A More Comfortable Way to Enjoy Your Next Pet-Friendly Winter Adventure

There is a special kind of silence that only exists in the woods of Ontario after a fresh snowfall, transforming our province into a winter wonderland.

Many believe the only way to really experience this is to brave the elements in a tent.

However, we’re excited to share that there is a more comfortable option for those who aren’t interested in “roughing it” in the cold winter weather.

By shifting our focus to a “base camp” philosophy, you can extend your outdoor season without sacrificing the safety or comfort of yourself or your dog(s) and cat(s)!

What’s the “base camp” philosophy?

It means focusing on day trips outdoors while spending your nights warm and cozy in the many rustic cabins, yurts, oTENTiks, and other pet-friendly roofed accommodations found around the province.

This way, you can spend your days exploring the frozen ridgelines and snow-covered trails with your best friend, knowing a warm, dry sanctuary is waiting at the end of your trek.

In this guide, we’re sharing what we’ve learned from our own winter travels to help you find your ideal winter hub and make the most of this beautiful and often underappreciated season.

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Choosing Your Ideal Winter Base Camp

Finding the right roofed accommodation is the most important step when planning your winter base camp adventure.

In Ontario, we are fortunate to have multiple opportunities to find the right spot, including at provincial parks, national parks, and private properties.

Each offers a different level of ruggedness and a unique set of pet policies.

Ontario Parks

Often, the first place we look because of their reliable infrastructure and accessibility, Ontario Parks has beautiful yurts and rustic cabins in several popular parks, but they can be hard to book.

When booking your stay, you must look specifically at the “Roofed Accommodations” tab. 

Algonquin (Mew Lake), MacGregor Point, and Silent Lake all offer year-round rentals. All 3 parks have dog-friendly options. 

While parking is available at most roofed accommodations, several yurts at Silent Lake (including 1 dog-friendly yurt) will require parking a short distance away and walking in (approximately 500 m. 

Ontario Parks is very accommodating for dogs, allowing up to 2 per stay in designated accommodations, but they currently restrict cats. 

There have been some exceptions reported in our community, but you would need to contact the park directly to discuss your options. 

The biggest downfall of the Ontario Parks option is that they are challenging to book. There are a limited number of roofed accommodations, let alone dog-friendly options, meaning they are in high demand. 

To have the best chance of booking any Ontario Parks campsite or accommodation, you will need to be on the reservation site by 7:00 AM exactly five months in advance, or be lucky enough to grab a cancellation. 

Parks Canada 

Another option for those interested in a Southern Ontario getaway is the oTENTiks (a hybrid between a cabin and a prospector tent) at Camp Henry, Point Pelee National Park. 

Like Ontario Parks, there are specific oTENTiks designated as pet-friendly. 

The unique draw of this location is the fact it is within walking distance of the southernmost tip of mainland Canada, offering a completely different winter climate and birdwatching experience. 

Depending on the year, you may not even have snow!

Private Stays 

For those adventuring with cats, looking for more remote options, or struggling to find availability, you may find that private off-grid cabins are your best bet. 

Cabinscape is an Ontario-based company that specializes in tiny off-grid cabins, many of which are listed as “pup-friendly.” 

They are located in more remote areas, like Haliburton and Calabogie, offering instant access to massive trail networks while still providing the luxuries of heat and off-grid power. 

We stayed at the Mica Cabin (Perth area) in March, and it was a beautiful getaway! 

Additionally, there are private properties like Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve that offer several cozy pet-friendly cabins, allowing you to enjoy their impressive trail system. 

There are even Skijoring lessons available at Haliburton for those interested in getting started with this fun winter sport. 

Platforms like Hipcamp allow you to filter for “pets allowed,” and many hosts are more flexible with cats than the government-run parks. 

That said, be sure to contact the host and inquire before booking. 

Winter Safety and Gear 

One of the biggest misconceptions about winter adventuring is that a pet’s natural coat is all the protection they need. 

While some breeds are built for the snow, many of our companions (especially adventure cats and short-haired or small dogs) require warm winter gear and proactive safety measures. 

When you use a cabin or yurt as your base camp, your gear can be split into two categories: gear that stays in the warm “safe zone” and gear that goes with you on the trails. 

Paw Care 

In Ontario, our winter trails are a mix of fluffy powder, jagged ice, and (near trailheads or park roads) harsh de-icing salts. 

The salts, in particular, are dangerous. They can cause chemical burns on your pet’s sensitive paw pads and make them sick if they lick it off later, ingesting it. 

One question we get often is whether we use paw wax or boots. The truth is that we often carry both.

A high-quality paw wax, like Musher’s Secret, acts as an invisible shield against salt and prevents “snowballing” (when ice clumps build up in the fur between your dog’s toes). 

