Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area Trails & Birkie Maps
|
Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area has 170 km of trails. The Canadian Birkie uses approximately 80 km of the trail system for the annual ski event. There are almost 85 km of hiking / mountain biking trails in the park. These trails become the cross-country ski trails in the winter season. There are 85 km of equestrian trails, separate from the hiking trails. One section of the equestrian trail system is used for the Birkebeiner ski event in February. Check Events - Travel Instructions for maps for each Birkie event. For more information on park trails: automated information line (780) 922-4676; park office (780) 922-3293; detailed Summer and Winter trail maps are available at park kiosks or the parks website. Environment and TerrainTopography: The Canadian Birkebeiner takes place in an incredibly unique and special environment with perfect terrain for long distance cross country skiing. Wildlife: The trails roll and wind through a dominant aspen forest parkland that is home to many quintessential Canadian winter wilderness species. The Perfect Cross Country Ski Terrain: The undulating landscape typical of the reserve is absolutely ideal cross country ski terrain.
Birkie Course maps The course maps are overlays on the Park trail maps here. If you are new to the Birkie, you can also find these course maps in the Event Details tab - Travel Instructions. There is an itinerary, directions to venues and the course map specific to each Birkie event.
Birkie 55 and 31 km Course ProfilesThe ski courses in the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area and other parks are part of the glacial Cooking Lake Moraine. It is gently rolling terrain which translates to lots of small ups and downs, and trails winding around beaver ponds and hills. There is a difference of 71 to 76 metres from the low point (Goose Lake start of the 55 and 31 km) and the high points near the Winter Food Station in the interior of the park.
There are at least 12 parks in Edmonton's river valley that have great
hiking / mountain biking trails. Some of the paved trails are plowed
in the winter for year-round running and walking. Many of the trails
are groomed for cross-country ski trails in the winter season.
|