Cross Country & Snowshoeing
Albertans endure long winters and we’ve learned to make the most of them. If we want a change of pace from alpine (downhill) skiing, you’ll find us cross country skiing at any of our 70 nordic hubs or tramping through the woods on snow shoes. There are plenty of options in our mountains, foothills, forests and plains—even in our municipal parks.
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
Known as nordic skiing—since it originated in Scandinavia four to five thousand years ago—cross country skiing has come a long way from simply a means of transportation in snowbound lands. Introduced to Canada in the late 1890s, it soon became a popular recreational activity—and good exercise. Cross country skiing is widely acknowledged as a top aerobic fitness activity. The development of nordic skiing as an endurance sport was a natural progression. Endorsed by the International Olympic Committee, cross country events first appeared the 1928 Winter Olympics.
Nordic Adventures
In the winter months, almost every region, rural and urban, is suitable for cross country skiing—not surprising since our province-wide abundance of dry light snow makes for perfect conditions.A good number of our provincial parks and recreation areas are open year round. However services may vary due to accessibility and winter weather conditions. Visit Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture for comprehensive winter activity information, such as which parks and recreational areas maintain groomed trails and which allow backcountry skiing and camping. Be aware of what you need to know to have a safe and enjoyable trek.
Near the town of Hinton, the William A Switzer Provincial Park features the Athabasca Lookout Nordic Centre. This is a world-class facility with 33 km (20 mi) of groomed trails that wind through exceptionally beautiful terrain.
Alberta’s cross country skiing sites are simply too numerous to describe in detail here. Check out Canada Trails for a comprehensive list of 80 cross country skiing areas around the province. Cross Country Alberta has a membership list of nordic clubs, most of which are attached to sites that offer groomed trails for skate and classic northern skiing, often with illuminated sections for night skiing. Visit Nordic Skiing Centres for additional cross country clubs and Alberta Cross Country Ski Areas for more locations.
Edmonton
Edmonton provides trackset trails in city parks and municipal golf courses. The University of Alberta in Edmonton offers equipment rentals, lessons and affordable tours through their outdoor programs. Don’t forget the local gym where you can use their cross-country training programs and equipment to help you get fit for the real thing.In the Backcountry
Our national parks allow some backcountry activities in the winter including cross country skiing. You need to obtain a permit from the park office if you intend to stay overnight. You are responsible for your own safety but the parks’ visitor centres have detailed information on how to be properly prepared for backcountry trips in the Canadian Rockies. Most important is to pay attention to changing weather conditions and avalanche reports and to follow avalanche safety guidelines.Endurance Training
If you’re training for an upcoming loppet (long-distance nordic race) try Elk Island National Park. It offers 100 km (62 mi) of groomed trails and is a mere 45 minutes from Edmonton.Special Nordic Attractions
The Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival is held every February just 45 minutes from Edmonton. The “Birkie” is the largest classic nordic event in North America, luring upwards of 2,000 skiers each year. Serious competitors tackle the challenge of the main event—a 55 km (34 mi) nordic race that starts out from the Ukrainian Village and ends up in the Blackfoot Recreation Area. But the Birkie Festival is for people of all ages and skill levels. The less demanding 31 km (19 mi) nordic race is open to seven age groups, but if you’re fairly new to the sport, you might want to opt for the 5 k (3 mi) or 2.5 k (1.5 mi) races for beginners and novices of all ages—it’s fun for the whole family. Some say the best part is the traditional Viking Feast held at the end of the day to celebrate the winners and your own personal achievements.SNOWSHOEING
Not to be denied is the increasing popularity of snowshoeing in Alberta. It’s easy to learn, inexpensive and you can snowshoe just about anywhere you can cross country ski. Some areas have separate snowshoe trails or you can share trails with skiers as long as you don’t walk in their tracks.To discover which of our winter-accessible provincial parks and recreational areas support snowshoeing visit Tourism, Parks, Recreation & Culture and search by activity.
Once you’ve picked your site, stop at the park’s visitor centre for trail conditions, free maps and avalanche updates. Many parks offer lessons and tours led by trained interpreters so you’ll get a session on animal track identification as well as the geology and natural history of the area.
Enhance your experience with a guide. There are many clubs and associations that provide outings, including The Alpine Club of Canada (which has a chapter in Edmonton) and the Edmonton Outdoor Club
