Winter Activity Guide - Calling Lakes Area near Fort Qu'Appelle, SK

Have you been thinking of or planning a winter vacation or road trip this year?

A cabin rental is a great choice to take advantage of the winter season and a visit into the Qu’Appelle Valley and Calling Lakes area is a smart bet for a great trip. Below we have a collection of winter-time activities and events that are available in the area. Staying with us at Valley Cabin Rentals will put you in close proximity to all these winter activities and town amenities, check out our booking calendar for available dates and prices.

Activities

Downhill Skiing & Tubing

Located a 6 minute drive from our cabins, Mission Ridge Winter Park is southern Saskatchewan’s premier skiing, snowboarding and tubing facility. It now features 15 marked runs (the longest measuring over 800 meters) a triple chair lift, two terrain parks, two beginner runs with conveyor lifts, and a five-lane Tubing Park with its own conveyor lift. The park also offers high quality ski/snowboard rentals, professional instruction, wheelchair accessibility, a day-lodge with a full menu, fully-licensed restaurant and lounge space.

Cross Country Skiing

Bring your skis and boots and hit Echo Valley Provincial Park’s 12 kilometers of cross-country trails. Head to the Visitor Centre to pick up a map, or find other local trails on the Nordic Pulse App, where skiers can find reviews, up-to-date trail conditions, and more. Cross-country skiing in the valley offers a peaceful ski experience through snow-laden woods and meadows. Perfect for skiers of all levels, these trails provide a relaxing way to take in the natural beauty of the Calling Lakes winter landscape.

Skating

There are many opportunities for ice skating around the valley, here are some suggestions:

Public Skating at the Fort Qu’Appelle Rexentre
Skate the Park, opening starting Dec. 26 (weather dependent), features a 900-metre-long illuminated loop through the Echo Valley Provincial Park campground.
Breese Park Outdoor Rink at Katepwa

Snowshoeing

There are many hiking trails and walking paths in the area that can be used for snowshoeing in the winter. to explore. If you have your own snowshoes and experienced you can use these resources to find your own trails to explore:

For beginners or those needing advice, head to the Visitor Centre at the Echo Valley Provincial Park to rent snowshoes, and talk to the park staff about the perfect trail to try out.

Curling

Curling is a classic Canadian winter sport that is one of the most inclusive and social activites out there. You can try traditional or “glow-in-the-dark” curling at the Fort Qu’Appelle Curling Club.

Or you can try a version of the sport called Crokicurl, which is a combination of curling and the board game crokinole.

Fishing

In the winter, providing that the ice thickness on the lakes is safe, fishing is still open on all 4 lakes. The Calling Lakes area is a very popular spot for ice fishing.

Snowmobiling

The valley is also an amazing place to go snowmobiling. There is a passionate local club, the Calling Lakes Cruisers, who maintain 302 kilometers of snowmobile trails. So bring your machine down and try out the local trails before stowing it away for the summer season. You can download the local trail maps from the club’s website or use this link to access the online interactive map.

Shopping

There are several cute shops along the main street in Fort Qu’Appelle as well as shops in Lipton, Lebret and Katepwa Village.

Playgrounds & Parks

There are multiple parks and playgrounds all around the Qu’Appelle Valley. You can relax and enjoy nature, sit and enjoy a picnic, families can enjoy watching their children play in the outdoors.

Echo Valley Provincial Park
Fort Campground (Valley Cabin Rentals Location)
Katepwa Point Provincial Park
Local Parks

Indoor Golf Simulators

Virtual golf simulators are available in the winter at the Echo Ridge Golf Course. Which is conveniently located a short 1 min drive behind the valley cabin rentals location.

Museum

The museum closes for walk-ins during the fall in September each year. But is still open for visitors by appointment by calling (306) 332-6033.

Bowling in Lipton

There is a 2 lane, 5-pin, bowling alley at Lipton Rec Centre which is a short 15 min drive from us. Click here for more information.

Try out a Wooden Sauna

The friendly folks at Back2Nature Wellness operate a nordic style wood sauna located in the Echo Valley Provincial Park. To learn more about the sauna or book in for a session click here.