When most people think of camping, warmer weather comes to mind, but Ontario Provincial Parks say there has been an increase in the popularity of winter camping.
Killarney Provincial Park, south of Sudbury, has some outdoor offerings in the colder months.
Chris Morgan likes to head out for a weekend of backcountry camping at Killarney Provincial Park.
"I've been doing winter camping now for about five or six years. I started, actually, back with a couple of people from Kitchener-Waterloo. I found the love. It’s a great way to get outdoors and experience nature like you don't get to in the summer, go new places and access parts of the park that you couldn't normally get to." said Morgan.
"Winter camping is a unique experience compared to summer camping, obviously. We have activities like snowshoeing and skiing, which are very popular among the people that stay here." said Dylan Hyatt of Friends of Killarney Park.
Ontario parks have seen a steady increase in interest for winter camping over the last five years. With heated cabins and yurts available for rent, campers are able to experience winter activities with a place to warm up afterwards.
"Most parks in Ontario actually have yurts or cabins available, which make it a lot less intimidating than what were about to do, but if you have the right gear and are well prepared, I think actually getting out there and staying in a tent can be pretty great experience as well." said Morgan.
"When they do come and experience it for the first time, they always walk away with a smiling face." said Hyatt.
The "Friends of Killarney Park" group is hosting a variety of activities this Family Day weekend, including an astronomy presentation and Owl Howl Prowl. The idea is to show more people what provincial parks have to offer in the colder months.
