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Culinary Experiences
Culinary Experiences
Fort McMurray is home to one-of-a-kind locally-owned restaurants and cafes that you simply must try.
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Nature's Light Show
Nature's Light Show
Simply look up and enjoy a front-row seat to nature’s greatest light show, the Aurora Borealis, as they dance across the sky.
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A-Frame cabins that can accommodate up to 16 people are ideal for viewing and photographing the northern lights. Includes gorgeous lake views and the comfort of a wood-burning stove.
Get closer than ever to the mystifying northern lights while sleeping in a heated teepee or trapper’s tent at a well-equipped camp in the remote Birch Mountains.
Get outfitted in top-of-the-line outdoor gear and strap-on snowshoes before arriving at your final destination, where you'll relax under the stars, warm up to a crackling wood stove, and enjoy some tea and pan-fried bannock.
Wood Buffalo National Park is one of the best places in Canada to view the northern lights. Campers actively explore the Park to gaze at this astronomical portrait, and photographers from across the globe bring their best equipment in hope of capturing some truly memorable shots. @Pine Lake Cabins
Revel in the beauty of our northern skies with a unique adventure, such as a dog sledding tour or camping in the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserve in Wood Buffalo National Park.
Prepare for Adventure
Boating & Paddling
Boating & Paddling
In a place where five rivers connect naturally and lakes dot the landscape, it’s only natural that canoe, kayak and standup paddle board enthusiasts meet on our waters. Jet boat tours are another unique way to experience the beautiful waterways of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo.
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several boat tour operators
options for beginners to experienced paddlers
lots of bodies of water to explore
A popular area for summer excursions since it is close to the city with a large campground, public beach, boat launch, and trailer parking. Open from May to October.
A secluded and majestic area where you can relax in a quieter setting. Motorized boats are prohibited.
Enjoy year-round recreation in the heart of Fort McMurray’s downtown core
calm waterway perfect for canoeing or kayaking
access the Clearwater River
The Clearwater River has cut spectacular gorges and waterfalls into the sandstone and limestone; the forest along its banks is still wild and is home to moose, deer, bear, wolf, lynx, geese, fox and beaver.
The Athabasca River is the longest river in Alberta (1,538 km). The first 168 km (located in Jasper National Park) are designated as a Canadian Heritage River.
If you don't have your own gear, don't worry - there are plenty of rental and shopping options.
Aerial Tours
Aerial Tours
Experience an epic sky-high, breathtaking helicopter or airplane tour, or scenic float plane flight and discover the region from a whole new perspective.
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See unique, secluded places that have no road access
All aerial tours run from 40 to 80 minutes
Flights are available to Fort Chipewyan and over 17 fishing lodges throughout Northern Alberta & Saskatchewan.
Flights over the Athabasca Sand Dunes (both the Alberta & Saskatchewan sides)
The Gregoire Lake Adventure includes a water landing in Gregoire Lake. Jump off the aircraft floats for a nice swim.
Custom charters are available! From dropping you off at a northern lake for a swim to taking you into the backcountry and dropping you off with your canoe or kayak.
It’s the best way to see it all, and there are plenty of professional operators offering affordable rates.
Culture
Culture
Our museums spotlight historical collections and informative, interpretive displays. Local productions and traveling shows alike can be seen at these venues, with theatre, comedy, film, and dance all being featured.
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The strong Cree, Dene and Métis communities here are rich in collaborative spirit and historical, cultural and economic importance.
This 6.6-acre site contains seventeen historic buildings and a collection of large artifacts, offering an opportunity to experience the vibrant days of fur trading, lumbering, fishing, early aviation, and life on the rivers.
The museum’s native and historic displays depict the key role Fort Chipewyan played in Canada's early exploration and fur trade.
Come and learn why Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo is known as the "gateway to the north” and discover the region’s decades-long history as a transportation hub, an essential link on the cargo routes north via the Athabasca River and onto the Arctic.
Since its official opening on September 5, 1980, Keyano Theatre has been the centre of community engagement, creativity and entertainment.
We are home to a vibrant arts and cultural scene.
Dog Sledding
Dog Sledding
A team of amazing canine athletes will tour you across the frozen landscape through forests of pine and birch, as your ears are filled with vivid stories of the land and our region’s rich cultural history.
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Operated by Robert Grandjambe in Fort Chipewyan, take in the splendor of the endless boreal forest nestled within the warmth and comfort of a handcrafted sled. Learn about the rich Indigenous history and stories that permeate our land.
Let the spirit and energy of the dogs and the incredible history behind dog sledding move you. Here are some tour operators worth checking out.
Fishing
Fishing
If your dream is to snag a trophy walleye, wrestle a pike or land a giant northern Alberta lake trout, fishing in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo will have you hooked.
