cross country skiing and snowshoeing In alberta & Manitoba provinces, Canada

The Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park is in the province of Alberta and was developed for the 1988 Winter Olympics with 65 km of terrain groomed for both classic and skate skiing and there is illuminated night skiing. Lessons and rental equipment are available at Trails Sports. There're 20 km of trails covered with snowmaking and limited skiing is available in mid-October. The Daylodge has a large stone fireplace and room to relax with a cafeteria, lockers, showers and more. Beautiful views of Mount Rundle and more. Only 90 minutes from Calgary's airport.

Falcon Trails Resort in the Whiteshell Provincial Park in Manitoba within 2 hours east of Winnipeg, is a family run ski and recreation area business with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere opened on weekends and holidays with 30 km of XC trails and 12 alpine ski slopes. There are handcrafted lakefront cabins, remote hike-in eco cabins, beaches, hiking, biking, and ski trails all owned and operated by the Christie/Hamilton family and the difference is immediately apparent in the feel of the place, the characters you encounter during your stay and the authenticity of Falcon Trails Resort.

Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course Clubhouse offers cross country ski and skate rentals, plus group and private lessons. Maps and information on trails are available at the Clubhouse.

Several sports shops rent snowshoes, ask your lodging concierge. White Mountain Adventures is just one of many guide outfits that offers naturalist-guided snowshoe treks, guided backcountry tours and cross-country skiing tours.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has about 50 km of groomed trails and access to hundreds of miles of backcountry trails, with stunning views of the lake and mountains. The ungroomed, well-marked trail to Skoki Lodge, a rustic log cabin (meaning no electricity, no plumbing, wood-burning stove), begins just above Temple Lodge at the ski area and heads up the valley and over Boulder Pass, 7 miles one way. If you're not up for skiing so far into the wilderness, follow the gentle Shoreline Trail starting in front of The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, an easy mile and a half one way. Skiing on Lake Louise is not recommended.

A complex 20 km of xc ski trail network called Pipestone Loops starts 4 miles west of the Lake Louise Over-pass on the Trans-Canada Highway. Although all are marked beginner, some are suitable for the intermediate.

About 25 miles from Lake Louise, just over the border into British Columbia, is Emerald Lake Lodge. It has a 40 km network of groomed trails with views of the Presidential Range, lodging in comfortable cabins and activities such as skating, snowshoeing and a games room. The lodge has a shuttle to the Lake Louise ski area.

Before setting out on any of the trails, check trail conditions at a park warden's office. Be aware that trail classification is done by healthy Canadians in good shape.