The Haliburton Highlands get properly cold and properly snowy, and the people who live here use the winter rather than hide from it. The village of Haliburton, on the shore of Head Lake, makes a compact base: a main street of galleries and cafés, a ski hill and a wolf centre within a short drive, and holiday markets through November and December.
This guide covers what is open and worth the drive between now and the end of February. Dates are for the 2026–27 season; confirm with each operator before you travel, because weather decides a lot up here.
Watch wolves at the Haliburton Forest Wolf Centre
The Haliburton Forest Wolf Centre is the most distinctive winter outing in the Highlands. It sits within the Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve, a privately owned working forest north of the village. The centre is a 5,000-square-foot indoor building with exhibits, a small theatre and an observation room that looks out through one-way glass onto an enclosure of just over seven acres. Staff do not handle or interact with the wolves, so what you see is the pack going about its day.
Winter is a good time to go. Bare trees and snow make the animals easier to spot, and the building is fully indoor and wheelchair accessible.
- Fall and winter hours (September 20, 2026 to June 18, 2027): Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed December 24 and 25. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
- Admission (before tax): adults $13.28, youth 6 to 17 $7.96, children 6 and under free, or $26.55 for a family of two adults and two youth.
You can buy admission on arrival or book online, and snowshoe rentals are discounted when booked ahead. Haliburton Forest also sells snowmobile and winter ATV trail passes and rentals, so check its booking pages if you want to see more of the property.
Ski and ride at Sir Sam's
Sir Sam's Ski & Ride on Eagle Lake, northwest of Haliburton village, is the Highlands' downhill hill. This season brings the biggest change in years: a new Doppelmayr quad chairlift on the Kingston run, replacing the old Eagle View double chair. It can carry more than 2,000 riders an hour and is set to open for 2026–27, giving the hill five lifts, three of them quads. Opening day depends on snow and cold, so check the hill's own conditions page before you load the car.
Walk the Sculpture Forest in snow
The Haliburton Sculpture Forest on College Drive is open year-round, and snow suits it. About 1.4 kilometres of looped trails wind through woodland past more than thirty permanent outdoor sculptures. Entry is by donation, with boxes at the entrance and along the trail. Wear boots with grip, since the trails are not maintained like sidewalks.
The forest borders the campus of the Haliburton School of Art + Design, the reason this small village has such a strong arts scene. Our Haliburton Highlands arts trail covers that story in more depth.
Galleries and museums for colder days
- Rails End Gallery & Arts Centre, in Haliburton's old railway station on York Street, runs exhibitions by Highlands and visiting artists.
- The Haliburton Highlands Museum tells the story of settlement, logging and life in the county.
- Smaller galleries and studios, including Ethel Curry Gallery and Windy Ridge Studio, are listed through our partner directory, ShopLocal. Winter hours are often reduced or by appointment, so phone first.
Holiday markets, a parade and a concert
November and early December are busy in the Highlands:
- November 13: Warm Your Soul at Highland Hills United Church in Minden, a turkey dinner followed by a concert of Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young songs.
- November 21: the Haliburton Christmas Market during the day and the Haliburton Santa Claus Parade through the village in the evening. Make a day of it.
- December 5: the Minden Holiday Market at the Minden Community Centre.
In February, the Dorset Snowball Winter Carnival fills the village of Dorset with a parade, wagon rides, lumberjack shows and a Friday-night skating party. In 2026 it ran on the Friday and Saturday of Family Day weekend. While you are there, Robinson's General Store is the classic stop.
Where to eat, drink and stay
Boshkung Brewing Co. in Minden is a popular stop on the drive in or out. For overnight stays, the directory lists resorts such as Pinestone Resort & Conference Centre near the village, along with smaller places like 12 Mile Lake Bed and Breakfast near Minden. Rooms in the Highlands are limited, so book early for holiday and February weekends.
Whose land this is
Haliburton County lies within lands covered by the 1923 Williams Treaties, signed by seven Anishinaabe First Nations including Curve Lake and the Chippewas of Rama. Canada and Ontario formally apologized for the treaties' harms in 2018. Our guide to Indigenous Central Ontario explains the history and the places to learn more.
Planning tips
- Drive for winter. Highland roads are hilly and rural, and snow can close in fast. Winter tires are strongly advised, and keep the tank topped up.
- Watch for wildlife. Deer are common on highland roads at dusk.
- Check before you go. Ski, trail and rink conditions change daily. Call smaller businesses to confirm winter hours.
