Whitecourt

Understand

History The original inhabitants, the Woodland Cree Nation, call this area Sagitawah – “the place where the rivers meet.” The first Hudson's Bay Company trading post was established in 1897, and the first permanent resident settled in 1905. In 1910, with the expansion of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, immigrants were encouraged settle in the inhabited area between Edmonton and the Peace River Country. The name "Whitecourt" was chosen in 1910 by Walter White, the postmaster of the young community.

Geography Whitecourt is located at the confluence of the McLeod and Athabasca Rivers and has three identifiable geographic components:

Valley: includes the town centre, the Athabasca Flats residential area, sawmill, and pulp mill Hilltop: includes the Hilltop and Southlands Estates residential areas, the Hilltop industrial area, and a 2.5-km highway commercial strip along Highway 43 West Whitecourt: between the McLeod and Athabasca Rivers, includes an industrial area and a 1.0-km highway commercial strip along Highway 43.

Getting there

By car Whitecourt is along Highway 43 (CANAMEX Corridor) and is the main route between Edmonton and Grande Prairie, the Alaska Highway (which travels to the Yukon and Alaska), as well as the Mackenzie Highway (with connects to the Northwest Territories). Highway 32 connects travels south to Highway 16 east of Edson and north to Swan Hills.

By plane 1 Whitecourt Airport (YZU IATA) (6 km southwest of Whitecourt on Hwy 32). Northern Air provides regular service to Calgary and Peace River.

By bus Red Arrow, toll-free: +1-800-232-1958, [email protected]. Service from Grande Prairie and Edmonton including stops in Valleyview, Whitecourt, and Mayerthorpe. (updated May 2022) Rider Express. Service from Grande Prairie, Valleyview, Mayerthorpe, Spruce Grove, and Edmonton. (updated Jul 2024) Cold Shot, ☏ +1 587-557-7719, [email protected]. Service from Grande Prairie and Edmonton including a stop in Valleyview. (updated Feb 2021)

Getting around

Whitecourt Transit. Bus service provided M-F 6:30AM-8:45PM, Sa 9AM-4:45PM. $3 cash fare, children 6 and under free. (updated May 2020)

See

Forest Interpretive Centre & Visitor Centre, 3002 33 Street, ☏ +1 780-778-3433. Exhibits explore and explains the role of the forest; also a meteorite display and outdoor heritage buildings. Amenities include: a Visitor Information Centre, public washrooms, free WiFi, meeting rooms, sani-dump station, outdoor picnic area, playground and walking trails. (updated Oct 2018) Industry Tours (through the Whitecourt and District Chamber of Commerce), +1 780-778-5363. Get an insider's look into the operation of Millar Western Forest Products and Alberta Newsprint Company. (updated Oct 2018) 1 Whitecourt crater (10 km (6.2 mi) southeast on nearby Whitecourt Mountain). The crater is approximately 36 m (118 ft) in diameter and 9 m (30 ft) deep. Its age is estimated to be between 1,080 and 1,130 years since the buried fragments of the impacting meteorite are all found above a layer of carbon from a forest fire dating around 1,100 years ago. More than 3,000 pieces of the impacting meteorite have been found (as of 2012). The pieces are shrapnel, mostly between a few grams and 500 grams in mass, with sharp edges and mechanically deformed from the impact, but showing no sign of impact melt. About one-half dozen individual meteorites have also been found with the largest weighing 31 kilograms. The iron meteorite fragments were ejected eastward from the crater. Collecting fragments is prohibited and subject to a $50,000 fine or one year in jail. (updated Sep 2020)

Do

There are over 50 kilometres of walking trails throughout Whitecourt that will take you from the hilltop area to the valley. Trail maps are available online or at the Town Office, Allan & Jean Millar Centre, and Forest Interpretive Centre. Whitecourt and the surrounding area have hundreds of kilometres of designated trails for off-highway vehicle use (snowmobiles, dirt bikes and ATVs).

Snowmobiling, toll-free: +1-800-313-7383, [email protected]. With a large network of groomed trails and an annual snowfall of 174 cm (68.5 in), Whitecourt is known as the Snowmobile Capital of Alberta. (updated Sep 2020) Cross-country skiing, toll-free: +1-800-313-7383. Whitecourt has 4.5 km of groomed trails for classic and skate skiing on the Whitecourt Golf & Country Club course. Carson Pegasus Provincial Park, located 10 km north on Hwy 32 north, is also a well known and used trail system. (updated Oct 2018) Hunting, toll-free: +1-800-313-7383. Whitecourt and Woodlands County boasts a variety of big game trophy hunting for elk, moose, mule deer and whitetail deer. They also have excellent opportunities to hunt for bear, wolves, and cougars. There is also a variety of game bird species, including geese and ducks. (updated Oct 2018) 1 Eagle River Casino (8 km northwest of Whitecourt at the Hwy 43/32N jct.), ☏ +1-780-779-2727. Located on the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, the Casino features 250 slot machines, 12 table games, 6 poker tables, and Timbers Bar & Grill. (updated Oct 2018) 2 Hard Luck Canyon, Range Road 125, Woodlands County (7 km south on West Mountain Road, 14 km west and south on Range Road 125). Waterfall with hiking trails within a limestone canyon. (updated Jan 2021) 3 Whitecourt River Slides (part of the Whitecourt Rotary Park) (Located at the north end of 51 Streetin downtown Whitecourt). Open during the summer months for family enjoyment. The water feature includes two man-made creeks with a series of pools and drops for tubing and play, with a s

Buy

Downtown Whitecourt. Browse the specialty and boutique shops. A variety of shopping including gift shops, clothing stores, and craft stores; also home to larger retailers such as Wal-Mart, Home Hardware, and Canadian Tire. (updated Oct 2018)

Eat

Green Gables Restaurant, 3527 Caxton St., 51 Ave, ☏ +1-780-778-3142. Steaks, burgers, salads, wings, Greek dishes, breakfast. (updated Jun 2019) Original Joe's, #100, 5004A Dahl Drive, ☏ +1 403-263-4323. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-2AM. Varied menu: burgers, wings, Asian dishes, gluten-free, vegetarian. (updated Jun 2019) Violet Mae's Bakery, 5107 50 Ave. M-F 8AM-5:30PM. Soups, sandwiches, desserts, breakfasts, gluten-free choices. (updated Jun 2019) Linh's Kitchen, 5117 49 St. M-F 8AM-4PM, Sa 9:30AM-2:30PM. Vietnamese. (updated Jun 2019)

Drink & nightlife

Crown & Anchor Pub, 1-4802 51 St, ☏ +1 587-806-5972. Daily 11AM-1AM. Draft beer, craft beer, wine, wings, pizza, pasta, burgers. (updated Jun 2019)

Sleep

Alaska Highway Motel, 3511 Caxton Street, ☏ +1-780-778-4156. (updated Oct 2018) Canada's Best Value Inn, 3415 Caxton Street, ☏ +1-780-778-4844. (updated Oct 2018) Cloud 9 Inn, 3359 Caxton Street, ☏ +1-780-778-3133. (updated Oct 2018) Glenview Motel, 3547 Caxton Street, ☏ +1-780-778-2276. (updated Oct 2018) Days Inn & Suites Whitecourt, 5406 Caxton Street, ☏ +1-780-779-2399. (updated Oct 2018) Green Gables Inn, 3527 Caxton Street, ☏ +1-780-778-4537,