points. Enjoy scenic lookouts over the Ramsey Lake and wetlands. |
3 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Falconbridge Trail The Falconbridge Trail follows an abandoned railway bed from the gate of Falconbridge Ltd. to Edison Road, a road named after the well-known inventor of the light bulb, who in 1899 acquired mining rights in the Falconbridge Township. While sinking a |
2.5 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
A.Y. Jackson Trails The A.Y. Jackson Lookout offers a scenic view of High Falls as it cascades 55 m into the Sudbury Basin. The site offers three trails, including a self-guided Geological Walking Tour which is wheelchair accessible. The lookout is also part of a self-g |
2.3 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Hillfield Trail Part of the TCT, One of the most beautiful trails in Sudbury. |
2 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Ramsey Lake Path This 2 km newly paved Active Transportation Route parallels Ramsey Lake Road and provides cyclists and pedestrians with a safe option for commuting to and from their destinations between Paris Street and Laurentian University. The Ramsey Lake Path is |
2 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Copper Cliff Trail Copper Cliff trail entrance is located off of Old Highway 17, across from Benjafield Rd. A Rainbow Routes trail marker sign is visible from the road. The sign is located near the train underpass. An alternate entrance is located at the corner of Kell |
1.9 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Howard's Nature Trail The entrance to Howard's Nature Trail is located in the Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre parking lot, to the right of the children's park. A Rainbow Routes trail marker sign is visible from the parking lot. Free parking available at the recreation |
1.9 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Oak Forest Walking Loop A quiet oak forest is hidden close to the centre of Sudbury. This tranquil glade, just a stone's throw from the Blueberry hill Loop, can be accessed from three separate entrances in the Minnow lake area: off the Lonsdale pedestrian/cyclist pathway; a |
1.9 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Fisher Wavy Trail The Fisher Wavy Trail entrance is located off of Kelly Lake Rd, on the left side of Junction Creek. Free parking is available at the beginning of the trail. This is an easy 1.7 km trail with hardpack surface. Trail highlights include the connection t |
1.7 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Lasalle Boulevard to Maley Drive The trail from Lasalle Boulevard to Maley Drive follows Junction Creek, traversing wooded areas between residential neighbourhoods. |
1.7 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
A.Y. Jackson Lookout The A.Y. Jackson Lookout offers a scenic view of High Falls as it cascades 55 m into the Sudbury Basin. The site offers three trails, including a self-guided Geological Walking Tour which is wheelchair accessible. The lookout is also part of a self-g |
1.6 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Selkirk Trail Selkirk Walking Loop connects the Terry Fox Sports Complex/College Boreal to Selkirk Park on Selkirk St. You can make a complete loop by walking up Selkirk St. and back along a path to Terry Fox Park while your family plays baseball. This trail follo |
1.6 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Ramsey Lake Skating Path The skating path is approximately 1.5 km, extending from the Sudbury Rowing/Canoe Club at the corner of Elizabeth Street and McNaughton Terrace to Science North. Heated change facilities are located at both ends of the skating path. This trail is par |
1.5 km | Skating | |
|
Centennial Arena Walking Loop This trail is part of the Greater Sudbury Trail system known as Rainbow Routes. The mission of the Rainbow Routes is to develop and preserve trail for the betterment of the people of the City of Sudbury, and the enjoyment of visitors and nature lover |
1.4 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Garson Park Trail The Garson Park Trail entrance is located to the right of the skating rink in the far corner of the Garson Library parking lot. Alternate trail entrances are located at the corner of Birch St and Central Ln, and off of Mary St. This 1.5 km natural su |
1.4 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Bell Grove Trail Parking for the Bell Grove Trail is available at Science North, off of Ramsey Lake Road. Parking in this lot includes a fee. Parking is free for Science North members. This a natural 1.2 km trail of moderate difficulty. Trail Highlights include the s |
1.2 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Blueberry Hill Walking Loop Located behind the Carmichael Arena on Bancroft Drive in Minnow Lake, the Blueberry hill trail meanders through many of the most popular blueberry picking patches in Sudbury. Beginning at 270 metres above sea level, the gradual climb is actually 46 v |
1.1 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Jean Tellier Trail The Jean Tellier Trail entrance is located behind Ecole Notre Dame de la Merci. A Rainbow Routes trail marker sign is visible from Edward St. Alternate trail entrances are located at the end of Elm St and the end of Rideau Ave on the far right. This |
1 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Langdon Park Trail The Langdon Park Trail entrance is located between 2653 Martin Rd and 2747 Martin Rd. A Rainbow Routes trail marker sign and parking lot are visible from the road. Continue past the parking lot towards the trail. The further entrance is where the Tal |
1 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Mallard's Landing Trail Mallard's Landing Trail entrance is located off of Pond Hollow Dr. A Rainbow Routes trail marker sign is visible from the road. Alternate entrances are located on Field St, Trailview Dr and Algonquin Rd. This short, family-friendly walk includes a bo |
0.9 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Sugarbush Trail The trail entrance is located to the left of the Centennial Arena, between the two baseball fields. Free parking available at the arena. This trail offers a scenic route in a mixed wooded areaand is suitable for all ages and abilities. |
0.8 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Link Trail Link Trail connects the BioSki Cottage to the Nature Chalet and then goes to Laurentian University. The trail forms part of the Trans Canada Trail (TCT). |
0.6 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Rotary Park Trail Rotary Park Trail crosses Junction Creek Trail, passing by wetlands, and runs along the base of Adanac Ski Hill. Part of the trail runs parallel to Junction Creek, where waterfowl may be seen. |
0.6 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Meatbird Trail This nature path circles Meatbird lake, a city-run park and supervised swimming area. In summer, you can do the loop and top off you exercise with a dip in the lake. Included are several lookout areas with interpretive signage.This trail is part of t |
0.5 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Geological Walking Tour Self-guided Geological Walking Tour, wheelchair accessible. |
0.3 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
"Winter use" is what Rainbow Routes Association permits on the trail, not a grooming report: check the organization before you go. Lengths are from the Ontario Trail Network.
Campgrounds within 40 km
Most private campgrounds close for winter; call ahead. Winter camping on Crown land is covered in our winter camping guide.
- Carol’s Campsite — Sudbury, 18 km
- Mine Mill 598 Campground — Sudbury, 18 km
Other trail networks within 60 km
Source: Ontario Trail Network trail segments, Land Information Ontario (Open Government Licence – Ontario), updated December 2023. Trail names, uses and descriptions are as supplied by Rainbow Routes Association to the network.