There are several parks and wilderness areas close to Edmonton that have great facilities for winter activities. Why not plan a day trip?

Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area

Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area offers cross-country skiing, dog sledding and skijoring, fat-tire biking, skating, snowmobile areas, and snowshoeing. More information is available on their Winter Activities page.

Elk Island National Park

Skate, explore, stargaze and camp at Elk Island National Park! Take your skates to the Astotin Lake Area and enjoy skating around an island. Skating loop opens in January (weather dependent). Explore Elk Island’s many trails. Snowshoes can be rented from the Astotin Lake Theatre (9:30 am – 4:30 pm, 7 days a week). Learn about the starry night sky and watch for Northern Lights at a Parks Canada interpretive program. Try out winter camping this year at Astotin Lake campsites. Visit the website to book your spot (fees apply).

Strathcona Wilderness Centre

The Strathcona Wilderness Centre is a great place for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The centre has a rental shop with cross-country skis for adults and children, baby gliders (ski pulk), and snowshoes.

Ice Fishing

For ice fishing spots around Edmonton, check out the recommendations on the Tri-Region Tourism page.