Winter Season |
Updated: December 31, 2008 |
Many provincial parks and recreation areas remain open year-round, however, site accessibility and services may be limited during the winter months. Refer to the Winter Facilities & Services (5 pages | 58 kb) chart for detailed information.
Firewood and washroom supplies/maintenance may not be provided during winter months. Campers are also advised to bring a sufficient supply of water.
To determine current conditions and services available at a particular site, it is best to call the site office prior to your trip.
For general information call 1-866-427-3582.
Additional Sites with Recreation Opportunities
Ice fishing
Cross-country ski trails (non-groomed)
North Ghost (Ghost Airstrip); Snow Creek; Chester/Sawmill (Peter Lougheed). Visit the Cross Country Alberta web site at www.xcountryab.net for general information about cross-country skiing in Alberta.
Snowshoeing
Kananaskis Country offers wonderful opportunities for snowshoeing. Several snowshoe trails have been marked for your safety and enjoyment. These trails are designed for beginner or intermediate snowshoers, located on generally easy, safe terrain with good scenery. Visit the Kananaskis Country Snowshoe Trails web page to download the pdf trail maps.
Beauvais Lake Provincial Park for information call the park office at (403) 382-4097.
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park offers a variety of guided snowshoeing programs throughout the winter(equipment is provided). Visit the Cypress Hills website to find out more.
Miquelon Lake Provincial Park has snowshoeing opportunities, for more information call the park office at (780) 672-7274.
Saskatoon Island, Moonshine Lake and Young's Point Provincial Parks are popular areas to snowshoe. For information call the parks Grande Prairie office at (780) 538-5350.
Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park for information call the park office at (780) 623-5235.
Snowmobile Access
As a general rule, snowmobiling is not permitted in provincial parks and recreation areas. Some parks do allow snowmobile access to lakes, with staging from boat launch parking areas.
Sites that provide access to developed snowmobile trails include, Cataract Creek, McLean Creek, Sibbald Area, Big Mountain Creek, Chambers Creek, Little Sundance Winter Staging Area, Fallen Timber South, Iosegun Lake, South Ghost and Waiparous Creek.
Several other provincial parks and recreation areas have undeveloped trails and riding areas in the vicinity. Visit our Search Parks page for more detailed information. Visit the Alberta Snowmobile Association web site at www.altasnowmobile.ab.ca for general information about snowmobiling in Alberta.
Additional Notes
Allison-Chinook
Located in the Crowsnest Pass, refers to Chinook Provincial Recreation Area and Allison Forest Recreation
Area. Offers a range of trails (No motorized vehicles allowed). Chinook ski trails are maintained by
municipality of Crowsnest [Ph: (403) 563-5395 or (403) 562-3219].
Beauvais Lake
10 power sites; non-potable water at boat launch; bring your own firewood.
Canmore Nordic Centre
Located in Kananaskis Country. Fees: Adult - $7.50; Senior (55+) - $6; Junior (12-17) - $6; Child (6-11) -
$4.50; Under 6 - free. Biathon range. Day use facilities include showers and flush toilets. For more
information call (403) 678-2400.
Night Skiing (5-9 p.m. on a 6.5 km lit loop, the cost of regular day fees)
Carson-Pegasus
Bring your own firewood and water; pit toilets available. OHV & snowmobiles are allowed on lake surface only and must be insured & registered.
Chain Lakes
Year-round camping - group use shelters equipped with heat, running water and gas stoves; ice fishing.
Chambers Creek
Contact facility operator for winter camping arrangements [Ph: (403) 845-2781]
Cooking Lake-Blackfoot
Public phone at Waskehegan. Winter Events - ski loppits/races; Canadian Birkebeiner ski festival in February.
Dog sledding opportunities. For more information call (780) 922-4676.
Cypress Hills
Annual Cypress Hills Winter Bird Count, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009; Campgrounds open - Elkwater (Loop
A), Beaver Creek, Spruce Coulee (walk-in), reesor dock; Visitor Centre open Sunday (& holiday Mondays) during winter months - call (403) 893-3833 or visit the Cypress Hills web site for more information.
Fish Creek
Visit the Fish Creek web site for more information!
French Bay [Cold Lake]
Downhill ski complex (adjacent to Cold Lake PP) operated by MD of Bonnyville. Call (780)594-5564 for
information.
Gregoire Lake
No snowmobile activity allowed in the park. Snowmobile access only to lake ice surface near the boat launch.
Kananaskis Country
For general inquiries call (403) 673-3985, (403) 678-5508; (403) 591-6322 (Peter Lougheed); (403) 949-4261 (Elbow Valley). Visit the Kananaskis Country web site for trail
reports and other information
Lakeland Provincial Park
Ice fishing access by snowmobile from the north on Mile 10 Trail from Touchwood Lake Road; and access to
the south on the Blackett Lake and Helena Lake Trails from Pinehurst Lake Access Road. Snowmobiles are
allowed only on designated trails. Snowmobiles are not allowed on roads or within campground.
Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area (PRA)
Sporadic plowing occurs at Seibert Lake, Ironwood Lake, Pinehurst Lake & Touchwood Lake. Snowmobiles
are allowed only on designated trails. Snowmobiles are not allowed on roads or within campground.
Lesser Slave Lake
Area for camping cleared by request only - call (780) 849-7100. Snowshoeing.
Long Lake
Ski hill adjacent to park; call (780) 576-2161 for snow conditions.
Miquelon Lake
Packed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Potable water available at park office. For more information call (780) 672-7274.
O'Brien
Park is not open for vehicle traffic after Nov. 1st, but is available for snowshoeing & cross-country skiing on
ungroomed trails [ph. no. (780) 538-5350].
Park Lake
The main day use area is open for winter camping.
Pigeon Lake
Zeiner campground is closed. For information on cross-country ski trail conditions, call (780) 586-2864.
Strathcona Science
Sunridge Ski Hill - Ph: (780) 449-6555. Tubing hill. Biathlon range (Edmonton Nordic Ski Centre) - contact Gord Murray at (780) 818-
1852. For general inquiries call (780) 922-3293.
Syncline Ski Area
For information about the Syncline-Castle Area Trail Association, contact Dave McNeil at (403) 627-3476 or
farneill@telusplanet.net.
Vermilion
Ice fishing in the trout pond.
William A. Switzer
Gregg Lake campground is closed this winter; the lake is still accessible. Jarvis Lake campground is open for camping. Snowshoes are no longer available at Kelly's Bathtub; the office is closed during the winter.
Athabasca Nordic Centre is located in William A. Switzer Provincial Park. The centre has 33 km groomed
trails (1.5 km lighted trails for night skiing) a Biathlon range, Luge run & Telemark hill with warm-up cabin. Call
(780) 865-8394 for fee information. Visit the William A. Switzer Provincial Park website for more information.
