Summer (June through August) is the main visiting season — the lakes are open for swimming, trails are accessible, and the Loon Festival in June brings the town to life. Fall brings spectacular colour to the boreal forest and is arguably the most beautiful time to visit, with warm days and cool nights in September and October. Winter is long, cold, and snowy — Virginia typically gets 70 or more inches of snow per year — but the lakes freeze solid for ice fishing, and the snowmobile trails that thread through the surrounding forest are popular with locals. Spring is mud season: late April and May can be difficult for outdoor access.