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 Community Development 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.
Calgary and Edmonton
Our major urban hubs, Calgary and Edmonton, provide trackset trails in city parks and municipal golf courses. Calgary’s Fish Creek Park—the only provincial park in an urban setting—offers ungroomed cross country skiing trails enjoyed by novices and experienced skiers looking for a few hours of aerobic enjoyment.The universities in Calgary and Edmonton offer 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.
Rocky Mountain Skiing
Cross country skiing in the Rocky Mountains? Sounds like a contradiction in terms, but Banff and Jasper have many kilometers of trackset and untracked trails through the lower elevations of the mountain valleys. Especially breathtaking—and an easy trek—is the shoreline trail around Lake Louise. Guides, rentals and instruction are available.The Allison-Chinook Recreation Area in the Crowsnest Pass area is a nordic skier’s paradise. Groomed and track-set on a weekly basis are 31 km (19 mi) of trails for novice and experienced skiers. Backcountry trails abound in the 300 hectares (740 acres) that make up the Allison-Chinook Forest Land Use Zone.
Jasper offers an excellent variety of trails for all skill levels. Trails for novices include Maligne Lake, Moose Lake and Upper Moose Lake. Intermediate level skiers should try Lorraine Lake, Mina-Riley Loop and Pyramid Bench. Advanced and endurance cross country trainers will enjoy the challenges of Patricia Lake Circle and Evelyn Creek.
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
Many nordic racers from around the globe come to train at Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park. Originally designed for the 1988 Winter Olympics, the facility is located in Kananaskis Country, an hour from Calgary. With its 80 km (50 mi) of trackset trails, it is the premier cross country training venue for Olympians. It now features a number of less strenuous trails that are used regularly by locals and visitors who simply wish to exercise in a beautiful setting.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. In southern Alberta, the scenery along 85 km (53 mi) of trails at Peter Lougheed Park is just as likely to take your breath away.
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. The University of Calgary’s Outdoor Centre offers lessons and rentals, as do many of our winter resorts.To discover which of our winter-accessible provincial parks and recreational areas support snowshoeing visit Alberta Community Development and search by activity. If you’re also a fan of winter camping, Chain Lakes is a popular spot as it provides heated shelters, running water and propane and is only 120 km (75 mi) south of Calgary.
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.
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