Summer Information For Grande Prairie In Alberta






Aug 27, 08

Grande Prairie
Alberta

Sunshine, Forest, and the Aurora Borealis

Grande Prairie is located in the northwest corner of Alberta, where it started out as a fur trading post for the Hudson Bay Company as early as 1770. Grande Prairie is surrounded by fertile farmland on three sides and bordered by a vast boreal forest with aspen, tamarack, lodge pole pine, jack pine, and black spruce extending well into the foothills of the Canadian Rockies south and southwest of the city

Grande Prairie's northern location offers visitors views of the stunning Northern Lights, the "Aurora Borealis", as well as over 2100 hours of sunshine annually, more than any other area in Canada.

Outdoor Fun

Grande Prairie boasts a number of parks and golf courses, such as Muskoseepi Park, which offers over 1100 acres of parkland with trails for walking, jogging or bicycling. The preserved wetlands at Crystal Lake provide wonderful bird-watching opportunities for ornithologists and casual-nature lovers alike. Grande Prairie is a major stop on the migration route of the endangered, Trumpeter Swan, whose summer nesting grounds are quite close to the city.

The foothills south of Grande Prairie are popular year-round for hiking and biking, and have numerous trails, ranging in difficulty and length.
Saskatoon Island Provincial Park is just 20 km west of Grande Prairie and offers countless activities, such as canoeing, camping, swimming, biking, sailing, and windsurfing. Another must-visit is Kakwa Wildland Park, home to spectacular waterfalls and mountainous river scenes that are well worth the 180 km drive from Grande Prairie.

Golfing at one of the three 18-hole courses (Dunes, Bear Creek, and Grande Prairie Golf & Country Club) is possible as late as 11:00 pm thanks to Grande Prairie's northern latitude and long summer days.

Prairie Entertainment

You won't want to miss the Pioneer Museum. This includes a 10-building village with a log cabin, country store, one-room schoolhouse and a church. The museum gives visitors a look into the past of the Peace River Valley area with aboriginal and pioneer artifacts, dinosaur bones and exhibits on natural history.

The summer brings entertaining events to the Peace River region. The Grande Prairie Stampede and the Regional Fair during Heritage Day weekend are just a few of the exciting times this town has to offer.

Crested Butte