Stokely Creek Lodge and its surrounding area has a full slate of events planned for this fall and winter.

The Lodge, in partnership with the Sault Cycling Club, is offering a fun cyclocross event for cyclists on Sunday.

Cyclocross involves racing bicycles on short courses featuring paved roads, grass, wooded trails and hills.

“It’ll be a nice community event for all ages,” said Joel Wenham, Stokely Creek Lodge outdoor adventure tourism coordinator.

“There are a few different distances for the cyclocross race but it’s non-competitive. The Cycling Club has done cyclocross in years past but this is the first time we’ve done it out at Stokely,”

Registration for Sunday’s event begins at 10 a.m. and the first race starts at 11 a.m.

“It’s a cool cyclocross racing format. The course I’ve designed is around two km long and it features all the different aspects around the lodge,” Wenham said.

“You’ll go into the forest, ride some of the trails, ride by the waterfalls, you have to climb a set of stairs. There are barriers to jump over. It’s an obstacle course race where there are barriers that you need to jump over or straddle over.

“It’s a whole bunch of fun with different kinds of twisty turns.”

The course actually goes through one of the chalets.

“That’s where I’m trying to make it interesting so it’s not just riding around in the grass. I want to make this a memorable event. It isn’t every day you get to ride through a building,” Wenham said with a laugh.

The cyclocross event will include a ‘B Race’ starting at 11 a.m., followed by a Kiddo Race for children at 11:45 a.m. and an ‘A Race’ for more seasoned cyclists at 12:20 p.m.

Prizes will be given out and a barbecue and bonfire will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Registration and fees information can be found on the Stokely Creek website. 

Stokely is also hosting a two-day Wilderness First Aid Certification Course with Ryan Walker of Forest the Canoe on Nov. 14 and 15.

Students can choose to stay overnight at Stokely if desired.

Stokely Creek Lodge is co-owned by locals Josh and Deanna Plath and Americans Andy Levin and Mary Freeman.

A winter full of activities is planned for Stokely.

“Stokely is celebrating its 50th anniversary year, and we are planning a week-long celebration, starting Jan. 2 and ending with a big party on Jan. 9. The details are being finalized, but the week leading up to the big party will feature different activities and promotions each day,” Wenham said.

The Stokely Loppet, a non-competitive ski adventure through the trails of Stokely, will be held Jan. 30.

A snowshoe festival event, going through Stokely’s trails, will be held Feb. 6.

A Valentine’s Wine Night, including dinner and wine, takes place Feb. 13.

The Stokely Classic ski race, including half marathon and full marathon distance ski races, will be held Feb. 27.

“On top of that, during the winter we will have our ‘six hut challenge,’ where we encourage skiers to try to ski to all six warming huts on the property in one day,” Wenham said.

“This usually entails skiing 40 to 50 kms to get to all six huts in one day. Skiers that accomplish that will receive a hut challenge T-shirt and be inducted into our ski hall of fame.”

Wenham said Stokely is also renovating and updating its rooms.

Wenham is no stranger to bold outdoor adventures.

He cycled The Tour Divide from Banff, Alberta to the U.S. – Mexico border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico in 2023 and the 2026 Hellenic Mountain Race in Greece in May of this year.

As Stokely Creek Lodge outdoor adventure tourism coordinator, Wenham said he’s living the dream.

“I first moved up here to the Sault from southern Ontario to study tourism and outdoor adventure. I took the Adventure Recreation and Parks Technician program at Sault College. That’s what brought me to the Sault.

“I saw the potential in the Sault and area. It’s really exciting for me to be in this position to help bring Stokeley to the forefront. It’s a pretty beautiful spot out here,” Wenham said.

He said sports tourism is a growing source of economic benefit for the Sault and area.

“It’s definitely a growing sector in our area. People want to travel to the Sault and area, and the more events that happen here are more reasons for people to travel here. That’s really exciting.”