Trail Experiences in Alberta Central
Trails are becoming the summer recreation experience of choice for of all age groups. Trails provide the experience of interacting with nature and offer a peaceful setting for sharing family experiences. Alberta Central is home to a variety of trails, with stunning sceneries. Get close to the flora and fauna of the prairies and rolling foothills. Experience the unique setting of a boreal forest, with the opportunity to view wildlife in their natural setting. Listen to the loons calling from the lake. You'll see what we mean when we say you'll be swept away by the experience.
Trails are used for a variety of recreational activities. Many trails are in designated provincial parks and recreation areas with restricted usages. Please visit Gateway to Alberta's Parks to ensure the activity you would like to partake in is one of the allowed uses as well as for current trail conditions and trail closures.
Adventure Trail Locations
Lakeland Provincial Park & Recreation Area is 60,000 hectares (146,000 acres) of majestic wilderness. Within this mixed wood boreal forest, you will discover trails leading to glacial lakes with sandy beaches, fishing and numerous species of birds and wildlife. Discover the historic Mosquito Lake Trail, now referred to as the Shaw Lake Trail. Walk in the footsteps of the explorers, fur traders and First Nations peoples who used this same trail over 100 years ago. Whether your hiking expertise level is easy, intermediate or difficult you will find the perfect route.
The trails found in Lakeland Provincial Park & Recreation Area provide opportunities for backcountry camping, access to canoe circuits, hiking, mountain biking and more. Check out this map for an overview of the whole region.
Trail distances vary from 1 to 11 kilometers and are well marked. The main trail (26.5 km) follows the shore around Shaw Lake. Here are some of the most popular routes.
- The Amisk Trail leads from Jackson Lake staging area to Mosquito Lake Trail. It is approximately 8.7 km in length with a moderate level of difficulty. Enjoy activities such as hiking, and mountain biking. You will find a variety of plant life as well as many species of birds. Dabbs Lake Trail is perfect for Off Highway Vehicles, mountain biking, and hiking.
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- Dabbs Lake Trail intersects with Dabbs Lake East & West Trails and West Wishbone Trails. The difficulty level is set moderate for those interested in exploring its 27 kilometers. There's plenty to see along the way including many species of plants, birds, and wildlife—all in breathtaking landscape. Dabbs Lake East Trail, moderate in level of difficulty, is approximately 5 kilometers in length.
- The East Wishbone Trail ends up at the Dore Bridge. Approximately 21 kilometers in length, this moderately difficult trail is perfect for Off Highway Vehicles and mountain biking. These are just a few of the trails you will find when you visit the Lakeland Provincial Park & Recreation Area. For more information, visit Lac La Biche Regional Tourism.
Multi-Use Iron Horse Trail
Experience walking, wagon, cycling adventures, ATV, and horseback riding on Alberta's Iron Horse Trail. This multi-use trail is a recreational corridor, and takes its name from its former use as a railroad. This corridor has been in existence since the beginning of the twentieth century, yet the ecology is relatively untouched. The Trail runs through mixed wood forest, farmland, crosses streams and rivers and skirts lakes. Trail users will find a total of 18 railroad trestles—those marvels of engineering that have stood the test of time.
The Iron Horse Trail is 278 kilometers long, and runs from Heinsburg in the east to Waskatenau in the west to Cold Lake in the northeast. The trail passes through more than 18 rural communities, which provide complete services for the traveller. It can be accessed from any town along the route. There are two paths you can follow. One starts in Waskatenau and ends in Heinsburg. The other route starts in a place called Abilene Junction, just east of Ashmont, and ends in Cold Lake. Click here for detailed maps of sections of the Iron Horse Trail and more information about Alberta's Lakeland.
Hiking Trails
Crimson Lake Provincial Park, located near Rocky Mountain House, is noted for its abundance of wildlife including moose and deer. The park offering over 20 kilometers of hiking trails combined with its unique habitat make it an ideal location for day hiking or a weekend getaway.
Gooseberry Lake Provincial Park, located near Consort, is designated as an Alberta heritage site due to the fact that it is one of Alberta's oldest provincial parks. At the park you will find a 4.5 kilometer trail generally following the perimeter of this small but well kept park. Views of Gooseberry Lake and its abundant waterfowl populations are frequent from the trail and the lake is one of the few nesting sites of plovers in the province of Alberta. Foray through aspen stands as well as be offered views of nearby ranchlands.
Whitney Lakes Provincial Park, located near Elk Point, has an extensive trail system that links Ross, Whitney, Laurier and Borden lakes with interpretive signs along the trails to describe the flora and fauna characteristics of this beautiful area. The trails follow lake shorelines and pass through forests as well as campgrounds.
The Whitecourt Sandhills Area offers 26 kilometers of varied trails. There are plenty of opportunities to view wildlife as this area is situated in a mixed wood forest.