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Lakes and rivers are easily accessible for day trips
Fish from shore or by boat for pike, walleye, perch, trout and Arctic grayling
Remote fly-in fishing lodges in abundance
Book a jet boat fishing trip
Ice fishing trips are available from December to February
Find a fly-in fishing lodge
Golfing
Golfing
Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo has many great golf courses to suit all skill levels. Plus, with our long, glorious summer days, you can get a lot of golfing in.
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spectacular scenery
challenging holes
opportunities for wildlife sightings
One of the top public courses in Northern Alberta and previous host of professional and national championship events, Fort McMurray Golf Club is not to be missed
The par-71 course features stunning views of the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers, a driving range, practice facility, and the Seventy Two Kitchen & Patio overlooking the signature 16th hole's island green.
This 9-hole Les Furber-designed links course provides a unique challenge in the region with its wide-open spaces and plenty of water in play. Includes a restaurant, patio, and driving range.
This 12-hole course has larger cups on the greens, family-sized four-seater golf carts, and reasonable hole distances – fun for the whole family and for golfers of all handicaps.
Explore Trails in the Boreal Forest
Explore Trails in the Boreal Forest
Outdoor enthusiasts from around the world visit every year for some of the best northern hiking, biking, and skiing trails in Canada.
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There are vast trail systems offering short or long distances with various levels of difficulty.
over 135 kilometres of all-season trails
great for bird watching, berry picking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing
home to Canada’s largest outdoor exercise equipment circuit
self-guided walking tour with an excellent view overlooking the Horse River
hike circuit: 1.5 hours
steepness of the trail can be challenging
1.4KM Hike off Timberline Drive. Crosses Conn Creek.
If you don't have your own gear, don't worry - there are plenty of rental and shopping options.
Off the Beaten Path
Off the Beaten Path
For the adventurous spirit, experience the less-traveled corners of the Canadian North and create memories that will last a lifetime.
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In 1788, on the traditional territory of the Cree, Dene, and Métis people, a North West Company trading post was established. Nestled at the southwestern corner of Lake Athabasca, the community of Fort Chipewyan still exists today.
Notable experiences:
Discover time-honoured traditions and a natural, authentic way of life
Visit the Fort Chipewyan Bicentennial Museum
Enter Wood Buffalo National Park
Fort Chipewyan is roughly 300 kilometres north of Fort McMurray. The community can only be accessed by plane or boat in the summer or by an epic winter road in the offseason.
With world famous rapids, Fort Fitzgerald is an incredible destination for novice to extreme kayakers and traditional canoeists. Fort Fitzgerald is the region's smallest and most northern community. The city of Fort Smith in the Northwest Territories is the nearest urban centre, located 25 kilometers away.
WBNP is home to the world's largest free-roaming herd of buffalo and over 200 species of migratory birds, including the rare whooping crane.
Located between Alberta and the Northwest Territories, this national park offers extraordinary remote hiking and camping in the muskeg and boreal forest.
Every year in mid-to-late August, the Dark Sky Festival welcomes night sky enthusiasts from around the world.
Access the most northern lakes in Alberta and the largest sand dune complex in Canada—the Athabasca Sand Dunes. Enjoy well-maintained trails while you experience true backcountry camping with no facilities or campgrounds.
Pack the essentials:
first aid kit
compact tool kit
trail map
tow strap, winch & extra fuel
food and water
body protection including a helmet, goggles, and gloves—just in case.
camping gear & wilderness survival kit with bear deterrents.
Winter Magic
Winter Magic
You'll find many incredible opportunities to enjoy the magic of a Canadian winter—including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, skating, stargazing and so much more.
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Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo is home to a number of indoor and outdoor ice surfaces offering skating, hockey, and plenty of family fun. You can enjoy:
a skate or a game of shinny on one of the 7 lit, boarded outdoor rinks
a twirl around the Skating Path at MacDonald Island Park
a glide through holiday-lit trees at the Lion’s Park Skating Trail
In the north, during the winter months, the days can be short with the sun setting early and rising late. This is the time to be cozy, or to get out and attend the community events that take place to celebrate our beautiful winter landscape.
If you don't have your own gear, don't worry - there are plenty of rental and shopping options.
Off-Roading
Off-Roading
Just outside the city limits, you’ll find ATV staging areas, ready for you to rip out for an afternoon of excitement. Or, take a day trip and explore the boreal forest backcountry.
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River valleys, old railway beds, cutlines, forest, hilly terrain and creeks are yours to discover
Riding conditions are generally excellent – your off-roading experience can be self-guided or part of a planned experience. Warm-up shelters and fire pits are located on many trails in the winter (don't forget your Snodrifter's Trail Map).
Richardson Wildland Provincial Park
Richardson River Dunes Wildland Provincial Park is home to the most northern and pristine lakes in Alberta and home and the largest sand dune complex in Canada—the Athabasca Dunes Ecological Reserve (walk in only access.)
*This area is very sensitive and must be used with extreme caution as threats of wildfire, bears, changing weather conditions and lack of phone or emergency services.
If you don't have your own gear, don't worry - there are plenty of rental and shopping options.