Score mighty skiing in Mighty Peace at six rad local ski hills

Here in Mighty Ski (formally known as Mighty Peace) it's not about how much vertical you shred in a day, rather experiencing the signature hospitality you score along the way. 

Whether it's the homemade warm cinnamon buns sitting on arrival (Whispering Pines), to the most delicious breakfast sandwiches (back bacon makes the difference at Spring Lake), or to the hometown reception you are going to score at Manning Ski Club, these joy practitioners within Mighty Peace, Mighty SKI really know what they are doing! 

Here is how to ski or ride 'em, starting with a quick intro to each Mighty Peace, Mighty Ski destination. 

Spring Lake Ski Hill

Norwegian spirit packed into the Mighty Peace by immigrants back in the day, resulted in the runs featured on Spring Lake today. Seventy-five years later, the pioneer's son, Brian Peterson, along with a passionate board, are the driving force of this place. 

Today, Peterson skis with his grandkids on these slopes. This boutique ski area is perfect for beginners who are looking to sharpen their ski or ride abilities in the lowest pressure of environments. 

The Spring Lake chalet is right out of an episode of the Timber Kings—a beauty of a day lodge log cabin.

Whispering Pines Ski Hill

Connect Spring Lake with "The Pines" over a weekend for a stellar beginner or early intermediate ski trip. 

Whispering Pines is a total Easter egg, you have no idea what you are in store for until you start to shred it. The hill features a triple chair and a t-bar to its gnar. 

People drive here from throughout the region for the cheeseburgers and their Alberta-renowned cinnamon buns (kept in a warming station, so they are always served hot and gooey), served up by a Mennonite kitchen staff who care about every aspect of how the food is made.

Whispering Pines is the ultimate beginner hill destination, while for the die-hard mountain skier or rider, seek out one of those locals who know it and they'll take you on a run top to bottom that will impress even the most hardcore.

Manning & District Ski Club

"Manning is the biggest park you're ever gonna ride," says this chopper pilot by day, aurora skiing send'r by night and ski hill co-lead Dallas Kosh. 

Kosh aka Cookie, who runs the Manning & District Ski Club, along with his wife Kaitie. Instead of tending to cattle like most of their neighbours, they cater to skiers and riders looking to send it on this gem of a ski arena. 

Cookie learned to ski here when he was three! Now 40 odd years later, he runs the place. 

Send it on a Mighty Peace, Mighty Ski trip

Shred with locals and experience the Mighty hospitality of the Peace region

Do laps off Manning's single tbar, head into the Shred the Gnar Snack Bar for fuel, sit by the fire outside or grab a window side seat to look down over the ski shenanigans. 

Five runs, all lit for night skiing; see if you can time it for an aurora rip, because when you are this mighty of a "small ski area" you have the keys to pop up and open when an aurora night hits. 

Due to the Koshes' unrivaled commitment to keeping this place alive and kicking, it's all systems go at Manning for this 2024/25 season and the foreseeable future. 

Fairview Ski Hill

Wait till you get a view of this Easter egg sitting pretty within the Hines Creek Coulee—a river tributary of the Peace River flowing out to Jasper. 

Those who are seeking adventure in the Mighty Peace will want to hit Fairview's t-bar zone—this rollercoaster of an area, is home to a steep t-bar that gets you into their steeps and deeps. 

No joke: this zone is steep.

Hitting the front face of the ski hill will give you the feel like you are in Europe at a world cup with the bowl like finish to these runs and a ski face you can cut across, connecting six runs in one! 

The homemade tomato soup is a must and will put just the right amount of warmth into your step over to their North Bowl, for a triple play including a cruisy green, a luscious blue and a black that is magic. 

I scored turns with one of Fairview's legends, Don Wieben, "I started skiing here in 1972, and now I am skiing here with my grand- and great grandkids." 

Little Smoky Ski Hill

Not many places on the planet you can watch for the world's highest concentration of elk while you shred. 

Considering the Little Smoky River and the river valley in which this ski area makes it home, keep your eyes peeled as you make a scream down its black Bee-Line run. 

Or, give yourself the ability to look for these elk a little harder, by crushing the Easy Rider green run. Their single t-bar allows any Little Smoky ripper to score an impressive view over the valley.

Yet another Easter egg of a hill, as you drive past farmers' fields to a parking lot where on the other side of the lot sits the day lodge with a patio looking out over the river valley and down onto the runs below. 

Glen Dumont, a ski instructor, groomer and snowmaker for Little Smoky explains, "the snow stays on our slopes given the runs don't face into the sun all day." 

Misery Mountain Ski Hill

I caught Misery's "Hot Doggin' It" Friday night: with every lift ticket purchased you'll score a free hot dog! 

Take the run "psychedelic trip" for a rip looking over the Peace River and score a rush minus any special fungi.

Misery Mountain runs day and night through the weekends, via their impressive lighting system. 

Misery is found within the Town of Peace River, which makes for the perfect basecamp to take on any of these six ski hills around the region. 

It's straightforward to link the two ski hills of Misery Mountain and Little Smoky en route back to Grande Prairie or Edmonton.