peter lougheed provincial park cross country skiing


We will Follow Moraine to Whiskey Jack, up Whiskey Jack and then across Tyrwhitt to Elk Pass for a fun and fas downhill back to the parking lot. Alberta Parks has a good new map as of 2020 which shows the entire system. Be wildlife aware! If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. Though virtually unknown outside Alberta, Kananaskis is the playground for Calgarians looking to get some great XC Skiing near Calgary. In December it was such a treat to leave the Christmas preparations behind and spend part of a day in the silent world of snow. To learn more, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. It used to be the place to get up to date information on the best trails to ski in Kananaskis Country. Throughout the winter, volunteer parking lot monitors will verify passes and share information with trail users about the program. A mashup of 2 ski days at Pocaterra, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta (Dec 3 2016 and Dec 5 2015). Gas is available at only one place along Highway 40, past Nakiska Ski Resort before the Spray Lakes Turnoff. The cross country skiing in Peter Lougheed is some of the finest you’ll find in Alberta. Map of ski trails in Peter Lougheed provincial park including winter survival tips and trail etiquette guide. Your email address will not be published. They are groomed though as of 2020, you will need to buy a ski pass – either for the day or the season. Ribbon Creek area near Nakiska Ski Resort. Skate Skiing The cross-country ski community has come through to finance trail grooming in Kananaskis Country after the government cut funding for maintaining trails ... Peter Lougheed Provincial Park… Cross Country Skiing with my brother in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Challenge One. We will Follow Moraine to Whiskey Jack, up Whiskey Jack and then across Tyrwhitt to Elk Pass for a fun and fas downhill back to the parking lot. Intermediate Cross-Country Ski Lessons near Calgary (Peter Lougheed Provincial Park) Improve your cross-country skiing skills on this intermediate level course in the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, near Calgary, in the Canadian Rockies with a certified mountain guide. Tags Peter Lougheed provincial park cross country skiing provincial parks ski … Cross-country skiing in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. The Goat Creek Trail is an intermediate/advanced trail and it is approximately 18.5 km in length one way.Most people start on the Canmore side from the Goat Creek Trailhead where you'll lose more height than you gain (435 m lost to 160 m gained) skiing to Banff. There was a lot of climbing involved but also some incredible downhill sections. Leigh McAdam is an award-winning, Calgary-based writer, photographer and social media enthusiast with over 61,000 followers. Description. In winter, there are more than 85 kms of groomed cross-country ski trails in the Kananaskis Lakes area, as well as 30 kms in the Smith-Dorrien Trails System. You can buy it. The Chester Lake Trail is 4.6 km (one way) of spectacular scenery on a groomed trail. And the heady aroma of fir and pine only added to the pleasure of the day. Click on map to see a larger image. Driving distance is 135 km one way. That is why the cross-country ski community, led by Nordiq Alberta, ... Calgary, and Canmore, as well as on-site at select lots in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Dogs are NOT PERMITTED on Peter Lougheed Cross Country Ski Trails. Car pool fee is $15 to the driver. Nordic Pulse is a club driven, realtime live tracking ski trail reporting system across North America There are over 70 kilometres of groomed ski trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and you'll find some great beginner-friendly trails starting from the Elkwood Amphitheatre parking lot. Discover Canada: 100 Inspiring Outdoor Adventures, The Fabulous Kiroro Ski Resort Experience, Hokkaido, 7 Amazing Alberta Ski Resorts You’ll Want to Visit, The Top 19 Places in Canada for Cross-country Skiing - Hike Bike Travel, Skiing in Kananaskis: Ribbon Creek to Skogan Pass - Hike Bike Travel. Don’t forget high calorie energy food and. On these two in particular, you’ll get a great workout, enjoy spectacular vistas and have fun on fast downhill sections. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is a provincial park located in Alberta, Canada.The park is in Kananaskis Country about 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of Calgary, along the Kananaskis Trail.. This post includes some affiliate links. Source: Peter Lougheed provincial park cross-country ski … Carry a shovel in your car in case it’s snowed while you’ve been skiing. Cross country skiing in Peter Lougheed Park in Kananaskis Country is a fantastic way to spend a winter day. When we finally had a December weekend, clear of obligations and a weather forecast that was favorable, we made for the park, located about 90 kilometres west of Calgary via Highway 40. Check out cross country skiing trail reports for Peter Lougheed Provincial Park here. Her blog: HikeBikeTravel is frequently cited as one of the top travel and outdoor adventure blogs in Canada. © 2019 Hike Bike Travel | All Rights Reserved. