Winter activities on Lake Massawippi:
experience winter differently

Cross-country skiing

For those seeking a gentle winter activity, the bike path transformed into a cross-country ski trail follows the Massawippi River along a flat, accessible route. The rhythm stays slow and natural, ideal for conversation or shared silence. You glide side by side, pause to enjoy a hot thermos, and let nature set the pace. Here, cross-country skiing becomes a gateway to connection, both with the landscape and with the people beside you.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing stands as another signature winter activity on Lake Massawippi. At Scowen Park, marked trails wind through snow-covered forests and lead to breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the frozen lake. With every step, the muted crunch of snow deepens the surrounding silence, creating a calming, enveloping atmosphere.

Accessible to all, this activity naturally encourages slowing down, observing how light plays across the snow, and fully embracing the present moment. It offers a simple, authentic way to experience winter in Estrie, far from crowds and close to nature.

The ritual of fire and water: the art of winter contrast

If Lake Massawippi has a soul, it reveals itself through ancestral Nordic rituals of heat and cold, traditions that turn winter into a sensory celebration.

Solstice Sauna delivers the ultimate experience: a floating sauna on the lake where enveloping warmth contrasts with crisp winter air. The ritual remains simple and deeply powerful. You warm your body until your skin glows, then immerse yourself in the cold lake water. This thermal shock doesn’t challenge you; it renews you. Endorphins surge, circulation intensifies, and you emerge energized and fully alive.

“Local secret: book a sauna session at sunset
to watch soft pink hues reflect across the ice.”

Winter activities on the ice

In winter, Lake Massawippi reveals a surprising side. Its frozen surface transforms into a playground for outdoor enthusiasts.

Ice skating

The lake offers an experience only natural ice can provide. At Ripplecove, we maintain a skating rink directly on the lake, where you glide while snow-covered mountains frame the horizon. No crowds. No intrusive music. Just the sound of your skates tracing lines across natural ice.

Lake Massawippi gastronomy:
gourmet villages and exceptional tables

Winter also awakens the palate. Ayer’s Cliff nurtures a culinary scene that blends village authenticity with refined gastronomy.

At Ripplecove, two distinct dining experiences await you. Le Riverain, our fine dining restaurant, offers elevated cuisine where every dish tells the story of Lake Massawippi and its passionate producers. For a more relaxed mood, Le Cove Bistro serves comforting dishes in a warm atmosphere, perfect after a day outdoors.

Relaxation as ritual: contemplative winter by the lake

Perhaps the most precious way to experience winter here involves doing absolutely nothing on the shores of Lake Massawippi. Give yourself permission to slow down, to observe, to simply be.

Settle onto Ripplecove’s snow-covered terrace, wrapped in a warm blanket with a glass of wine in hand. Watch light shift endlessly across the lake, revealing shades of blue, grey, and soft pink at dusk that only winter can create. Listen to the deep silence, broken only by the occasional crack of moving ice.

This moment doesn’t represent inactivity. It defines relaxation. It’s a choice for quality over quantity, depth over motion. True luxury doesn’t measure itself in kilometres covered or attractions checked off a list. It lives in moments of complete presence.