They are a great option for paths that aren’t as snow-covered or for dogs, like our girl Willow, who refuse to leave boots on. 

For deep snow or icy patches that could potentially injure your dog’s paws, we transition to boots. 

There are several boot options on the market, and we’re firm believers that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, search for a pair that your dog appears comfortable wearing and is willing to leave on. 

We’re currently using a set from the brand QUMY on Amazon for Lucifer, but we’re also searching for other options to try and compare. 

Another option for pets who refuse traditional hard-soled boots is a “balloon-style” rubber boot, like Pawz. They are excellent for keeping salt off their paws while still allowing them to feel the ground, which may help them feel more comfortable. 

After every hike, stop at the cabin door and immediately wipe down your dog’s paws and belly with a microfiber towel. This prevents salt from entering the base camp and stops ice from melting into cold puddles on the floor. 

Winter Insulation

Regulating your pet’s body temperature is an active process, especially if they are sensitive to the cold. 

Learn to spot the signs of “cold stress.” If your dog or cat is lifting a single paw repeatedly, shivering, or standing with a hunched posture, it’s time to head back or add a layer. 

Adventure cats may also exhibit a “hunker down” behaviour, where they refuse to move and tuck their paws tightly under their bodies. 

In terms of what gear will be required to keep your pet warm, it is going to vary from pet to pet. 

High-energy dogs might only need a windproof shell while moving, but an insulated jacket becomes essential during breaks. 

For our adventure cats, we ensure we always have their backpacks available in colder weather with a self-heating pad on the bottom for added comfort. That way, they have a “mobile warm-up room” where they can snuggle in if the wind picks up. 

During the winter months, we are even more vigilant with our wildlife safety. For some dogs, this means a secure leash is even more important. 

Of course, if a leash is required where we are hiking (like at Ontario Parks), that is a given. 

The winter predators you may encounter, like wolves and fishers, are active and often bolder when food is scarce during the colder months. 

Inside the Base Camp

The goal of your base camp is to provide the ideal environment for everyone to recover so that you’re all ready for the next day’s adventures. 

Cabin and yurt floors are notorious for being the coldest part of the room. To address this, we ensure we always bring a bed or sleeping pad. 

For drive-up accommodations, we love our Kuma Outdoor Gear Lazy Bear Dog Chair. If we’re hiking into camp and weight is a concern, we pack the Trixie Dog Pack Bed from Wingo Outdoors. 

Getting your pet even a few inches off the ground or offering a layer of insulation prevents body heat from being sucked away by the cold ground. 

Another concern is moisture. A damp pet is a cold pet. 

We use microfiber towels to get our pets as dry as possible as soon as we return to the cabin or yurt. 

If your cabin has a wood stove, keep pet beds at a safe distance. The ideal location will be close enough for warmth, but far enough that they don’t overheat or risk a spark. 

Finally, it’s important to note that cold air is incredibly dry! 

It’s easy to forget to offer water when there isn’t a hot sun beating down on you all day, but pets lose a significant amount of moisture in the dry winter air. 

Always keep a fresh bowl of water available, changing it as needed to keep it from freezing. 

Winter Activities 

Once you have established your base camp and ensured everyone is safely geared up, the real adventure begins! 

Winter in Ontario can transform familiar locations into an entirely new world. 

Trails you have hiked a dozen times in the summer become unrecognizable under a blanket of snow, offering new sights, sounds, and challenges for you and your pet(s). 

Winter Hiking 

Hiking is the most accessible way to explore from your base camp. 

Many of Ontario’s most popular trails offer stunning vistas and beautiful landscapes that feel even more expansive when the trees are bare and the lakes are frozen. 

Walking through snow is significantly more taxing than walking on dirt. This makes it a great workout, but you should always be aware of the importance of managing your (and your dog’s) energy. 

A 3-kilometre hike in the summer can feel like 6 kilometres in the winter. 

Watch your dog’s pace. If they are usually out front but start training behind, it’s a sign that they are working hard and might need a break. 

There are a few additional considerations on top of standard trail etiquette during the off-season. 

Winter trails are often narrower due to snowbanks. Always be prepared to step off the trail (if the snow is firm enough) to let others pass. 

It’s important to be aware that sound travels differently in the cold. You might not hear another hiker or dog approaching until they are quite close. 

If you are hiking with a reactive dog, this means being even more aware and vigilant than usual. 

Snowshoeing

This is the ultimate way to explore Ontario’s backcountry, allowing you to navigate areas that would be impassable in boots alone. 

We often break out the snowshoes for the trails on our own property, as we don’t clear them during the winter months. 

Your dog may instinctively want to follow in the packed-down path created by your snowshoes. This is actually a great way to conserve their energy! 