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Cross-Country Ski Trails. They are groomed though as of 2020, you will need to buy a ski … Mount Shark with groomed and track set trails, 42 km north on the Smith Dorrien/Spray Lakes Road, 4. If the event has passed, click the "Event Report" button to read a report and view photos that were uploaded. Ski from Canmore to Banff . Required fields are marked *. Shark, and Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Map of ski trails in Peter Lougheed provincial park including winter survival tips and trail etiquette guide. Provincial funding for cross-country ski trail grooming was cancelled earlier this year, but a third party has stepped in to pick up the slack. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. October 1, 2016. In order to participate in this trip you must be in good shape and be able to ski at an average of 6 km and hour. The Canadian Rockies have legendary light airy snow…, […] Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country is home to 90 kilometres of trails with the majority falling in the easy and moderately difficult category. Now I would suggest checking out Skier Bob’s website for regularly updated trail information. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Photo by Gerald Vander Pyl/Postmedia file Article content. Lodging nearby: Mount Engadine Lodge (about 20 km … Thank you for your support. Eventbrite - Colour the Trails Alberta presents Beginner Cross-Country Ski Lessons - Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Pocaterra Hut, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, … This proximity to Calgary (and Canmore) is a mixed blessing: it’s good news if you live there and want to get out of the city and into the wilderness, it’s bad news if you want to avoid other humans and enjoy a solitary experience in the backcountry. The distance is 17 kilometers. Learn how your comment data is processed. There was plenty of snow at the south end of the park and we were told by the rangers that the north end (Pocaterra) could use some more – which is often the case. Winter in Jasper – The Ultimate 3 Day Getaway, A Guide to Visiting the Abraham Lake Bubbles, 10 Unique Peru Experiences to Try Once in Your Life, 18 of the Best Banff Hikes You Can Do in a Day. The skiing used to be free but now you need a pass. As you might be aware, in February of 2020, Albertans were met with surprise when the provincial government announced it would no longer be funding trail maintenance and grooming in three areas in Kananaskis Country: Ribbon Creek, Mt. This is the "Event Detail" view, showing all available information for this event. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Alberta welcomes cross-country skiers with the Smith-Dorrien Trails and the Kananaskis Lake area trails. Cross-Country Ski Lessons in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, near Calgary. You could easily make a whole day of cross country skiing Peter Lougheed Park – and we have done that on numerous occasions. You might like: How to Survive a Winter Drive: 15 Tips for Safety. Updated. Best cross country skiing trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada 158 Reviews Explore the most popular cross country skiing trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews … My store contains affiliate links. *****************… Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards. We are monitoring our operations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and this page is updated as adjustments are made. Author of Discover Canada: 100 Inspiring Outdoor Adventures Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Read our COVID-19 guidelines by clicking this banner before visiting one of our parks. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park; Evan-Thomas Provincial Recreation Area; Spray Valley Provincial Park; Sheep River Provincial Park; Cross-Country Skiing. It can be very windy and chilly in the park. This trip will start at Elk Pass parking lot. Cross Country Skiing at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park This trip will start at Elk Pass parking lot. Even the drive to get to the park is beautiful. All told it took us about three hours. We ended up doing a very nice 16 kilometre loop that took us from the parking lot at Boulton up Whiskey Jack and Lookout Trails, with a return via the Hydroline (not the prettiest trail) and Fox Creek (beautiful). Cross country skiing in Peter Lougheed Park in Kananaskis Country is a fantastic way to spend a winter day. But there are a few difficult trails – including Blueberry Hill and Lookout. 