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While the magnificence of winter is reason enough to visit, most visitors don’t sit still for too long: there’s just too much to
do! Whether it is cold with sunny skies, or mild and snowy, we can offer outdoor wintertime hotspots and events that will
warm your winter season.
If you want a real northern winter adventure watch in awe as the Aurora
Borealis, the northern lights, dance across the skies. The northern lights
have different meaning to different cultures. To the Inuit natives, the
jumping lights of yellows, greens, whites, and reds were the spirits of
their friends and parents playing a game of ball in the sky. To other
people, the lights are simply the clashing of electrons drawn along
magnetic lines of force at the North Pole.
Winter activities in the Grande Prairie Region are both vast and unique
in nature. Experience the INS & OUTS of our Winter Season; because
WINTER VENTURES
A jewel in the Peace Country, Nitehawk Ski Hill, located just fifteen
minutes south of Grande Prairie is a multipurpose recreational area and
year round RV Park. Spend the day skiing, snowboarding, natural luge or
take in the “Aquatera TUBE ZONE”, a four lane tube park with a 600ft
conveyor lift to carry you to the top. The diverse terrain suitable for both
beginners & experts is a fun, safe, family friendly venue.
There is also opportunity to Cross country Ski on 35 km of groomed lit
trails at The Wapiti Nordic Centre. Cross-country ski trails are also set at
Saskatoon Island, Moonshine Lake and Young’s Point Provincial Parks.
There are indoor and outdoor facilities for ice skating, or for taking in one
of the many exciting hockey games as a spectator or participant. You can
curl, go ice fishing, take in a sleigh ride, or try Skijoering behind a horse
at Equine City; the possibilities are endless!
Within the City of Grande Prairie, skiers can traverse over eighteen
kilometres of parkland trails. Snowboarding areas, toboggan hills, and
snowshoes are available within Muskoseepi Park .
WEATHER
WINTER EVENTS
The Grande Prairie region on average has a northern continental climate
typical of northwestern Alberta and northeastern BC.Winters are generally
cold with some mild spells. The average January temperature is -15°C
(-9°C average high and -19°C average low) however, temperatures have
reached as low as -52°C. Snowfall amounts vary greatly from year to
year with approximately 158.6 cm (62.4 inches) of snow per year on
average. The total annual precipitation is 446.6 mm (17.6 inches) which
includes both rain and snow. It can get quite windy in the region,
especially in the spring and fall, and Chinooks are not an unheard of
occurrence in the Grande Prairie area.
The City and surrounding region host spectacular events that will entertain
and impress you! One annual winter event that you cannot miss is the
Cabane á Sucre or the Maple Sugar Festival, February 23, 2013, celebrating
our French Culture within the Grande Prairie Region. Featuring, family
activities, maple sugar candy made on snow, traditional food, and more.
It’s a great family event that you don’t want to miss! Go to www.gptourism.ca
for an updated list of events for our region!
Winter Activities
Indoor Skating
Harry Balfour
9410 - 106 Ave.
Hillside
9410 - 106 Ave.
La Glace Curling Club
La Glace
(780) 568-4511
Canada Games Arena
(Crystal Centre)
10017-99 Ave
(780) 538-0334
Holy Cross
11011 - 90 St.
Mountview Curling Rink
Elmsworth
(780) 354-8530
CocaCola Centre
#6 Knowledge Way (780) 513-5252
I.V. Macklin
8876 - 108 Ave.
Sexsmith Curling Rink
Sexsmith
(780) 568-3633
County of Grande Prairie
Sportsplex
7408-108 Street, Clairmont
(780) 830-7407
SNOWMOBILING
Awarded Silver from the magazine “Snowriders West” as Riders Choice,
Northwestern Alberta is the perfect place for winter enthusiasts interested
in the adventure of snowmobiling. With approximately 60 kilometres of
groomed trails in the Big Mountain area south of Grande Prairie (off
Highway 40) or around Kakwa Wildland to the southwest, the region has
forests, rolling hills, and meadows providing first class mountain
snowmobile riding for all ages and skill levels. Crown land south of the
City of Grande Prairie features frozen rivers and cut lines to make sledding
as popular as ever.
Cross Country Skiing
Wapiti Nordic Centre
Grande Prairie
(780) 538-9050
Muskoseepi Park
Grande Prairie
(780) 538-0451
Saskatoon Mountain
Does not have a set track
County of Grande Prairie No. 1
(780) 532-9722
Downhill Skiing /
Snowboarding/ Tubing
Saskatoon Island Provincial Park
Hwy 43 - West
(780) 538-5350
Nitehawk Ski Area
Hwy 40 then west on Hwy 666
(780) 532-6637
Young’s Point Provincial Park
Hwy 43 - East
(780) 538-5350
Hockey
Moonshine Lake Provincial Park
Hwy 49
(780) 538-5350
Curling
Grande Prairie Curling Club
10127, 99 Ave,
(780) 532-7221
Beaverlodge Curling Club
Beaverlodge
(780) 354-2514
Bezanson Curling Club
Bezanson
(780) 539-9858
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GRANDE PRAIRIE & REGION 2014 VISITOR GUIDE
Hythe Curling Rink
Hythe
(780) 356-2696
Canada Games Arena
(Crystal Centre)
10017-99 Ave
(780) 538-0334
CocaCola Centre
#6 knowledge Way (780) 513-5252
County of Grande Prairie
Sportsplex
7408-108 Street, Clairmont
(780) 830-7407
Dave Barr Arena
9535 Prairie Road (780) 538-0469
J.C Mackie Park 108 Ave. & 111 St.
Kateri Mission
7906 Mission Heights Dr.
Montrose Jr. High
Swanavon
6431 - 98 St.
8908 - 100 St.
Beaverlodge Arena
Beaverlodge
(780) 354-2201
In The County
Hythe Arena
Hythe
Evergreen Park
South off Resources Road
(780) 532-3279
(780) 356-3888
Natural Luge
Nitehawk Recreation Area
(780) 532-6637
Outdoor Skating
Greg Walker Memorial
Beaverlodge
Snow Shoeing
In The City
Muskoseepi Park
Grande Prairie
(780) 538-0451
Muskoseepi Fish Pond
Grande Prairie
(780) 538-0451
Saskatoon Island Provincial Park
(780) 538-5350
Crystal Park
9351-116 Ave
www.gptourism.ca
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