Calabogie Peaks is a

ski resort A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area – a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In N ...

in the municipality of

Greater Madawaska Greater Madawaska is an incorporated township in Renfrew County in eastern Ontario, Canada, created on January 1, 2001, through the amalgamation of the Township of Bagot and Blythfield; the Township of Brougham; and the Township of Griffith a ...

Renfrew County Renfrew County is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It stands on the west bank of the Ottawa River. There are 17 municipalities in the county. History Bathurst District When Carleton County was withdrawn from Bathurst District in 1 ...

Eastern Eastern may refer to: Transportation *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai *Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways *Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991 * Eastern Air L ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...

, Canada. It is located west of

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

, and was founded in . Although the resort is named after the nearby community of Calabogie and

Calabogie Lake Calabogie Lake ( ) is a reservoir lake in the municipality of Greater Madawaska, Renfrew County, in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Saint Lawrence River drainage basin, and is located on the Madawaska River system, in the geographic to ...

, the mountain is called Dicksons Mountain. Calabogie Peaks Resort offers the highest vertical drop among public ski hills in Ontario, . In addition to the beginner hill, Calabogie offers the longest beginner trail in Ontario, as well as plenty of intermediate and expert runs.

Resort facilities

The resort features 2

chairlifts An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel wire rope loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs. The ...

and 1

carpet lift A surface lift is a type of cable transport for snow sports in which skiers and snowboarders remain on the ground as they are pulled uphill. While they were once prevalent, they have been overtaken in popularity by higher-capacity and higher ...

. As of 2022, there were 24 trails recorded, all of which are historically named after Calabogie. The resort consists of 3 levels of difficulty for runs: beginner, intermediate and expert. In 2016, it was documented the mountain consisted of 30% beginner runs, 45% intermediate runs, and 25% expert runs. The longest run as of 2016 was recorded to be 2.1 km long. In 2016, the Top Hut was introduced to provide a shelter for guests at the top of the mountain. In the winter, the Top Hut provides guest with warmth from a wood stove, while in the summer the Top Hut provides guests with shelter from the sun.

Seasonal activities

Calabogie Peaks offers year-round activities to bring in tourists from all areas. Summer activities at the Peaks include bike trails, hiking trails, the beach front, boat rentals, the Boathouse Bar & Grill, a 9-hole golf course, chair-lift rides up the mountain on October weekends for fall colours, as well as annual festivals. During the summer, the Calabogie Peaks hosts the Blues & Ribs Fest as well as the Mountain Man Music Festival. Both events occur within the July and August months. In the past, the Calabogie Peaks also hosted the Wake Surf nationals. Winter activities at the Peaks include

downhill skiing Alpine skiing, or downhill skiing, is the pastime of sliding down snow-covered slopes on skis with fixed-heel bindings, unlike other types of skiing (cross-country, Telemark, or ski jumping), which use skis with free-heel bindings. Whether for ...

or snowboarding the mountain,

cross-country skiing Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreatio ...

ice skating Ice skating is the self-propulsion and gliding of a person across an ice surface, using metal-bladed ice skates. People skate for various reasons, including recreation (fun), exercise, competitive sports, and commuting. Ice skating may be per ...

ice fishing Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice fishers may fish in the open or in heated enclosures, some with bunks and amenities. Shelters Lo ...

snowmobiling A snowmobile, also known as a Ski-Doo, snowmachine, sled, motor sled, motor sledge, skimobile, or snow scooter, is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. It is designed to be operated on snow and ice and does not ...

and

snowshoeing Snowshoes are specialized outdoor gear for walking over snow. Their large footprint spreads the user's weight out and allows them to travel largely on top of rather than through snow. Adjustable bindings attach them to appropriate winter footwe ...

Accommodations

Calabogie Peaks offers tourists 2 options for onsite lodging: guests can stay at the Calabogie Peaks Hotel or stay in the Mountain Lodges. The Dickson Manor hotel includes an outdoor hot-tub, indoor swimming pool, fitness room, complimentary parking, wireless internet, tennis courts and Canthooks, a casual fine dining restaurant.

History

Facilities for skiing were first established on the mountain in 1969. The mountain was originally opened with

T-bar A surface lift is a type of cable transport for snow sports in which skiers and snowboarders remain on the ground as they are pulled uphill. While they were once prevalent, they have been overtaken in popularity by higher-capacity and higher-co ...

s to get to the mountain top. In 1976, Calabogie Peaks opened its first

chairlift An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel wire rope loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs. Th ...

. Growth at Calabogie Peaks occurred in 1986 when the Murphy family and other investors expanded the hill. The accommodations as well as the lodge were added with the help of Murphy and the investors. The current beach area was originally primarily a

wetland A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...

but in 1986 a beachfront was added along with a 9-hole golf course to reinvent the business and turn it into a 4-season resort. Construction occurred in the years of 2000 and 2004 to introduce a larger chairlift and the Calabogie Peaks Hotel, a boutique hotel. In 2009-2011, a new snowmaking system was installed and Calabogie Peaks grew rapidly through restructured and redefined mountain trails. Currently, the ownership of Calabogie Peaks is still held within the bloodline of Murphy's family, with Paul Murphy being the current owner.

Wedding and conference

Calabogie Peaks offers a venue for business meetings and caters to weddings year round inside the resort as well as outside. Weddings can take place inside the reception halls, along the beachfront or at the base of the hill.

Snow school

Ski programs are offered to all ages. Beginning with the Skiwee Program guests are invited to take lessons through the Calabogie Peaks. The options vary, guests are invited to take group lessons or private lessons at their own choice Also offered at the resort are the certification courses, Canadian Ski Instructors Association ("CSIA"), the

Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors The Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI) is Canada's national professional snowboard teaching organisation. CASI is the oldest snowboard teaching organisation in North America, founded in 1994, three years before the foun ...

("CASI"), and the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation ("CSCF").

Surrounding area

Calabogie Peaks is located within a small town called Calabogie in the township of

. Calabogie is known for its lake that borders the communities of Calabogie, Grassy Bay and Barryvale. Calabogie is primarily a cottage town, visited most frequently in the months of the summer. Throughout the summer, Calabogie brings in tourists for its golf courses, the Calabogie Highlands 18-hole course along

as well as the 9-hole golf course offered at Calabogie Peaks.

Calabogie Motorsports Park Calabogie Motorsports Park is the longest road course in Canada at located east of the community of Calabogie in the township of Greater Madawaska, Ontario, Canada. It hosts regional road racing and is the main circuit in the Ottawa metropoli ...

is open during the spring-fall months and is known as the longest race track within Canada, recognized as a world-class facility, the Park offers a 3.14 mile track. Another outdoor attraction within Calabogie involves the existing trails behind the ski hill, trails such as Eagles Nest, Skyline trail and Manitou trail are open year-round. Calabogie has a small selection of family owned restaurants and two general stores for pit stops and gas fill ups. In 2014, the Calabogie Brewing Company opened its doors as the first

micro brewery Craft beer is a beer that has been made by craft breweries. They produce smaller amounts of beer, typically less than large breweries, and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as having an emphasis o ...

within Greater Madawaska.

Real estate

There are premium properties sold down the road from the Calabogie Peaks through Barrett Chute properties. Property pricing varies according to view, nature and waterfront. Barrett Chute is surrounded with thousands of acres of Crown (publicly owned) land.

References

External links

* {{Ski areas and resorts in Ontario Ski areas and resorts in Ontario Tourist attractions in Renfrew County