Tours & Activities in Fort McMurray
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Located in the Wood Buffalo Region of northeastern Alberta, Fort McMurray is the jumping off point not only for major industries in the region but also for various tours and activities including informative oil sand tours, challenging golf games, exciting outdoor adventures and thrilling winter activities. Easily accessible by land or air, visitor can make the four-hour drive from Edmonton or fly into its busy airport, the Fort McMurray Airport (YMM), which services regular flights from Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto.
Athabasca Oil Sands
While visiting Fort McMurray, visitors should stop and take time to tour the Athabasca Oil Sands. A major industry in the area, the oils sands are also known to be a piece of prehistoric history dating back 110 million years. A mixture of sand, water and bitumen, the oil sands hold a potential 300 billion barrels of recoverable bitumen with today's available technologies.
During summer months, travellers can take guided bus tours that describes the bitumen recovery process from its mining to pipeline stages. The tours also look at the restoration process that occurs after the bitumen has been removed and the sand is reclaimed by the earth. Run by Fort McMurray Tourism, the Oil Sand Tours include a bus tour of Suncor Energy and admission to the Oil Sands Discovery Center and Heritage Park. Several times each summer the Fort McMurray's Oil Sands Discovery Centre also offers a Historic Abasand Walk, which is a guided walking tour of one of the oldest oil sands plants in the area.
Golf
Golfers can visit two local golf courses, both known for their challenging play and stunning scenery. Located on MacDonald Island Park, the Miskanaw Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course that will test players of every level, and during winter, golfers can keep in practice playing a round at one of 34 world renowned courses while in the Miskanaw's simulator. Families can also visit the local mini golf course and go-kart track for an afternoon of entertainment appropriate for all ages.
Outdoor Adventures
A number of exciting outdoor adventures can be found while visiting the Fort McMurray area with activities varying from robust paddling tours and stunning aerial tours to remote fly-in hunting and fishing adventures. Home to an extensive trail system, visitors can explore the boreal forest while hiking or biking the trails. Paddlers can view the area from a different perspective, whether they choose to canoe or kayak down rivers, such as the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers, which vary in difficulty from Grade I to Grade III. Paddle tour companies may offer lessons, trip planning and preparation, partial or complete outfitting and shuttle services.
As much of the area around Fort McMurray is rather remote, airplane and helicopter tours are an excellent way for travellers to sightsee the area, particularly the unique Athabasca Sand Dunes. These aerial tour companies also offer a number of other services, including services geared for local industries as well as shuttling adventure enthusiasts out into the wild or transporting fishermen and hunters to the fly-in fishing and hunting lodges. Situated northwest of Fort McMurray, Island Lake Lodge is accessible by air only and offers fully equipped cabins and fishing expeditions for northern pike and walleye.
Winter Activities
Once the days begin to darken and the temperature drops and snow flies, holiday-makers can choose from a number of fun winter activities. During winter months, Northern Alberta delights travellers with its dazzling northern lights. Visitors can join northern lights tours to view the spectacular show from the best locations or while out participating in other activities such as snowmobile tours. Extremely popular in the area, snowmobile tours offer an excellent means of seeing large portions of the region. With extensive groomed trails provided by the McMurray Sno-Drifters Association, snowmobilers are sure to find plenty of excitement.
Also popular with both residents and visitors, Fort McMurray's ski hill—Vista Ridge—offers skiers and snowboarders a beginner’s area, terrain park and 125 m (410 ft) of vertical. The hill also features several trails, a tube park and a lodge with cafeteria and bar.
Athabasca Oil Sands
While visiting Fort McMurray, visitors should stop and take time to tour the Athabasca Oil Sands. A major industry in the area, the oils sands are also known to be a piece of prehistoric history dating back 110 million years. A mixture of sand, water and bitumen, the oil sands hold a potential 300 billion barrels of recoverable bitumen with today's available technologies.
During summer months, travellers can take guided bus tours that describes the bitumen recovery process from its mining to pipeline stages. The tours also look at the restoration process that occurs after the bitumen has been removed and the sand is reclaimed by the earth. Run by Fort McMurray Tourism, the Oil Sand Tours include a bus tour of Suncor Energy and admission to the Oil Sands Discovery Center and Heritage Park. Several times each summer the Fort McMurray's Oil Sands Discovery Centre also offers a Historic Abasand Walk, which is a guided walking tour of one of the oldest oil sands plants in the area.
Golf
Golfers can visit two local golf courses, both known for their challenging play and stunning scenery. Located on MacDonald Island Park, the Miskanaw Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course that will test players of every level, and during winter, golfers can keep in practice playing a round at one of 34 world renowned courses while in the Miskanaw's simulator. Families can also visit the local mini golf course and go-kart track for an afternoon of entertainment appropriate for all ages.
Outdoor Adventures
A number of exciting outdoor adventures can be found while visiting the Fort McMurray area with activities varying from robust paddling tours and stunning aerial tours to remote fly-in hunting and fishing adventures. Home to an extensive trail system, visitors can explore the boreal forest while hiking or biking the trails. Paddlers can view the area from a different perspective, whether they choose to canoe or kayak down rivers, such as the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers, which vary in difficulty from Grade I to Grade III. Paddle tour companies may offer lessons, trip planning and preparation, partial or complete outfitting and shuttle services.
As much of the area around Fort McMurray is rather remote, airplane and helicopter tours are an excellent way for travellers to sightsee the area, particularly the unique Athabasca Sand Dunes. These aerial tour companies also offer a number of other services, including services geared for local industries as well as shuttling adventure enthusiasts out into the wild or transporting fishermen and hunters to the fly-in fishing and hunting lodges. Situated northwest of Fort McMurray, Island Lake Lodge is accessible by air only and offers fully equipped cabins and fishing expeditions for northern pike and walleye.
Winter Activities
Once the days begin to darken and the temperature drops and snow flies, holiday-makers can choose from a number of fun winter activities. During winter months, Northern Alberta delights travellers with its dazzling northern lights. Visitors can join northern lights tours to view the spectacular show from the best locations or while out participating in other activities such as snowmobile tours. Extremely popular in the area, snowmobile tours offer an excellent means of seeing large portions of the region. With extensive groomed trails provided by the McMurray Sno-Drifters Association, snowmobilers are sure to find plenty of excitement.
Also popular with both residents and visitors, Fort McMurray's ski hill—Vista Ridge—offers skiers and snowboarders a beginner’s area, terrain park and 125 m (410 ft) of vertical. The hill also features several trails, a tube park and a lodge with cafeteria and bar.
Continental Breakfast
Indoor Pool
Restaurant/Spa/Pool
Fully Equipped Units
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