Snowmobile trails galore Come discover why snowmobiling is a popular sport in this region
Located in the northwest corner of Alberta is Mighty Peace country—an unspoiled region dotted with pristine lakes, boreal forests, snowmobile-friendly communities and, of course, the mighty Peace River. Loosely defined as including the communities from Valleyview to Sexsmith, then north to Fort Vermilion and High Level, this large and prosperous region is home to many enthusiastic snowmobilers and hundreds of kilometres of groomed and ungroomed trail systems—often accessible right from town. Sledders will find a wide variety of terrain in Mighty Peace country—ranging from valleys and meadows to forests, rolling hills and small mountains. And because the terrain is varied, most areas accommodate riders of all ages and skill levels. There are dozens of easy-to-access lakes in the region that offer prime ice fishing opportunities, as well as a number of public fire pits that give riders the chance to sit and warm themselves by a fire or prepare a quick meal. High Level “We have a lot of support from community businesses, town organizations and local riders,” said Jerry Chomiak, president of the Watt Mountain Wanderers. “Sledders in town have the privilege in High Level of being able to snowmobile right from our doors to a trailhead.” With a population of almost 4,500 people, High Level offers visitors many of the same services and amenities found in larger centres, while still providing an authentic wilderness experience. Some of the most popular riding areas surrounding High Level include the Watt Mountain area—which features a trail system of approximately 350 kilometres and reaches elevations of around 1,200 feet; the Machesis Lake trail system—which is situated close to the Peace River and has a number of rolling hills; and the Child Lake trail system that was completed in the spring of 2005. “Snowmobilers can do a loop (approximately 200 kilometres of groomed trails) of these three areas leaving right from High Level,” said Chomiak. “Our trail system also hooks onto the La Crete Polar Cats’trail system—so really the riding options are practically endless.” Hines Creek “I would say the most popular spots around Hines Creek are the Sand Lake area and Running Lake area—which is located a bit closer to the town of Worsley,” said Hines Creek resident James Bettenson, who has been snowmobiling in the Mighty Peace region for as long as he can remember. “Sand Lake has about a 100-square-kilometre area with plenty of ungroomed trails, creek crossings and rolling hills. The Running Lake area usually gets a little more snow and riders are able to gain a bit of elevation. There are a lot of open logging areas and cut lines here, as well as a number of small lakes.” Hines Creek is a great destination for sledders who like to ride in large, uncrowded regions full of wildlife, fishing lakes and rugged, ungroomed trails. “It is a very scenic area that allows you to cover a lot of distance,” said Bettenson. “The community is really friendly and the people here are usually more than willing to point visitors to the best riding areas we have in the region—if not take them out themselves.” Grande Prairie Grande Prairie’s local snowmobile club—Swan City Snowmobile Club—is a very active part of this growing community and maintains two main sledding locations in Mighty Peace country. The first one is Big Mountain Riding area, situated south of the city.Here riders will find around 150 kilometres of groomed trails that accommodate sledders of all levels. There are three fairly big loops that snowmobilers can take, as well as a day-use chalet and group campsite maintained by the Swan City Snowmobile Club. “It is mostly bush riding here,” said Mark Sipe, president of Swan City Snowmobile Club. “And the trails wind close to both the Smokey River and Wapiti River, so the scenery is pretty amazing.” The other main sledding spot is the Kawka riding area, which is accessible from the Lick Creek parking lot, about a 160-kilometre drive south and west of Grande Prairie. “This is our bigger area,” said Sipe. “It begins at Lick Creek and from there we groom a trail to the Kawka Falls area, then again to Kawka Lake—which totals a distance of about 50 kilometres. Kawka Lake is one of the biggest snowmobiling areas in northern B.C. Trails on the B.C. side are maintained by the Prince George Snowmobile Club.” There are a number of day-use cabins and rest stops here and sledders are even able to set up camp in Alberta’s Lake Creek Park region. “Sledders will find all kinds of terrain from mountain riding and big powder bowls to glaciers, trails, open areas and more,” said Sipe. “The Swan City Snowmobile Club, Prince George Snowmobile Club and the provincial government continue to work hard together to ensure this area remains a clean, beautiful region that outdoor recreationists will continue to enjoy for many years to come.”
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