The Vermilion Provincial Park stretches more than 9 kilometers (750 hectares) along the south shore of the Vermilion River Valley. The park contains approximately 23 kilometers of hiking trails, some of them paved for wheelchair access. The park also features a man-made lake.
Hiking and Biking Trails
Mountain biking in the West Country near Rocky Mountain House offers a little bit for everyone, from leisurely rides around a lake to extreme drops, big jumps and challenging down hills. Where Adventure Begins is a resource for all types of outdoor adventure activities including great mountain biking locations in the area. The website lists locations by skill level and location! If you are looking for a beginner trail, try Crimson Lake's Amerada Trail (10 km trail around Crimson Lake). If you are up for a day adventure, there are trails leading to the lake right from Rocky Mountain House. For an expert trail, check out the Baseline Mountain Lookout Trail (20 km). 
Just a few kilometers east of Wainwright, Arm Lake offers trails winding through the trees, linking three neighboring lakes. On this 25 kilometer trail, located near Wainwright, you can mountain bike or hike.
At Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park, you will find 8 kilometers of trails where you can take a hike, bike or stroll. Not only will you enjoy the trails, but also Sir Winston Churchill Park is one of the best spots that you will find an old growth, mixed boreal forest, which is a perfect breeding ground for the many species of birds. Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park, at 234 hectares is the largest of 9 islands located in Lac La Biche.
Equestrian Trails
The Hornbeck Provincial Recreation Area, located near Edson, offers trails for hiking, biking or equestrian use. The trails are signed with distance markers so that you can choose the length of trail appropriate to your skill level. The map, used in conjunction with trail signs, will assist you in determining your location along the trails. Hornbeck is an area rich in forest birds such as Canada and Blue Jays, and Great Horned Owls. Wildlife spotted in the area includes moose, deer or elk as well as squirrels and rabbits.
The Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area, located east of Edmonton, offers over 80 kilometers of hiking and equestrian trails and is a great location for outdoor enthusiasts.
In the Drayton Valley area, discover the Riverside Horse Trails, operated by the Drayton Valley Horse Club. These groomed riding trails meander along the banks of the Pembina River and through meadows of wildflowers. A staging area and campsite are available. Visit Brazeau Tourism for more information.
The West Country, near Rocky Mountain House, is horse country. There's a unique experience waiting for you, from 1 hour trail rides to week long horse packing treks. There are several recreation areas that provide equestrian facilities and allow horses on site. These staging areas provide loading and unloading ramps and hitching rails and some offer camping on site. Cutoff Creek is located approximately 68 kilometers west of Caroline, Jackfish Lake is located 53 kilometers west of Rocky Mountain House and South Fork is located 28 kilometers southwest of Rocky Mountain House. Visit Where Adventure Begin's horseback riding page for information on guides and operators in the area.
Visit Gateway to Alberta's Parks for a complete listing of provincial parks and recreation areas that offer equestrian staging facilities.
Off Road Vehicle Trails
In Alberta Central, you will find vast areas of wilderness crisscrossed with cut lines and bush trails most suitable for ATV's, and 4x4s. Off road vehicles are the preferred way to travel in many backcountry areas.
Mountain-Aire Lodge and Campground, located west of Sundre, offers both a year-round 100-site campground and a lodge. Located in the heart of a spectacular recreational area nestled in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the area is ATV-friendly, perfect for the adult adventure outdoor enthusiast. Bordered by the pristine Red Deer River, the secluded campsites are in 5 main Provincial Recreation Areas, including the Cartier Creek, Deer Creek Flats, Red Deer River South, Red Deer River North, and Wild Horse Creek. Contact Mountain Aire and they can help recommend an ideal trail location.
The Brazeau Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area, located southwest of Drayton Valley, offers off highway vehicle unloading within the campground and travel to the undeveloped trails nearby from your campsite.
West of Rocky Mountain House the Clearwater forest provides abundant opportunities for ATV exploration and adventure. Within 30 minutes travel, Chambers Creek recreation area sports maintained trails and campsites from which to base a wilderness adventure. Within a 40 minute drive of Rocky Mountain House, Jackfish Lake recreation area provides riding opportunities with trails leading to Lawrence Creek, Baptists River, and Macgregor Lake.
Further out, within 90 minutes drive from the town the Kiska/Wilson Forestry Land Use Zone provides maintained trails around the east end of Abraham Lake, and along Crooked Creek and Joyce Creek. Maintained trails are marked and built with family and the "recently skilled" in mind. More steep, difficult trails are available but detours around these are always in place. Visit the ATV/OHV page at Where Adventure Begins
For your hiking, biking, equestrian or off-road vehicle adventure, be sure to explore all the trails Alberta Central has to offer. To plan your next Alberta Central trail activity please call 1-800-ALBERTA (1-800-252-3782) or use the resources in our EXPLORE, EXPERIENCE and PLAN menus on this website.