If we are moving through deep powder, we encourage our dogs to follow behind rather than breaking trail themselves. 

Be mindful of your snowshoe frames. Metal crampons and sharp edges can accidentally clip a dog’s paw if they are following too closely. 

We have found that teaching a “back” or “stay behind” command is incredibly helpful on tight turns or steep descents. 

Skijoring

If you have a high-energy dog that loves to run (like our boy Lucifer), skijoring is a great way to get out and get active during the winter.

It’s essentially a cross-country skiing hybrid where your dog helps pull you along the trail.

Unlike casual hiking, this is a true team sport that requires coordination and the right equipment.

Ontario has several dedicated trails for this, including (but not limited to):

• Arrowhead Provincial Park recently reallocated The Lookout Trail as a multi-use trail, the only trail in the park where skijoring and fat biking are permitted.
• Algonquin Provincial Park’s Sunday Lake Dog Sled Trail offers dozens of kilometres of groomed paths where skijoring is welcomed. Just be prepared to yield to approaching dog sled teams.
• Quetico Provincial Park in Northern Ontario is a great destination for longer, more rugged routes.
• As previously mentioned, Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve is a great option for beginners, with skijoring lessons available.

Never use a standard walking harness for skijoring, as it can put improper pressure on your dog’s joints. Instead, invest in a proper X-back harness designed for pulling and a bungee towline to absorb the shock of sudden starts and stops.

You’ll also need a wide, padded skijoring belt for yourself to keep your hands free for your ski poles.

Ice Fishing

Ice fishing is often seen as a sedentary sport, but when you include your pup, it becomes a great bonding opportunity.

Your pup gets to enjoy quality time with “their person” (you) while you both embrace the quiet of the season.

Never venture onto the ice without checking the thickness yourself. We follow the 4-inch rule for walking: at least four inches of clear, solid, new ice is necessary for safety.

Avoid grey or opaque ice, which is often significantly weaker.

Always carry ice picks on your person and keep your dog on a long lead until you are certain the area is stable (better safe than sorry).

The biggest challenge with ice fishing is keeping your dog warm while sitting still on the ice.

Pack an insulated mat or a heavy-duty waterproof bed to keep them off the direct surface of the lake. Without this, the ice will quickly sap their body heat, even through a thick coat.

Be vigilant with your equipment. Lures are designed to be bright and sometimes smelly, making them highly attractive to a curious pup.

Keep all hooks and bait inside a secure tackle box and never leave a hole unattended.

Winter Photography and Wildlife Spotting 

One of the joys of a base camp is that you aren’t in a rush to set up or tear down a tent. This gives you time for more “slow” adventures. 

Winter is the best time to teach yourself (and check out your pet’s interest in) wildlife tracking. From the distinctive prints of a snowshoe hare to the wandering path of a fox, the snow tells a story. 

If you have a pup who loves scent games, like Lucifer, wildlife tracking can be a great way to explore together. 

Sometimes the best “activity” is simply sitting on a frozen log with your dog, sharing a snack, and listening to the wind through the trees.

These moments of stillness are where you truly experience the magic of a winter wonderland.

Including Your Adventure Cat 

For those travelling with cats, daytime activities are often about “micro-adventures.” 

Unless your cat is a seasoned winter pro, they likely won’t be hiking five kilometres on a harness. 

As I already mentioned, our winter excursions with the cats involve a high-quality pet backpack lined with a self-heating mat. This allows them to take in the views and smells of the winter forest from a safe, warm vantage point. 

When we find a particularly beautiful or quiet spot, we’ll let them out for a few minutes of exploration on a harness. 

We look for areas with packed snow or fallen logs where they can stay out of the deep powder to protect their paws. While our older cats have never accepted boots, we are going to try again with Theia, who appears to be more accepting of new gear. 

Our cats wear similar gear to the dogs, sporting coats or sweaters for added warmth when the temperatures drop. 

The key is to keep your sessions short. We find that 10 to 15 minutes is often plenty of stimulation before they are ready to head back into the warmth of the carrier. 

A New Perspective on Cold Weather Travel

For many, winter in Ontario is a season to be endured, a time of hibernation and waiting. But when you shift your perspective and embrace the “base camp” style of travel, it becomes something entirely different.

By choosing comfort at night, you aren’t “cheating” at adventuring; you are making it sustainable.

Whether it’s the thrill of a skijoring run across a frozen lake or the simple joy of watching your cat chase snowflakes as they fall, these are magical memories.

Ontario is a massive and beautiful province that doesn’t stop being spectacular just because the temperature drops.

So, pack the snuffle mat, grab the extra blankets, and head north. The snow is waiting, and there is no better way to experience it than with your best friend by your side!