Calabogie Peaks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calabogie Peaks |
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| Location | Dicksons Mountain |
| Nearest city | Ottawa |
| Coordinates | 45°16′30″N 76°46′55″W / 45.27500°N 76.78194°W |
| Vertical | 232 m (761 ft) |
| Top elevation | 386 m (1,266 ft) |
| Base elevation | 154 m (505 ft) |
| Skiable area | 28 ha (69 acres) |
| Runs | 24 |
| Longest run | 2,121.7 m (6,961 ft) |
| Lift system | 2 Doppelmayr quad chairlift 1 carpet lift |
| Lift capacity | 6,300 passengers/hr |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 203 centimetres (80 in) |
| Snowmaking | 95% |
Calabogie Peaks is a fun ski resort in Ontario, Canada. It's about 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Ottawa. This resort started in 1969. Even though it's called Calabogie Peaks, the mountain itself is named Dicksons Mountain.
Calabogie Peaks has the highest vertical drop for public ski hills in Ontario. This means you get a really long ride down! It's 238 meters (781 feet) from top to bottom. The resort has trails for everyone, from beginners to expert skiers and snowboarders. It even has the longest beginner trail in Ontario.
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What Can You Do at Calabogie Peaks?
Calabogie Peaks is a great place to visit all year round. It offers many activities for families and friends.
Skiing and Snowboarding Fun
The resort has 24 different trails. These trails are named after places around Calabogie.
- About 30% of the trails are for beginners.
- Around 45% are for intermediate skiers.
- The remaining 25% are for expert skiers.
The longest trail is about 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles) long. To get up the mountain, there are two chairlifts and one carpet lift. At the top of the mountain, you can find the Top Hut. This is a cozy shelter where you can warm up in winter or find shade in summer.
Year-Round Adventures
Calabogie Peaks isn't just for winter sports! There are lots of things to do in other seasons too.
Summer Activities
In summer, you can enjoy:
- Bike trails
- Hiking trails
- A nice beach
- Boat rentals
- A 9-hole golf course
- Chairlift rides in October to see the beautiful fall colors
The resort also hosts fun events like the Blues & Ribs Fest and the Mountain Man Music Festival. These usually happen in July and August.
Winter Activities
When winter comes, the mountain transforms into a snowy playground. You can go:
Where to Stay
If you want to stay right at the resort, you have two choices:
- The Calabogie Peaks Hotel: This hotel has an outdoor hot tub, an indoor swimming pool, and a fitness room. It also has a restaurant called Canthooks.
- The Mountain Lodges: These offer another option for staying close to the action.
A Look Back: History of Calabogie Peaks
Skiing first started on Dicksons Mountain in 1969. Back then, they used T-bars to get people up the hill. In 1976, Calabogie Peaks got its first chairlift.
A big change happened in 1986 when the Murphy family and other investors helped the resort grow. They added more accommodations and improved the main lodge. The beach area, which used to be a wetland, was also created around this time. A 9-hole golf course was added too. These changes helped turn Calabogie Peaks into a resort that could be enjoyed all year.
More improvements came between 2000 and 2004. A bigger chairlift was installed, and the Calabogie Peaks Hotel was built. From 2009 to 2011, a new snowmaking system was put in place. This helped the resort make more snow and improve its trails.
Today, the Murphy family still owns Calabogie Peaks. Paul Murphy is the current owner.
Learn to Ski or Snowboard
Calabogie Peaks has a great snow school for all ages. If you want to learn to ski or snowboard, you can take lessons here. You can choose between group lessons or private lessons.
The resort also offers special courses if you want to become a certified ski or snowboard instructor. These include courses from the Canadian Ski Instructors Association (CSIA) and the Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI).
Exploring the Area Around Calabogie
Calabogie Peaks is located in a small town called Calabogie. This area is known for its beautiful lake, Calabogie Lake. It's a popular spot for cottages, especially in the summer.
Besides the resort, you can find other fun things to do nearby:
- Golf Courses: There's the Calabogie Highlands 18-hole course and the 9-hole course at Calabogie Peaks.
- Calabogie Motorsports Park: This is Canada's longest race track! You can visit it during the spring and fall months.
- Hiking Trails: Behind the ski hill, there are trails like Eagles Nest, Skyline trail, and Manitou trail. They are open all year.
Calabogie also has a few family-owned restaurants and general stores for quick stops. In 2014, the Calabogie Brewing Company opened. It was the first small brewery in the area.
