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Embrace winter! It is not to be dreaded, for snow, ice and cold
weather are all elements essential for wonderful winter
activities. Athabasca Country gets its fair share of wintry
conditions, and it is the perfect place to enjoy these most
pleasing pastimes. Here are just a few ways to get the most out
of your Athabasca Country winter experience. Ice Fishing
Athabasca Country Is there anything better than dropping a fishing line in one of
Athabasca Country's many lakes with friends? Find out what's
biting by checking out the Athabasca Country Fishing Guide. Or
book a guided ice fishing adventure through Reel Angling
Adventures 780.961.3726 or www.reelangling.com.
Snowmobile
Athabasca Country
Athabasca Country's award-winning snowmobile club, the Athabasca
River Runners, helps maintain over 350 miles of groomed and
well-marked trails for local and visiting snowmobile
enthusiasts. Pick up your map of designated snowmobile routes at
these Athabasca locations: Pyramid Corporation, Buy-Low Foods,
Athabasca Outdoor Products, Athabasca Country Tourism and Inland
Concrete, local gas stations, or from club members. Or join the
Athabasca River Runners for their annual Poker Rallies, held
every Family Day and on one weekend in February. Be sure to stop
by Athabasca Outdoor Products for all your equipment needs.
Cross Country Skiing
Town of Athabasca -
780.675.2967 With 17.5 kms of groomed trail, the hilly terrain in the Muskeg
Creek Valley offers cross-country skiers (Nordic or skate) and
snowshoe enthusiasts fun and challenge. One-and-a-half
kilometers of trail are lit for nighttime skiing, and outhouse
facilities are available at the trailhead near Landing Trail
Intermediate School. Contact Athabasca Regional Recreation for
maps, or to borrow a key for the log chalet. Please practice
trail etiquette: pack out all litter, keep pets off the trail,
no motorized vehicles, and observe all posted signs. Snowshoeing
Athabasca Country Where there is snow, there is room for snowshoes. Athabasca
Country's many places are ideal for invigorating excursions on
snowshoe. Or check out the area's many multi-use trails. Many
locals enjoy going on the Muskeg Creek Trails- map available on
our maps page.
Ski Hills
Although Athabasca Country has many hills none
of them are currently ski hills. Luckily we do have two ski
hills operating just outside of our boundaries.
Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill – 780.698.2212
www.SkiTawatinawValley.com
Tawatinaw
Valley is an easy-to-reach haven for winter sport enthusiasts.
Located only 70kms north of Edmonton on Highway 2, the hill has
twenty-four runs for downhill skiers and snowboarders of all
levels and abilities. Choose from 24 runs to get back down to the
bottom. For snowboarders there is a terrain course, and
half-pipe . Snow and ski rentals are available, in
addition to lessons.
25kms of
groomed cross-country ski trails over flat and valley terrain
are available. Be sure to eat and relax at the Chalet.
Long Lake Ski Hill
780.576.0004
www.SkiLongLake.com
Located south of the Village of
Boyle off of Hwy 831 adjacent to Long Lake Provincial Park. Long
Lake Ski Hill has 12 downhill runs, tobogganing area,
rentals, and lessons. Groups are welcome. The
hill has a chalet and well developed cross country ski trails.
You'll find the lift lines are short and smiles contagious. In
the summer the facilities are available for weddings and family
reunions.
Northern Lights
Athabasca Country Even scientists agree that Athabasca Country is the perfect
place to observe the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights.
Athabasca University's Geophysical Observatory is one of just 18
stations in North America contributing aurora information to
NASA's THEMIS mission, a project set up to study the effect of
the aurora's magnetic field on earth. The observatory is not
typically open to the public, however fancy magnetometers and
cameras are not required to enjoy the magical dance of this
wonderful phenomenon. On clear nights, the lights are clearly
visible throughout Athabasca Country, and while the aurora is
active all year round, the lights are most easily visible from
September to October and in March and April. Dogsled Adventures
Athabasca Country -
780.307.6778
www.AlbertaDogsledding.com If you'd rather get off the sidelines, Kawakanum Kennels offers
guided dogsled adventures during the winter. Sign up for a few
hours or a couple of days, and enjoy a truly northern travel
experience. Check out Global TV's and Gord Steinke's
'Your Town' segment to learn more about Dogsledding.
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