1. But do go prepared for snowy conditions with a shovel in case your car gets stuck in a snowbank and always carry an emergency kit. Kananaskis Country has hundreds of kilometres of cross-country ski trails suitable to all ski levels and techniques - skate skiing, classic technique, skiing with dogs. […], […] A Fine Day of Cross Country Skiing in Peter Lougheed Park […], Your email address will not be published. Discover the best cross-country ski trails near Calgary with a day trip to Kananaskis, Banff, or Lake Louise. Chester/Sawmill Trail system, 18 km north of the Smith Dorrien/Spray Lakes Road (backcountry skiing here), 2. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. For loads of ideas I recommend Ski Trails in the Canadian Rockies by Chic Scott and Darren Farley. Join a certified mountain guide for some fun and informative cross-country skiing lessons in the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, near Calgary, in Alberta, Canada. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park cross-country ski trails [2013] Archived This item has been replaced by a more recent resource or the content may be otherwise out of date. This takes us to the Pocaterra trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park(PLPP) where the Pocaterra hut is a popular spot for those who are just learning to ski. Weaving through the park are approximately 75 kilometres of superb cross-country ski trails. Note as of 2020 the Barrier Lake Ranger Station is closed because of government cutbacks. You’ll have to decide beforehand what area of the park you want to explore – mostly because the seven parking lots are spread out over roughly 12 kilometres. Sunday, December 15, 2019, 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, Registration cancellations will be accepted until Friday, December 13, 2019 at 10:00 PM, Cross Country Skiing at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Here are a few general Kananaskis Country online maps: Kananaskis Country Maps and Interpretive Pamphlets or if … You may need to shovel yourself out. Thanks for reading! Please arrive 15 minutes early so we can organize the car pool. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Winter Trails 40 Highway #40 (Paved) Spray Lakes Road (Gravel) Kananaskis Lakes Road (Paved) Access Road Campground Road ... (Cross-Country Ski Trail) Distance Marker (Snowshoe/Fat Bike Trail) Winter Walk Trail Lake … Cross country skiing in Peter Lougheed usually starts in December, When we finally had a December weekend, clear of obligations and a weather forecast that was favorable, we made for the park, located about 90 kilometres west of Calgary via Highway 40. The Pocaterra trail has been reconfigured since the 2013 floods, and the easy part is now only 1.1K, but it’s enough to get you started, and you’re never too far from the hut and its warm fireplace. The parking lots to the south offer access to the more difficult trails. These commissions help reduce the ever-increasing costs of keeping this site active. Vault Toilets are open, however visitors should plan to bring their own sanitary supplies, including paper and sanitizer. Co-author of 125 Nature Hot Spots in Alberta, Kiroro Ski Resort on the island of Hokkaido, Japan receives on average 21 metres or…, Fernie, BC is a true mountain town with a laid-back vibe and great community spirit.…, Perfect powder makes Alberta ski resorts incredible. Cross-country skiing in the Kananaskis area near Canmore is sublime, with excellent snow, amazing views and well-groomed trails. Leigh McAdam is a Calgary based writer, author, photographer and social media enthusiast with over 61,000 followers. But do go prepared for snowy conditions with, Useful information for a cross country ski trip in the park, Additional cross-country skiing in Kananaskis, Further reading on cross-country skiing in Alberta. Located in the Kananaskis Lakes area of the park, you’ll find that most trails are easy or intermediate. It’s a popular area for people from Calgary because it’s relatively close – especially the north set of trails. To all cross-country skiers. Even the drive to get to the park is beautiful. Her blog: HikeBikeTravel is frequently cited as one of the top travel and outdoor adventure blogs in Canada. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cross-Country Ski Challenge to Discover the Best Trails around Calgary. Traveling in groups, making noise on trail, keeping pets on … Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is within the massive Kananaskis Country and is approximately 90 km west of Calgary, along the Kananaskis Trail. Website: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park | Kananaskis Country Trail map: Available at the visitor centre Equipment rentals: No Ski lessons: No Other winter activities: Snowshoeing Facilities: Visitor centre and Pocaterra Hut have washrooms Lodging on site: William Watson Lodge is for people with physical, mental or sensory limitations. Weaving through the park are approximately 75 kilometres of superb cross-country ski trails. There are lots a free maps that you can download, some of which are available at the Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre or the Provincial Offices in Canmore or Cochrane.