Sliding through one of the World’s biggest forests in Fort McMurray

Nordic skiing is just one of the many outdoor pursuits locals and visitors can enjoy when visiting Fort McMurray.

What we found was Nordic, snowshoe, fat bike, sledding and of course downhill ski trails – all totalling 135kms – which definitely keeps everyone in town and those who visit, jacked on snow fun.

Five-year-old Finn McNiff gets a ski lesson at Fort McMurray's Vista Ridge Ski and Adventure Park.

Kevin McNiff is a firefighter in this northerly Alberta city, which is also home to Vista Ridge Ski and Adventure Park. During our #SkiNorthAB visit, it was McNiff’s son, five-year-old Finn, who learned to slide on skis before our very eyes, giggling while sliding his way through this forest expanse. Finn was talking up a storm leaving the ski hill. 

“He (Finn) loves it. He told me he loves the straight (Nordic) skiing and the downhill skiing,” said Kevin. The new five-year-old Nordic and downhill skier, chimes in to his dad’s comments with, “I like going fast, fast, fast.”

Here are McNiff’s three winter picks around Fort McMurray:

• Take your kids to learn to ski at Vista Ridge, with its three magic carpets offering a variety of slope grades
• Experience the Birchwood Nordic Ski Trails, accommodating classic and skate skiers on 31kms of groomed trails (head out on Tuesdays with the crew and bring your headlamp for some skinny skiing under a full mom or even better, the Northern Lights that Fort McMurray is known for)
• Snowshoeing – Fisheries Trail winds your way through the river valley set amongst the groves of Poplars.

The McNiffs, along with some friends, head out for some Nordic skiing through the boreal forests which surround Fort McMurray.

Ptarmigan Nordic Ski Club member and doctor, Rob Bailey only moved from South Africa to Fort McMurray in the past two and a half months, and his first impressions are of how much Fort McMurray’ites value their winter fun.

“The most amazing thing about Fort McMurray is the trail network that runs through the community," said Bailey. "I’m out almost every day on these trials, for Nordic skiers, its top notch and home to a thriving Nordic ski club." Bailey goes on to explain the Ptarmigan Ski Club has over 400 members, pretty decent considering Fort Mac is home to around 65,000 people.

Buffalo and Northern Lights

If you really want to find some winter trails that are one of a kind, Fort McMurray is also the jumping off point for one of the world’s longest winter roads. Drive Fort McMurray to Fort Chip and head past where the buffalo roam in one of the world’s biggest National Parks, Wood Buffalo. You will encounter the largest heard of wild buffalo and an ecological preserve that is bigger than Switzerland. This region is also known for its dark skies and is home to Aurora Borealis displays like you’ve never seen. Read: It’s a marvelous night for a sky dance