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SNOVAP Winter Adventure Hikes
SNOVAP Winter Adventure Hikes
📍 Location: Macnamara Trail (The Macnamara Nature Trail is accessed from McNab Street off Madawaska Boulevard. The Macnamara Trail parking lot (free) is on the right, past the entrance to the Nylene Canada plant.)
📅 Date: February 15th & March 1st
⏰ Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM
💰 Price: $25 / person
The Macnamara Nature Trail provides a window into the natural world of the Ottawa Valley. Located in the southeast corner of the City of Arnprior, its boardwalks, viewing platform, and benches let visitors explore this unique environment without disturbing its wild character.
The trail consists of two loops:
🌿 The Main Trail (4 km) – Our route for this adventure!
🌿 The Nopiming Loop (1.2 km) – A beautiful optional extension.
🌿 Plus, three spur trails, including one leading to Goodwins Bay, where the Macnamara Marsh meets the Ottawa River.
What’s in Store?
🌲 Nature Exploration: Discover the flora and fauna of this stunning trail.
🌍 Cultural Connection: Learn about local Indigenous history and traditions.
🔥 Cozy Moments: Warm up with hot chocolate and mini marshmallows!
🧥 Winter Gear Tips: Learn how to dress for cold-weather adventures.
🌱 Leave No Trace: Explore the Seven Principles to protect and respect the outdoors.
Highlights of the Walk
🌿 Lime Kiln Ruins: Step back in time as we explore an old lime kiln, once used to produce slaked lime for cement and paint. Learn about its fascinating history and how it played a role in early industry.
🌾 Marsh Lookout: Experience the quiet of nature as you listen to nothing but the wind through the trees and your own thoughts. Keep an eye out for animal tracks—foxes, deer, and rabbits leave their marks in the snow!
🌊 Goodwins Bay: A breathtaking viewpoint where you'll look across the mighty Ottawa River to the province of Quebec. This is the perfect spot to reflect on the beauty of the season. If you're lucky, chickadees might even eat right from your hands and we'll have birdseed with us!
We’ve got you covered! Snowshoes and/or crampons are provided—just bring your hiking or winter boots, and we’ll take care of the rest.
This is more than a walk—it’s an unforgettable winter experience!
Stay tuned for more upcoming dates!
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Meet Your Guides :)
At OVAP, we take pride in hiring only the most friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate tour guides. Each member of our team is dedicated to creating an unforgettable experience, whether you're a first-time explorer or an experienced adventurer. Our guides are not only experts when it comes to outdoor activities but also storytellers, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts who love sharing their knowledge of local landscape, waterways, wildlife, and history.
Take a moment to meet our incredible team and discover what makes each guide unique. Our guides ensure every tour is safe, engaging, and full of adventure!
Sandra (Sandy) Stevens
Local Guide
Hi, I'm Sandy!
My love of stories goes back as far as my love of nature. Our family vacations were spent in a cabin on Georgian Bay with no running water or electricity. If I wasn’t curled up in a sunbeam with a book, I would be splashing off the dock, making habitats for frogs, kayaking up streams, or jumping off rocks. It was paradise.
My admiration of the outdoors grew when I moved to Victoria, BC to pursue an MA in Canadian Literature. I was able to access some pretty remarkable places; trekking through wild shoreline trails, hiking to hard-won vistas, and paddling to undisturbed beaches. And the effort was always worth it. My efforts have allowed me to paddle in Pula, scuba in Cuba, and hike in the mountains of France, Spain, and Slovenia.My adventures have taught me the virtues of planning, preparedness, risk mitigation, and good gear. I am so happy to be back where I first connected with nature, exploring and enjoying the Canadian Shield.
Helping guide OVAP's summer paddle tours -Kaleidoscope Kayaking and Light at Night - has been truly delightful, and I am so excited about the plans we have for more outdoor experiences in the Ottawa Valley. I love sharing my passion for nature and storytelling on tours, and hope you feel energized and informed by your experience with us!
Ethan Pieroway
Local Guide
Hii, I’m Ethan!
The outdoors has always been my passion, and nothing excites me more than exploring wild places both new and familiar.
I spent 13 years with Scouts Canada, embarking on incredible opportunities and countless adventures both nationally and internationally. The time I spent in the program really helped shape my love for the outdoors by building a connection with nature from a young age.
Like most people, in order to find what you love, you have to try it first. I managed to make my way to paddling whitewater in canoes only because I knew how to paddle in the stern. Once the snow is gone, that's where you’ll find me (in the stern of a canoe). I like to get on the water before the end of March if possible. When I’m not in a canoe, I dabble in musical theatre, finding a different kind of excitement on stage.
Next year, my game plan is to head off to Algonquin College to join the Outdoor Adventure Program, where I’ll explore the outdoor world even further and turn what I love into a full-time career.
