Winter Joy on Lake of Bays
Blue Water Acres Resort is where the joy of winter becomes an art form.
It's a bluebird day at Blue Water Acres Resort.
The sun glints off snow-covered pines as laughter echoes from the tubing hill, where a family — parents, grandparents and children — link arms for a speedy descent that has them howling with delight.
Later, the parents warm up with a soak in the indoor hot tub, while grandpa challenges the kids to a ping-pong match in the games room.
As the day winds down, they gather around the kitchen table in their cozy cottage, the fireplace crackling, to play board games and swap stories.
For Aaron Miedema, whose family has vacationed at this idyllic resort on the shores of Lake of Bays in Muskoka for more than 15 years, these are the moments that matter.
“We all live very busy lives in Southern Ontario and it’s a time where we connect as a family,” he says. “We have meals together and we all take turns cooking. It’s a really special place for our family because we can all get away from work and reconnect.”
Whether it’s snowmobiling right from the resort, ice fishing on the bay, skating the trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park or simply relaxing by the fire, winter vacations at Blue Water Acres are more than just a getaway, they’re a tradition.
Hit the Slopes
If downhill skiing or snowboarding is your winter passion, Blue Water Acres makes the perfect basecamp.
Just a short drive away, Hidden Valley Highlands offer slopes for every skill level, from gentle beginner runs to heart-pounding, double black diamonds.
“Winter in Muskoka ensures lots of fresh, regular snowfall. This also ensures the beauty of snow in the pine trees, which can't be beat,” says Doug Rogers, a longtime cottage owner at Blue Water Acres.
“I’m a big skiing fan so heading over to Hidden Valley, even for just a few hours, gives me my fix.”
And it’s not just about the skiing. Hidden Valley’s tubing park, Polar Plunge, offers high-speed thrills for those seeking a different type of downhill adventure.
Prefer to stay on the property? Blue Water Acres has its own tubing hill complete with inner tubes; ideal for spontaneous fun just steps from your cottage.
Carve Up the Ice
There’s something undeniably magical about skating under open skies, and Blue Water Acres has made it easy.
Guests can skate or play pick-up hockey on the resort’s outdoor rink, then warm up around the nearby bonfire with hot chocolate and marshmallows.
Looking for an unforgettable winter memory? Take a short drive over to Arrowhead Provincial Park to experience the 1.3-kilometre ice trail, winding through the forest. On Friday and Saturday nights in January and February, it becomes an enchanting torchlit pathway, drawing skaters from near and far.
“It’s hugely popular on the weekends,” says Yvonne Stephenson, whose parents bought Blue Water Acres in 1979, and who now owns the property management company that oversees the resort. “Many of our guests come specifically to skate the Arrowhead trail, it’s such a unique and magical experience.”
Find a Slower Pace in the Woods
For those who find peace in the quiet of snow-laden woods, Blue Water Acres offers serene snowshoeing trails on-site.
If you're craving a deeper immersion in nature, head just 20 minutes to Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve, where rugged beauty and tranquility await.
Both Algonquin Park and Arrowhead are within a 15-minute drive and offer extensive networks of groomed trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, with rentals available.
“Winter is a time to explore,” Yvonne adds. “I always say, the more you do outdoors in winter, the more you’re going to enjoy winter.”
For snowmobile enthusiasts, Blue Water Acres is a dream come true.
The resort is conveniently connected to the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs trail system, giving guests easy access to some of the best sledding trails in Muskoka.
“You can leave right from Blue Water Acres and go out onto Lake of Bays to enjoy a nice little loop,” says fractional owner Kevin Allen, a longtime visitor and big fan of winter in Muskoka. “The trail crosses right there and there are tons of great places to stop. In Dwight, there is Webster’s Beacon, with its amazing breakfast sandwiches, and a food truck that has got to have the best burgers in the area.”
With abundant snowfall and well-maintained trails, it's no wonder so many sledders return year after year.
Of course, not all winter fun has to happen outside. Blue Water Acres offers a full roster of indoor amenities including a heated indoor pool and hot tub, a relaxing sauna, a well-equipped fitness room and a lively games room that offers fun for all ages
Sometimes, the best part of winter is simply soaking in its serene beauty.
At Blue Water Acres, every cottage has views worth pausing for. Whether you're wrapped in a blanket by the fireplace or sipping coffee on your porch, the panoramic views of Lake of Bays are incredible.
“It’s quite beautiful up here in the winter time,” Yvonne says. “I love sitting in my house with the fireplace going and just looking out the window.”
Your Muskoka Winter Escape Awaits
Whether you’re skating under the stars, snowmobiling on pristine trails, playing board games with family, or enjoying quiet moments by the fire, Blue Water Acres offers the perfect winter retreat.
With 15 rental cottages and 21 fractional ownership cottages, ranging from cozy two-bedroom getaways to spacious six-bedroom chalets, there’s space for everyone to enjoy the magic of a Muskoka winter.
Start planning your winter escape today!
Blue Water Acres is located at 1052 Rat Bay Road, Huntsville.
Great Escapes Magazine is a publication of Resorts of Ontario, a not-for-profit organization that advocates for resorts, lodges and inns of Ontario's tourism industry.
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