The tour is reminiscent of old traditional skiing and is not intended as a race.

The Sawmill Lake Classic Ski Tour has been cancelled for 2021

In January when the lakes and rivers of Quetico Park have frozen over and the paddling season has taken a hiatus, skiers will venture out into the pristine wilderness of the frozen snow covered paddling mecca

Hosted by The Beaten Path Nordic Trails and Quetico Park staff, The Sawmill Lake Classic Tour is an old time traditional ski tour within Quetico Provincial Park. The narrow twisty trails will have skiers meandering through mixed forests along side the Pickerel River, over creeks and through lowland bogs to Sawmill Lake. The tour is not a race and if you carry your lunch and drinks on your back, you can enjoy them around an open fire before the last half of the loop back. Once past Sawmill Lake the tour follows what was once an old logging road and now a narrow trail with longer flat sections and gradual hills. Refreshing beverages and a fire will be waiting at the Heritage Pavilion (Visitor Centre).

12km and 24 km options

Other links on this site

Winter in Quetico

Cross Quetico Lakes Tour

Quetico Ski report

Quetico Trails Map The loop to Sawmill is a winter trail and not shown. The park does not maintain this section year round

Participation Requirements (if any)

Carry your own lunch and drinks for the tour. Participants must be back by the agreed time of end of tour (usually 4pm to 4:30 pm)

Accessibility Notes

Tour starts and finishes at The Heritage Pavilion (Visitor Centre) - Dawson Trail Campgrounds - Quetico Provincial Park

$20 covers registration and Quetico Park fees

Tour is 9:30 am to 3:30 pm EST

You can register an hour before the event but please inform Tour Coordinator that you are coming in advance.