Although Alberta is known for its downhill ski areas throughout the Rocky Mountains, the tranquil cross-country ski trails of Northeast Central Alberta offer an inexpensive escape from the hustle and bustle of the mountain resorts. The crowd-free, easily accessible Nordic trails are located within an hour’s drive of the metropolitan area of Edmonton and surrounding municipalities.
Elk Island National Park
Distinguished by a unique transition zone of aspen parkland and boreal spruce forest and traversing through knob and kettle topography, Elk Island National Park is a cross-country ski enthusiast’s paradise. The quiet and pristine trails offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities – the park is home to herds of free-roaming wood and plains bison, moose, deer, elk, small mammals and over 250 species of birds.
For the 2010-2011 ski season, the following trails are groomed and track-set:
- Shirley Lake
- Simmons
- Oster Lake
- Tawayik
- Moss Lake
- Beaver Pond
- Hayburger
- Wood Bison.
These trails vary in length and degree of difficulty, from the gently rolling terrain of the Shoreline and Hayburger trails to the more challenging Simmons and Moss Lake Trails. Several trails are packed for skate skiing or snowshoeing, including Beaver Pond, Moss Lake and Wood Bison Trails. Visitors to Elk Island National Park must pay for a park entrance pass, which can be obtained at the main gate. The park is located 40 minutes east of Edmonton on the TransCanada Yellowhead Highway 16.
Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area
Picturesque, sparsely-populated cross-country ski trails are abundant throughout the 97 square-kilometre Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area. The backcountry area plays host to the annual Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival, a family-orientated ski loppet (recreational fun race) which takes place on the second Saturday in February. The event honours the Norwegian Birkebeiner Legend, where two brave Birkebeiner warriors successfully rescued the infant Norwegian Prince Haakon from danger and carried him on skis for 55 km over two mountain ranges.
The forested, multi-use Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area contains a network of over 170 km of equestrian and cross-country ski trails. Within this network there are 65 km of groomed trails, 35 km of which are packed for skate skiing, and a significant number of non-groomed trails. The trails are double-tracked for two-way traffic and connect four separate staging areas: Waskehegan, Blackfoot, Central and Islet Lake. The gently rolling terrain of the first four loops of the Waskehegan Staging Area is perfect for families with younger children, and the first three loops contain several rest areas. Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities are offered by the Central Staging Area trails, with the Beaver Loop trail passing through active beaver colonies and the Wapiti Trail meandering through elk habitat.
Most of the trails accessed from the Blackfoot Staging Area are packed but not track set, offering ideal terrain for freestyle skiers. Although these trails are challenging, they offer great opportunities for viewing white-tailed deer in their natural habitat. The Islet Lake Staging area supports more than 30 km of cross-country ski trails, ranging from novice to intermediate. Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area is adjacent to Elk Island National Park, and located 40 minutes east of Edmonton on TransCanada Yellowhead Highway 16.
Strathcona Wilderness Centre
Located in the diverse municipality of Strathcona County, the Strathcona Wilderness Centre is a popular destination for family or school cross-country ski outings. The Wilderness Centre offers 12 km of groomed trails tailored to various ability levels, whether you are stepping into Nordic ski boots for the first time or prefer the invigorating challenge of hill-climbing. Brand-new cross-country skiers will enjoy the flat terrain of the Wagon Loop trail, while the herringbone-friendly Coyote trail offers an excellent workout.
Beginner ski programs and lessons for adults are held throughout the season, and the popular Jackrabbit programs for children teach and enhance cross-country skiing skills. For those who prefer snowshoeing, a packed snowshoe trail runs alongside Bennett Lake. Equipment can be rented at the information centre, and a trail fee applies during the ski season. Twenty minutes east of Sherwood Park on Range Road 212, the Wilderness Centre is open seven days a week.
Enjoy the Nordic Trails Today!
With significant snowfall during the 2010-2011 season, the cross-country ski trails at Elk Island National Park, Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area and the Strathcona Wilderness Centre are in excellent condition and ready to be explored!
Bethany Horne - Bethany Horne is a graduate of the University of Alberta in Edmonton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a specialization in ...
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