Winter Adventure

Winter Adventure

Hockey and curling find their home in urban centres. Outdoor enthusiasts migrate to Crowsnest Pass and Waterton to take advantage of mountain snows.

Mountain Winter

Downhill and cross-country skiers, snowmobilers, ice climbers and fishers will find beaten path and off the beaten path locations in the Crowsnest Pass and Waterton Lakes area to pursue their passions.

For Powder Hounds

Skiers and snowboarders more familiar with skiing in Banff National Park will be surprised to find plenty of powder, long runs, and uncrowded slopes at Castle Mountain. The hill includes novice and intermediate runs, and challenging expert terrain. Don’t miss the freestyle terrain of Mount Haig. Visit www.skicastle.ca for more information.

A Snowmobiling Destination

For award-winning snowmobiling, enthusiasts know that the Crowsnest Pass has unrivalled trails - more than 1,200 kilometres of them. For almost a decade, the Pass had won Platinum Medals for the best snowmobiling in western Canada. A good place to start is the Carbondale Area near Beaver Mines. It offers 45 kilometres of marked trails. For a Crowsnest Pass snowmobiling trail map, call
the Ranger Station at 403 562 3210 or visit them at 11901-19th Ave. in Blairmore. They also have a summer trail map for off-road vehicles.

Fish Tales

Winter is a time for ice fishing on the many lakes of the region, and for nymphing the open waters of the Crowsnest River below Hill Spring.

On Ice

For those who enjoy the silent splendour of ice climbing, they can find the frozen waterfalls they seek in Waterton Lakes National Park, the Front Range Canyons and the Crowsnest Pass.

This, That, and the Other Thing

For family fun, Pass Powderkeg in Blairmore boasts warm, friendly service for reasonable prices. Check www.passpowderkeg.ca for details. Further west in the Crowsnest Pass, the Allison-Chinook Recreation Area provides groomed and track-set trails for cross-country skiers. The area even offers a biathlon range. Visit www.crowsnestguide.com and click on Allison Wonderlands for more information.

Novice cross-country skiers and families can enjoy the two circuits along the upper Akamina Parkway in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Folks who prefer snowshoeing choose Bertha Falls and Crandell Lake - both popular winter recreation destinations in Waterton.

North of Crowsnest Pass off Highway #22, Chain Lakes Provincial Park is open year round for winter adventurers. It offers heated camp shelters with gas stoves and a group use camp.