Wakamow Valley covers 200 hectares (500 acres) of land south of Moose Jaw and has enough space and activities to keep people occupied throughout the winter.
Visitors will rarely go very long wandering around the many trails without coming across someone doing the same. Or cross-country skiing. Or skating laps on the Wakamow Oval. Or feeding the birds in Kinsmen Wellesley Park. Or even playing disc golf.
One of the best things about the park is there are many spots for people to explore. Visitors can go from Ninth Avenue Southwest down to Plaxton Lake in the southeast and criss-cross many paths along the way or simply make a snowman in a field.
The park’s third annual Winter Wonderland Valley of Lights kicks off on Friday, Dec. 1 and runs until Sunday, Dec. 31. This popular event features more than 200,000 lights wrapped around trees in colourful and creative displays, which is a nice touch during Christmas.
The event takes place every evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a $10 entrance fee. The public can take a magical drive through the campground to enjoy the one kilometre of brightly decorated trees.
Moose Jaw’s community choir usually spends an evening singing traditional Christmas carols, much to the delight of visitors. Check the park’s website for when the choir sings.
Another fun event is Winterfest, which occurs in February. There are many activities in which to participate, ranging from toasting marshmallows, snowshoeing, wagon rides, skating on the oval, tossing Christmas trees and throwing axes.
Check the park’s website for when the event occurs.
Disc golf is a year-round sport that has exploded in popularity due to its low cost, gentle learning curve, and ease of course construction.
Wakamow’s course started small and is now a full-sized, 18-hole course that sees use from discing enthusiasts year-round, no matter the weather. The course is completely accessible even with snow, although there might be some trudging if you go too far off course.
A group called the Moose Jaw Huckers is a hardy bunch who play during the winter, regardless of temperature, while the Moose Jaw Disc Golf Association recently began operations and helps co-ordinate leagues. They would likely enjoy having more people join their ranks.
Email mjdgleague@gmail.com to contact the association or click here for more information about Wakamow Valley’s disc golf course. To reserve a set of disc golf discs — or other winter gear like snowshoes — call the office at 306-692-2717.
A sure sign that people are using the park regularly is how often the Wakamow office loans out snowshoes. The demand is usually steady and regular, meaning plenty of people go off the beaten path and do their own thing.
Those more interested in an unencumbered walking experience can tour the kilometres of trails, which the park’s maintenance staff regularly clear.
Then, there’s the wildly popular speed-skating oval. The city regularly maintains the 400-metre track, and if it’s a really nice day, be ready to rub shoulders with plenty of fellow skaters.
Cross-country skiing is also growing in popularity, especially with a new club aiming to improve and expand the trail system already in place.
There are plenty of people who participate in the leisurely activity, while Wakamow Valley Authority is excited to work with the city and the group to groom new trails and provide another option for some fresh air.
If wildlife is your thing, well, take your pick. Birdwatchers can have critters literally eating out of their hand in the bird-feeding area in Wellesley Park, and with so many deer in the area, odds are visitors come across a four-legged herd at some point. That is on top of the multitude of smaller animals that make Wakamow Valley their home.
For more information on what Wakamow Valley offers, visit www.wakamow.ca.
In response to some providers blocking access to Canadian news on their platforms, our website, MooseJawToday.com will continue to be your source for hyper-local Moose Jaw news. Bookmark MooseJawToday.com and sign up for our free online newsletter to read the latest local developments.
