ANTIGONISH, N.S. — It has something for everyone.
“Keppoch is a perfect spot for youth, families and more to enjoy the outdoors during the winter,” says Eric Smith, secretary for the Keppoch Mountain board of directors. “We pride ourselves on offering one of the most accessible and easy-to-enjoy facilities in the province.”
Keppoch Mountain, set in Antigonish County, is a former alpine ski hill that has been revamped as a 450-acre, four-season outdoor recreational facility.
Now is the time to take advantage of the many wintertime activities that can be done in the park, and there is enough snow to make it possible.
Keppoch often receives more snow than in town and it often lasts longer through any rain and warm spells because of its location, explains Smith. After a snowfall, the Keppoch team is out grooming as soon as possible to ensure the trails are ready to use.
At Keppoch Mountain, there are activities for all ages and ability levels. Smith says visitors can hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, skate, ski and use fatbikes. The adventurous can hike their snowboards and skis up to the top of the mountain to use the winter skills park (with jumps, drops, rails and boxes for tricks), he adds. Snowshoe rentals are available on site.
In total, there are about 40 km of trails for snowshoeing, 20 to 30 km of trails suitable for fatbiking, and 15 km of trails for cross-country and skate skiing. Of this, about 20 to 30 km of trails are groomed for mixed use.
Conditions report: Amazing and that is all we have to say!
Posted by The Keppoch on Sunday, February 16, 2020
After being tired and cold from a day outside, Smith says the lodge is open on weekends for relaxing and reading and has a firepit outside.
This season, there are a few new features at Keppoch Mountain starting with an additional 10 km of mixed-use groomed trails for cross-country skiing, skate skiing, fatbiking and snowshoeing. These trails meander along the Beaver River and through mixed forest, says Smith.
Next, a new winter skills park, located on the former lift line, was built with jumps, drops, rails and boxes for tricks.
“We’ve always had a heated lodge, but we now offer hot chocolate, s’mores and more at the lodge’s small cantina,” says Smith, noting it is just open on weekends and special events.
“There is also a new outdoor fire pit that is open on weekends if there is demand.”
Finally, there are two new shelters along the groomed trails where users can sit, have a break and a snack, as well as a nine-hold disc golf course that can also be played in the winter.
To enjoy the activities at Keppoch Mountain there is an annual membership and trail fees. Memberships are $100 annually for families or $50 for an individual. With a membership there are no additional fees, says Smith. Non-members are asked to pay a day-use fee of $5 per person ($20 for families) which covers general access for hiking, snowshoes, lodge access, the boulder park and pump track. Specialty activities like mountain biking and Nordic skiing are $10 per person or $35 for a family.
“We believe, however, that our programs and services should be accessible to everyone regardless of age, background, ability or socio-economic status,” says Smith. “That's why the Keppoch has fee-assisted memberships available, offering the same access to facilities as our annual membership but at a reduced rate.”
One of the best ways to enjoy these winter activities at Keppoch Mountain is by coming out for the annual winter fun day, being held this year on March 15.
On this day, there will be sledding, disc golf, guided snowshoe hikes, fat bike and cross-country ski demos (testing and trying them out), fire pit with marshmallows, hot chocolate and s’mores, barbecue smokies and other drinks, and children’s activities (arts and crafts, scavenger hunt, etc.), says Smith. No entrance fees are applied for the winter fun day.
To find out the latest conditions and details about other upcoming events, follow Keppoch Mountain on Facebook.
