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.

Our new winter Holiday Packages are the way to go!

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 River Runners Brochure
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.  Join the Athabasca River Runners for their annual Poker Rallies, held every Family Day weekend in February.

Grand Rapids Wilderness Adventures offers well built wood heated log cabin accommodations for the intrepid snowmobiler who wants to get off the beaten path. Winter access available by snowmobile only.   Please call 780-675-3784 for details.

Long Lake Ski Area also has a snowmobile staging area. 1-866.576-2161

Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
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. Download the trail brochure.

Athabasca Multiplex
University Drive - 780.675-2967
If being outside isn't the place for you, the Athabasca Regional Multiplex has lots going on in the wintertime including scheduled public curling rink and arena ice times. There is also the fieldhouse, fitness room, and meeting space.

Ski Hills
Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill – 780.698.2212  http://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 - 1-866-576-2161
http://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. 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
http://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.