Known as Saskatchewan’s Gateway to the North, Prince Albert has everything a sledder needs for a fantastic getaway weekend or vacation.
With a variety of hotels that include attached lounges and restaurants and the Prince Albert Inn with its Northern Lights Casino, sledders can enjoy quick access to rural trails but still have an evening of urban entertainment.
“Because we are the last major centre in Saskatchewan before you head into the Lakeland District,” said Jayne Remenda, marketing director for the Prince Albert Destination Marketing Area, “you’re just within kilometres from the trail that heads out from Prince Albert to Candle Lake or the trail that goes up through Emma Lake and up into Prince Albert National Park.”
Plenty to do in Prince Albert
Using the city as a base, said Remenda, sledders can take advantage of Prince Alberta’s many urban amenities—from shopping to fine dining, art galleries, museums and performing arts—while still heading out to ride a different trail each day.
“We’re also a big hockey town, with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders,” said Remenda. “So sledders can check out the schedule on the Raiders website, arrive in town in time for a Friday night game and a bite before heading out for a full day of sledding on some of the most beautiful and scenic trails around.”
Taking care of snowmobilers
While sledding is not allowed within city limits, a new Super 8 hotel located in the rural municipality of Prince Albert allows sledding directly from its parking lot. The city’s visitors centre offers trail maps for newcomers to the area who haven’t yet discovered the wonders that await at trails groomed and maintained by one of the area clubs, including the Candle Lake Sno-Drifters and the Lakeland Snowmobile Club of Christopher Lake, as well as those trails located in Prince Albert National Park near the Elk Ridge Resort, where visitors can also catch a hot meal before making the return trip.
For those with maintenance issues or equipment needs, rest assured that with a total of nine snowmobile dealerships and service centres located within the city of Prince Albert there’s no shortage of information, tips, parts and service available when needed.
Snowmobiling is one of the fastest growth sectors for tourism in Saskatchewan, a fact that the city of Prince Albert recognizes—ensuring that sledders and their needs are always at top of mind.
“The Waskesiu Wilderness Region just south of Christopher Lake up through to the national park has recently put out a winter trails map that has both snowmobiling and cross-country ski trails identified,” said Remenda. “And we as a city are really supportive of those efforts. Anything that can help us to serve the needs of snowmobilers is something that’s a big part of our mandate.”
