Welcome to winter in Drayton Valley and Brazeau County. With a thick blanket of white stuff outside it is time to bust out your snowshoes.
Snowshoeing is a fun way to get outside, stretch your legs and add a little interest to your snowy winter walks. With the Eagle Point Provincial Park and Provincial Recreation area right on our doorstep there are endless places to explore by snowshoe. But for those of you who are just getting started here are three of my favourite places to get you going.
Up and down and around: The Hillside Trail
The Hillside Trail was one of the first places I snowshoed and it is still one of my favourites. The 2.1 km loop is located about 10 minutes from town off Hwy 22 towards Willey West Campground. At the crossroads of Twp 491A and RR71 you head north. The trail can be accessed off a lease road to the west or you can drive to the bottom of RR71 (down a large hill) and find the trail at an unsigned access point off of a wellsite (lease road) at the bottom of the hill.
Once on the trail you can do one large loop or cut it up into pieces. The trail is set on a dramatic slope of the North Saskatchewan River valley with a number of hills meandering the trail.The trail is cloaked in heavy tree cover which gives a feeling of a secluded winter wonderland. The snowshoe takes 30 minutes to one hour and it can be extended to include the Hill Top Trail as well.
A little leg stretch: Ivan To Park and Ivan To Disc Golf Course
If getting out of town is not possible or if you find yourself in the company of little snowshoers, then Ivan To Park on the southside of town is a fun spot to head to. The park is easily accessible from 52 st and 43 ave. It has some slopes and hill features that makes this a great spot for tobogganing too.
To snowshoe the perimeter of the park would take 30 minutes or you could follow the new disc golf course which would be a shorter loop but take you into some of the bush in the area.
A shoe with a view: West Ridge Winder, Pembina Nordic Ski Club
The West Ridge Winder is a portion of the Pembina Nordic Ski Club single track trail. It can be fat-tire biked in the winter, walked or snowshoed.
This portion of the trail runs horizontally along the embankments of the North Saskatchewan River valley and offers immense views. It is an out and back trail as foot traffic on the groomed cross country ski trails is restricted.
Also, along this trail are a number of viewpoints and benches. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and make a day of it.
Snowshoeing is one of those accessible activities that can be enjoyed by anyone at any age and with a variety of terrain at our toe tips it is hard to not want to get out and tromp through the snow. If you don’t have any snowshoes, fear not, the fine folks at the Eagle Point Blue Rapids Parks Council have snowshoes for rent. Head to their website or Facebook page for more information.
The joys of winter camping
Last winter some gals and I embarked on a trial cross country skiing/winter camping adventure on the Pembina River. The experience was amazing and left me wishing that winter was not coming to such an abrupt end.
The back 40
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Ten winter experiences close to home
Become a Free Press e-edition subscriber Brandy Fredrickson, Free Press Here are 10 budget friendly
Spaaah Experience
This prompted me to wonder what other hidden gems we had in Drayton Valley that could be used to make an at home spa day.
Rural Watering Hole Tour
Before there were clubs, and ultra lounges there was the rural bar. The rural bar was a place people would go to have a drink, eat some food, get a bit of news and maybe even get a haircut. The rural bar was usually built alongside or attached to the lone hotel in the community.
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Rodeos have been a big part of the Brazeau and Beyond region since the Buck Lake Stampede first ran in 1929. The rural rodeo experience is not the circus you see in the larger locales. You’re closer to the action and it’s much more intimate.
