fbpx

20 Ways to Get Outside this Summer
in and around Grande Prairie

With 314 annual days of sunshine in our region, Grande Prairie makes an excellent year-round destination to enjoy the great outdoors. And to complement the many days of sunny weather, our city and region are bursting with outdoor activities that people of all skill levels and interests can enjoy. Check out our 20 recommendations for getting outside in our region this summer, with light, moderate, and intense activity levels considered below.

[Categories: Light Activity, moderate activity, high adrenaline (intense!)]

Summer won’t last forever, get outside and seize the days of summer!

 

LIGHT

1. Teepee Creek Stampede.

  • Ready for 4 days in the wild? This local rodeo event draws international talent and has been kicking for over 100 years – the spirit of the Grande Prairie region comes to life at Teepee Creek Stampede. Check back on their website for ticket and event updates!

2. Street Buskers Downtown

  • Every Friday and Saturday in the downtown core this summer, you can look forward to free live outdoor entertainment. The talent ranges from singers to dancers to craft entertainment, so grab some grub to-go from one of our downtown restaurants, and wander our city centre streets for an upbeat summer afternoon.
  • Local tip: Bring cash so you can tip the buskers. Also, don’t forget your sunscreen!

3. Take a bird-watching stroll around Crystal Lake

  • Grande Prairie is home to many walking trails and parks, but one stand-out is the 4km Crystal Lake boardwalk loop. You’d never know you’re in the middle of the city while taking a stroll around the lake with the variety of water fauna that calls the area home – watch for geese, coots, and of course our city’s emblematic trumpeter swan.

4. Farmers Market

  • Starting July 13th, you can now visit the Grande Prairie Farmers’ Market on Wednesday afternoons in addition to their year-round Friday and Saturday times. Whether you’re in the market (pun intended!) for locally-grown veggies, artisanal gifts, or what some consider to be GP’s best fish tacos, a trip to the Farmers’ Market is a must!

5. Picnic at Grande Prairie’s largest park: Muskoseepi

  • Pack up your own homemade picnic, or grab some delicious hand-helds from one of our city’s many food trucks and head down to Muskoseepi Park for a chill afternoon. Want to take it up a notch? The park is home to many sports, including lawn bowling, mini golf, spikeball, and even fishing – more information here!

6. Plan a wine and berry picking tour at Broken Tine Orchard

  • Tucked away near the hamlet of Elmworth, Broken Tine Orchard is one of our region’s most unique tourism destinations. Go for the haskap berry picking, stay for the wine tasting! (Psst – the kids will love the orchards Friceys Prairie Fruit Pops – a juicy popsicle made from their haskaps)
  • Local tip: The best way to tell if a haskap berry is ripe is by giving it a tickle and seeing if it falls off. If they aren’t falling off the branch, it’s not ready!

7. BBQ it up at Red Rock Urban or the Den Pub & Carvery patio

  • BBQ is the ultimate ode to summertime. And isn’t it even better if you can sit back and enjoy it while someone else prepares it for you? We recommend checking out the sunny patio at one of our local barbecue eateries, Red Rock Urban BBQ for some of the best authentic smoked meat around! You should also check out The Den Pub & Carvery – a local treasure that has been around 15 years!

 

MODERATE

8. Dinosaur Museum dig experience?

9. Book Bear Creek pool

  • Grande Prairie’s only outdoor pool, Bear Creek is a popular spot in the summer months. Starting May 27th, they offer general admission with drop-in times for families and adults. See their website for an up-to-date schedule and swim times.

10. Disc golf at Evergreen Park

  • Visit one of GP’s three public disc golf (aka frisbee golf!) courses! The Evergreen Park Disc golf course is open to visitors – free of charge. Stay up to date on the course conditions at UDisk.com. Don’t forget to BYOD (bring your own disc!).

11. Hit the links (and the beach on the same day!) at River Stone Golf Course

  • River Stone Golf Course is one of our area’s newest golf courses but has since established itself as a uniquely challenging and beautiful course along the banks of the Smoky River. The views (and clubhouse caesars) can’t be beat! For more golf courses to explore in our region, visit: Grande Prairie & Region Golf Courses.

12. Fishing

  • Whether you’re a beginner or a pro angler, fishing is an excellent excuse to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Moonshine Lake in Saddle Hills is a popular spot to catch trout, while Snipe Lake and Sturgeon Lake east of the city provide endless hours of Perch and Northern Pike fishing.

13. Go kayaking on one of the many lakes and rivers around the region!

 

INTENSE

14. Horseback riding tours in Fairview

  • Horsetrekking Adventures is your guide to our exploring our region via horseback! Located north of Grande Prairie in the beautiful boreal forest, opt for half-day, full-day, or multi-day tours with your experienced guides.

15. Wild Blue Yonder White-water rafting Grande Cache

  • Wild Blue Yonder would have you gripping the edge of your (raft) seat, but you’ll be too busy paddling along the Sulphur River and taking in the stunning mountain views to even have time to be afraid. Their summer weekend tours book fast, so don’t wait!

16. Go to a car race at NPBRA

17. Run the trails at Nitehawk or Wapiti Nordic

  • These two designated trail networks are maintained year-round, and offer drop-in visitor passes for a very affordable price. Escape the urban buzz for a few hours and hit Nitehawk or Wapiti Nordic for a high-intensity run, walk, or hike.

18. Hit the open road for a motorcycle cruise

  • With endless highway driving in nearly every direction, the Grande Prairie region is a paradise for motorcycle enthusiasts ready to explore on two wheels. Don’t have a bike of your own? No problem. Top Gear Cycles was recently featured in our Rentals blog with a fleet of 12 motorcycles available for half-, full-, or multi-day rentals.

19. Go for a hike with the Passport to the Peaks

  • This hiking challenge isn’t for the faint of heart: the Passport to the Peaks program guides you up several of Grande Cache’s stunning mountain peaks for unparalleled panoramic views of the Rockies. Check out the program and where to pick up the passport here.

20. Rent a SHERP for the day

  • SHERP all-terrain vehicles were practically made for our region – tackle water, rocks, trees, beach, snow, and of course mud. Local company Shredded Peak rents these beasts year-round for a unique adventure you won’t soon forget.

 

We hope this list stoked the adventurer in you and that you’re already planning how to make the most of our beautiful summer season. If you’re looking for gear and equipment to get you started, or even an RV to rent while you’re touring around, check out our Where to Rent blog.

Want a pre-planned day of fun?

Check out our Grande Plan Outdoor Adventurer Day Trip.