Before you go

When you’re booking a spot, review the list of gear and guest amenities available on-site at your chosen destination. Then ask the host for their recommended packing list. Before you head out, “Look at the latest updates on closures and trail conditions,” advises Eric Magnan, a travel media relations officer at Parks Canada.

Supplies for winter camping

You’ll also want to pack strategically. “The most important thing is to wear appropriate clothing,” says Magnan. He recommends fabrics such as wool and moisture-wicking synthetics that offer superior insulation, a wind-resistant outer layer and a good pair of winter boots. He also suggests dressing in layers so you can manage your body temperature throughout the day and avoid overheating.

Ardeen Duckworth, a merchant at Mountain Equipment Company (MEC), notes that some of your warmer-weather camping essentials — matches, lights and a whistle, for instance — will work fine year-round. You might not need a special tent for winter camping (though you may want to invest in a higher-rated one if you plan to do a lot of winter camping), and a fleece liner can add a few degrees of warmth to a standard sleeping bag.

But for optimum comfort, says Duckworth, you’ll want to bring along the little extras that will keep you toasty and dry, day and night: for example, a sleeping pad with a high R‑value (level of insulation), a shovel and ski mitts for clearing snow, a pad for cold seats, and hand, toe and foot warmers.

The payoff? The special experience of staying in the great outdoors in the low season. “It’s kind of like a secret season to go, because the campgrounds aren’t as busy,” Duckworth says. “It’s just a whole different feel.” CAA