Snow is no reason to hide out at home. Not when you live somewhere surrounded by as much beautiful winter scenery as Calgary, anyway!
All it takes is a 30-60 minute drive out of the city, and you can take a winter trip to the badlands, the prairies, the foothills, or the mountains. Before deciding what provincial park near Calgary to visit this winter, decide what you want to do while there. Certain parks are better for different activities. Many of the mountain parks, for example, offer Calgarians seemingly endless cross country ski trails and hiking opportunities. On the other hand, lake parks offer a place to ice fish for the winter. These provincial parks near Calgary offer many winter recreation and reasons to visit.
Before venturing onto frozen lakes, ensure the ice is thick enough for the desired winter activity. Blue ice is strongest, white is weaker, and grey indicates danger. Minimum thickness varies by activity: 15 cm for skating individually, 20 cm for groups, and 25 cm for snowmobiles. Be aware of your surroundings before venturing onto the ice. Blue ice is clear and strong and the safest ice of all.
Sheep River Provincial Park
Where: 25km west of Diamond Valley; winter access is only available at the Sandy McNabb Trailhead day-use area.
Evan Thomas Provincial Recreation Area
Comparatively speaking, Evan Thomas PRA in Kananaskis is a small provincial park. But within the boundaries of Evan Thomas PRA are a ton of year-round activities for those wanting to relax or for those seeking adventure. During the winter, choose relaxation with the Nordic Spa and the village’s restaurants/cafes or a night of winter camping around a cozy fire. For winter adventures, the park offers downhill skiing at the Nakiska Ski Area, as well as plenty of cross-country ski trails. A variety of trails head out from Kananaskis Village suited to either fat tire biking, snowshoeing, hiking, or cross-country skiing.
Where: 30 km east of Canmore on Highway AB-1 & 20 km south on Highway AB-40
West Bragg Creek Provincial Recreation Area
The West Bragg Creek PRA is the perfect place for an afternoon of cross-country skiing outside of Calgary. The trails are suited to beginners and pros alike, with easy, intermediate, and difficult options. you follow the Elbow River. There are several short and simple ski trails around West Bragg Creek, many of which loop, or connect to other trails. Plus, many of the park’s trails are open to snowshoeing as of December 1st. The park offers a chance to explore multiple kilometres of foothills, find mountain viewing areas, and watch for wildlife.
Where: Township Road 232, Bragg Creek
Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park
The Canmore Nordic Centre is on the west side of Canmore and covers areas deep into the forested hills. The Centre works hard to keep up an extensive network of groom cross country ski trails. Additionally, there are often ski events, cups, and championships held at the Nordic Centre. And for non-skiers, the Canmore Nordic Centre also provides fat tire bike trails, snowshoe trails, a day lodge with the Cornerstone Cafe, a skating rink, and a toboggan hill. No skis? No problem as rentals are available.
Where: 1988 Olympic Way, Canmore
Spray Valley Provincial Park
There is a huge variety of winter recreation to try on a visit to Spray Valley Provincial Park in Kananaskis.
This gives us several reasons for a winter trip to the mountain park. One of the more unique ways to enjoy the park over winter is with one of two sled dog tour companies who operate in the area: Mad Dogs & Englishmen, or Howling Dog Tours. For self-guided touring around the Spray Valley, there are options for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and winter hiking.
The Mount Shark area is specifically great for cross-country skiing, with groomed foothill trails and trails exclusively for snowshoeing. Activities off the trails include ice fishing on the Spray Lakes or winter camping. For those not set up for winter camping, the park also offers accommodations via the Mount Engadine Lodge.
Where: south & west of Canmore surrounding Spray Lakes Reservoir on the Smith-Dorrien Trail (742)
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Only half of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is accessible by vehicle during the winter. The Kananaskis Trail (40) is closed to traffic from December 1 to June 14 from the Pocaterra Hut, and south. Regardless of the road closure, there are still many reasons to visit the park during winter. This still leaves several open day-use areas to the north and around the Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes. These lakes are open to ice fishing later in the winter with space to set up at the Canyon or Panorama day-use areas. There are many shorter and simpler trails in the area which make for great winter hiking, like the Lower Lake Interpretive or the South Sawmill Loop. Additional trails are also open to fat tire biking and snowshoeing.
Where: Highway 40 south of Canmore
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
The large number of hiking trails that wind around Glenbow Ranch make the park a great destination for families in the winter. This is partially thanks to the ease of the trails, and thanks to the ease of getting here from Calgary. Glenmore Ranch Provincial Park is one of the closest Provincial areas to Calgary, aside from Fish Creek of course. It is a day-use-only park which is open all year. The park has great views from the trails, too, with the Rockies to the west and the city to the east. Allow for plenty of time as the park has over 28km of hiking trails which follow the Bow River, interpretive panels, a Visitor’s Centre, and picnic amenities.
Where: between Calgary and Cochrane on Highway 1A
Ghost Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area
One of the closest places for ice fishing near Calgary is the Ghost Reservoir PRA, west of the city on the Bow River. The large and wide-open lake has the advantage of being fed by the Bow River, thus offering a wide range of trout to catch. But one of the most alluring features of a visit here in the winter is Ghost Lake’s ice track. This is an actual driving track mapped out on the ice for visitors to use with cars, ATVs, side-by-sides, or dirt bikes.
Where: west of Cochrane on the south side of Highway 1A
Jarvis Bay Provincial Park
Sylvan Lake is just as much of a winter wonderland as it is a beautiful beach destination. In town and along Lakeshore Drive there will be winter events, holiday light displays, and access to the lake for skating. But for a quieter and equally as beautiful Sylvan winter getaway, enjoy the more secluded Jarvis Bay Provincial Park. The area has space for hiking, snowshoeing, wildlife viewing, photography, picnics, and cross country skiing. Plus, some of the campground amenities like cook shelters or firepits are still available to use.
Where: 4km north of Sylvan Lake on Highway 20
Cataract Creek Provincial Recreation Area
While Alberta’s northern areas are well-known for their extensive and beautiful snowmobile trails, there are a few to uncover and ride in the Rockies as well. And lucky for riders, Kananaskis, only an hour from Calgary, offers a park dedicated to snowmobile trails. The Cataract Creek PRA is a favourite of many riders thanks to the surrounding scenery. There are two staging areas for snowmobilers with washrooms, parking, and picnic areas. The trails are surrounded by remote wildlands and crown land, making the area especially abundant in wildlife.
Where: 45km southwest of Longview on Highway 541, then 12km south on Forestry Trunk Rd.