Highlands Nordic Ski Swap & Booathlon: Pre-Season Chalet Weekends

The centre’s calendar says the first two hours of the Ski Swap are ticketed, with 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. entry, and that drop-in begins after noon; buyers hunting specific sizes should book the early slot. The Booathlon closes the course until 3 p.m. on October 25, so plan any trail walk for the afternoon.

The calendar also notes the course closes for the season on November 2 before winter grooming begins.

The swap sells used skis, boots and poles; sellers drop off gear ahead of the sale, so arrive with sizes written down for every member of the group before the ticketed hour.

Highlands Nordic is at 1182 Nottawasaga Concession 10 South, roughly twenty minutes from the Brooker chalets by Grey Road 19 and County Road 91. The Highlands Nordic place guide covers the trail network and winter visits; this page is only about the two autumn dates. Families with racers will find the Ontario Cup weekends on the same winter calendar.

Late October roads can carry the first frost; leave early for a 10 a.m. slot.

The centre’s calendar lists lesson and race-program dates through the winter, which lets families match a chalet weekend to their children’s programme once snow arrives.

Compare the ski chalet collection for a home that will suit the winter trips, then use the Halloween weekend to test the drive, the kitchen and the gear storage. The Blue Mountain opening-day page tracks when downhill lifts are expected to run.

Each chalet has four parking spaces, which matters once skis, boots and swap purchases fill the cars.

Grooming on the Highlands trails depends on snow depth rather than a fixed date, so the swap weekend is for buying and planning, not skiing.