Activities
Winter Activities
Winter in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo is definitely a most wonderful time of the year. You'll find many incredible opportunities for adventure—including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, skating, stargazing and so much more.
Northern Lights
Mesmerizing, dazzling displays of light dance across the night skies on clear, cold nights in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo. Bundle up and head out on your own or book a guide, but don’t forget your camera.
Winter Road Adventure
Admit it, you've always wanted to drive a winter road. Experience it this winter as you travel from Fort McMurray to Fort Chipewyan - Alberta’s oldest European settlement.
Skating
Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo is home to a number of indoor and outdoor ice surfaces offering skating, hockey, and plenty of family fun. You can enjoy a skate or a game of shinny on one of the 7 lit, boarded outdoor rinks around Fort McMurray, take a twirl around the Skating Path at MacDonald Island Park, or glide through holiday-lit trees at the Lion’s Park Skating Trail. Wherever you find yourself lacing up the blades, always remember to bring the hot chocolate.
Visit & Explore
Skating
Abasand Outdoor Rink
Borealis Park Skating Pond
Greely Road Outdoor Rink
Hinge Bay Outdoor Rink
Jerry Cooper Memorial Rink
Miskanaw Golf Club - Outdoor Rink
Shell Place - Outdoor Rink
Stone Creek Outdoor Rink
Syncrude Athletic Park Outdoor Rink
Waterways Outdoor Rink
Snowmobiling
Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo is a snowmobiler’s paradise with hundreds of kilometres of trails, cut lines, and navigable waterways to explore. You'll find groomed and signed trail systems maintained by the McMurray Sno Drifters Snowmobile Association throughout the region. Staging areas to get out on the trails are located in Waterways, Abasand, and north of Fort McMurray on Highway 63. Trail passes can be purchased from the Sno Drifters website.
Snowshoeing & Skiing
Ready for a snowshoeing or cross-country skiing adventure? Well, you've come to the right place. Grab your gear, breathable winter clothing and stretchy layers, because Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo has a massive backyard waiting for you to explore.
There are vast trail systems offering short or long distances with various levels of difficulty. The Birchwood Trails are trackset each season for cross country skiing. Enjoy snowshoeing and winter walking on trails around Little Fisheries Creek, MacDonald Island, Ross Haven Loop, and Timberline Drive Loop.
The best place to go for the latest information on the cross-country skiing trails is the Ptarmigan Nordic Ski Club. They welcome members and skiers from novice to competitive, and offer ski instruction to both adult and youth members.
Snowshoeing & Cross-Country Skiing
Need to rent gear?
If you don't have your own gear, don't worry - the Ptarmigan Nordic Ski Club and Beyond Adventures have you covered to get you out exploring this winter.
Ice Fishing
From whitefish and perch to northern pike and walleye to trout and burbot — you'll find that the fish are especially hungry in the winter. Ice fishing season runs from around late December to well into February, just make sure to dress warm, check the ice reports, and play it smart before taking to the frozen lakes and rivers.
Dog Sled Rides
It’s an exhilarating ride you won’t soon forget. A team of amazing canine athletes will tour you across the frozen landscape through forests of pine and birch, as your ears are filled with vivid stories of the land and the region’s rich cultural history.
WinterPLAY
Each winter, the RMWB hosts the WinterPLAY festival at Snye Point Park. This festival features the Shootout on the Snye pond hockey tournament, ice sculptures, live music, fireworks, and more.
Cold Meter
There are activities that can be enjoyed here regardless of the weather - check out our cold meter to prepare for and enjoy the worst the northern Alberta winter can throw at you.
Visit & Explore
Explore FMWB Activities
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